King crab legs are a true delicacy. Their sweet, succulent meat is incredibly flavorsome and tender when cooked properly. However, knowing how long to steam frozen king crab legs can be tricky. Undercook them and the meat stays gummy and hard to get out. Overcook them and the tender meat becomes rubbery and dry. So what’s the secret to achieving tender, juicy king crab meat when steaming straight from frozen?
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to perfectly steam frozen king crab legs every time.
Why Buy Frozen King Crab Legs?
Nearly all the king crab legs you find at the store are pre-cooked and flash frozen right on the fishing boats This locks in freshness and flavor Freezing the pre-cooked crab legs is the best way to get their amazing sweet taste to consumers like us,
So when you buy frozen king crab legs, they are already fully cooked – you just need to defrost and gently reheat them before enjoying This makes preparing them super easy!
Thaw Before Cooking or Steam Frozen?
You have two options when it comes to preparing frozen king crab legs: thawing first or steaming straight from frozen.
To thaw before steaming, place the legs in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet or large plate. Thaw in the fridge overnight, or for at least 5 hours.
You can also thaw under cold running water for 30 minutes, changing the water halfway.
Never thaw crab legs at room temperature since bacteria could start growing.
If you forget to thaw or want to skip this step, no worries! You can absolutely steam king crab legs directly from frozen. Just add a few extra minutes to the steaming time.
How Long to Steam Frozen King Crab Legs
There are two easy methods for steaming frozen king crab legs: stovetop steaming or using a steamer appliance. Both result in tender, moist, and flavorful crab meat.
Stovetop Steaming
Fill a large pot with about 2 inches of water and bring to a boil. Place legs in a steamer basket or colander suspended over, but not touching, the boiling water.
Cover and steam thawed legs for 4-5 minutes. Frozen legs will need 7-8 minutes.
Check for doneness and continue steaming if needed.
Steamer Appliance
Fill water reservoir and preheat steamer appliance. Place legs in steaming tray in a single layer.
Steam thawed legs for 4-5 minutes. Frozen legs will need 6-8 minutes.
Check frequently and add steam time if needed.
How to Tell When They’re Done
It can be hard to tell when frozen king crab legs are fully cooked since they’re pre-cooked when frozen. Here are some signs of doneness to look for:
-
Shells turn bright orange-red
-
Meat is opaque and white, not see-through
-
Legs are hot to the touch
-
Meat pulls away cleanly from the shell
If unsure, carefully cut into a leg and check that the center is hot and opaque, with no cold or raw spots remaining.
Undercooked crab will be gummy and chewy. Overcooked meat becomes dry and brittle.
Serving Your Steamed King Crab Legs
Once steamed, remove the king crab legs from the steamer and let rest for 2-3 minutes before serving. Offer crab crackers, small hammers, and picks to easily extract the succulent meat from the shells.
King crab legs pair fantastically with:
-
Melted butter
-
Lemon wedges
-
Cocktail sauce
-
Aioli or remoulade
-
Clarified butter
Get creative with fresh herbs, garlic, lemon, and seafood seasonings. Enjoy alongside rice, roasted potatoes or a fresh salad. A crisp white wine is the perfect pairing.
Storing Leftover King Crab Meat
Pick any remaining meat from the shells and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or by steaming until warmed through before serving again.
Now that you know exactly how long to steam frozen king crab legs, you can indulge in this luxurious seafood at home. Grab some frozen legs and get steaming! With the proper cooking time and temperature, you’ll achieve tender, juicy meat every time.
What is the Best Way to Cook Frozen Crab Legs?
After testing and sampling a variety of cooking methods, baking the crab legs proved to be my favorite way to prepare frozen king crab legs at home. The moist heat created inside the shells essentially steamed the crab meat, enhancing their natural flavors and heating the meat thoroughly without drying it out.
This method also works for Snow Crab Legs, and can be a more budget-friendly option!
Split crab legs
Transfer crab to a pan when it is finished baking. For king crab, I use kitchen shears to gently split open each crab leg to make it easier to remove all of the long pieces of crab inside the thicker legs.
Steaming a Frozen Cooked Alaskan King Crab Legs – Today’s Delight
FAQ
Can you steam frozen crab legs without thawing?
Nestle steamer basket in pot and cover with lid, then bring water to a simmer over medium heat until steaming. Add crab to basket and cover with lid. Continue to steam over medium heat for 5 minutes if using defrosted crab; 10 minutes if using frozen crab.Sep 25, 2020
Is it better to cook king crab frozen or thawed?
While you can cook crab legs from a frozen state, they are more challenging to work with. They cook more slowly and unevenly, and their texture tends to be less supple, even with firm-fleshed varieties. It is always best to thaw crab legs before you prepare, cook, and consume them.
How long do you steam frozen dungeness crab legs?
Bring it to a boil and add the crab to steamer basket. Close the pot with a tight-fitting lid or aluminum foil, and allow to steam for 4 minutes if thawed and about 6 to 8 minutes if frozen depending on size of pieces.Oct 20, 2020
Is it better to steam or grill king crab legs?
The Verdict Both methods of cooking crab legs took about the same amount of time, with the griddle method being slightly faster. It’s a close call, but the grill wins out! You just can’t beat the flavor that comes from cooking over an open flame. Watch the video below to see how you can make crab legs at home!
Can you cook frozen crab legs?
A: Boiling or steaming frozen crab legs are both viable options for cooking this delicious protein. If the shells have been pre-split (as in Alaskan Red King Crab) you’ll want to steam so that the meat does not become water-logged. If the shells are in tact, boling works fine, but steaming is our preferred method. 1.
How do you cook thawed king crab legs?
Add about a cup of water or stock to the bottom of the pot, fill the steam basket with crab legs and bring the liquid to a boil. Cover and cook your thawed crab legs for 6-7 minutes. Serve with lemon butter sauce! What is the best way to get the meat out of king crab legs? For king crab legs, I’m all about the kitchen shears.
Can You steam frozen red king crab?
Red King Crab is split, and can be prepared similarly, but should not be fully submerged in liquid. To steam frozen crab legs you will need a steamer pot, or a large pot with a colander and a lid. Alternatively, you can use any pan fitted with a lid, and put a shallow layer of water inside.
How long do you steam a frozen crab?
Steam frozen crabs in batches if you have a large quantity, rather than overloading the steamer. Cover the pot. Steam the crabs for 4 to 7 minutes, depending on their size, until a thick leg is hot all the way through when you snap it off and crack it open. If you have a large quantity to prepare, do the crabs in batches rather than overloading the steamer. Cover the pot. Steam 4 to 7 minutes.
Can You steam frozen crab legs?
You can either thaw frozen crab legs before steaming them, or steam crab legs from frozen. Because of their size, crab legs can be steamed from frozen efficiently while retaining the quality of the meat. If steaming frozen crab legs, rinse off any thicker areas of ice glaze under cold, running water. This will help ensure even heating.
Are Alaskan king crab legs frozen?
Alaskan king crab legs make the most luxurious dinner party entree for two and if you buy them at the grocery store, these giant clusters of crab legs are most often sold frozen. Wondering how to cook frozen king crab legs? So glad you asked. I have the easiest way to create a restaurant-quality seafood dinner for you.