Things You'll Need:
- Alaskan king crab legs
- Large pot with lid
- Metal colander
- Water
- Kitchen tongs
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Step 1
Frozen crab legsFill a pot with water. The pot needs to be large enough to place a colander over it. The water level should be one third full.
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Step 2
Boiling waterBring the water to a complete boil. While waiting, put the frozen crab legs into the colander. If there is a large amount of frozen legs to cook, do a few at a time. Frozen king crab legs are precooked normally, but steaming too many frozen ones at one time results in uneven heating from the frozen state.
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Step 3
Metal colanderSet the colander filled with the crab legs over the pot. Cover the pot with the lid. Let the Alaskan king crab legs steam for 10 minutes or slightly longer until all are heated through.
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Step 1
Thaw frozen crab legs for 24 hours in the refrigerator. When the legs are thawed, fill the pot one third full of water.
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Step 2
Bring the pot of water to a quick simmer or low boil. Place the king crab legs in the metal colander. Place the colander over the pot just as it is done with the frozen crab legs. However, because the meat is precooked and already thawed, it takes less time to steam them.
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Step 3
Steamed Alaskan king crab legsCheck the crab legs in 5 to 8 minutes. Regardless of whether the legs were steamed thawed or frozen, they are done when the smell of crab meat is noticeable. Another way to check for finished steaming it to pick of a crab leg with a set of cooking tongs. Touch the leg with a finger carefully. If the leg is hot to the touch, it is ready to serve.
