How to Make Alaskan King Crab Legs

Are you a fan of "America's Deadliest Catch," and want to learn how to cook your own King Crab Legs? It's easier than you might think. Here's how to make delicious crab legs at home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 10 lbs Alaskan King Crab legs
• 1 lb of salted butter
• 1 box of Old Bay Crab Boil seasoning
• Gravy Fat Separator cup
• Cooking or garden glove
• Fresh lime or lime wedges
• 4-6 crab leg crackers, to crack open the crab
• Favorite beer or wine, for serving with crabs

1. The more important thing to cooking Alaskan King Crab, is to buy them from a reputable source that has a high turnover of the product. If the crab legs have been exposed to air for long periods of time in a cooler, then look elsewhere. Sealed frozen boxes or bags are preferable. If you are fortunate enough to live in Alaska, then you can buy them right form the pier during the November harvesting season.

2. For a family of 4-6 people, remove crab legs from frozen container and let thaw for one hour on the counter.

3. In a large cooking pot which is big enough to hold at least 8 crab legs (roughly 2 lbs), fill halfway with water and add 8 Tblspns of salt. Then add in one bag of Old Bay crab boil. Set heat to high. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, keeping a slow, rolling boil going in the water.

4. While your water and crab boil mix is heating, melt the 1 lb of butter (4 sticks) in a microwave proof bowl, for one minute. Remove from heat and pour into a gravy fat separator cup. Let stand for 5 minutes, and them pour the "clarified" butter into four small serving cups or small bowls.

5. Once your crab boil (water, salt and crab boil mix) has heated over a rolling boil for at least 20 minutes, add in 2-3 lbs of the crab legs quickly, and cover loosely with a lid, leaving a small gap so the water does not boil over. Cover 5-7 minutes. Remove crab legs with tongs and place into a large serving bowl or tupperware bowl for serving. Repeat this cooking procedure until you have cooked enough batches of crab to serve your guests.

6. Serve crab legs piping hot with melted, clarified butter at the table. Remember to have plenty of napkins or bibs at the table. Serve with your favorite ice-cold beer or white wine at the table. Sprinkle lime or lemon wedges over crab as desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy your Alaskan King Crab from a reputable seafood dealer which has frequent turnover of crab, so insure they are fresh.
• Look for seafood sales in your mailbox or newspaper, to catch the best prices for crab, on sale.
• If Old Bay crab boil mix is not available, then look for Zatarains brand.
• Protect your hand with a cooking or garden glove when adding crab legs to the water, or removing from the pot. Alaskan King Crab has sharp thorns, which can easily stab your hand.

[tripplebeam]

on 7/6/2009 I haven't ever made them myself, but now i can. I like to order them at Red Lobster but never tried to make them at home. Sounds pretty simple. Thanks !!!

[bfreethree]

on 7/5/2009 Thanks for the info, food people earn 5 stars with me.