How to Heat Crab Legs

Crab legs are easy to prepare.

Most crab legs available for sale are cooked and flash frozen to preserve flavor. They should be heated before consumption only if you prefer warm crab legs. Crab meat is sweet and flavorful and needs no more seasoning than a bit of butter or lemon juice. Since the meat is already cooked, they can also be served cold.

Things You'll Need

• Crab legs -- 8 ounces to 1 pound per person
• Water
• Watertight container
• Steamer
• Microwave safe container
• Saucepan
• Shallow baking pan

Instructions

Thawing

1. Thaw frozen crab legs for at least eight hours in the refrigerator.

2. Use a watertight container with a rack, if possible. Drainage will occur during thawing, so using a rack to elevate the crab legs will keep them from bathing in the excess water.

3. Thaw crab legs more quickly by putting them in a strainer and running cold tap water over them for several minutes.

Steaming

1. Fill the bottom of a steamer with two cups of water and one tablespoon of salt.

2. Add crab legs to the steamer rack or basket.

3. Crab legs are done when you can smell them, or after five to seven minutes of steaming. You can also remove a leg with tongs and touch the meat to see if it is adequately warm.

Baking

1. Set oven at 350 degrees.

2. Place crab legs in a single layer in a shallow baking pan.

3. Fill bottom of pan with about 1/8 inch of water.

4. Cover with foil and bake for seven to 10 minutes.

Boiling

1. Fill a saucepan with water. Add a dash of salt for flavor, if desired.

2. Bring water to a boil and add crab legs.

3. Reduce heat to simmer crab legs for five to seven minutes.

Microwaving

1. Place crab legs in a microwave-safe container.

2. Add one tablespoon of water for each eight ounces of crab legs.

3. Set microwave to heat on high power for three to four minutes for each eight ounces of crab legs.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not overheat crab legs. Remember that they have already been cooked and you only want them heated up enough to serve.

• Thawed crab legs can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to two days.

References

• King Crab Legs: Cooking King Crab Legs
• Cooks Recipes: How to Heat Frozen Crab Legs
• Help With Cooking: How to Cook Crab Legs
• What's Cooking: How to Cook King Crab Legs