Crab Legs – 4 Easy Ways
Total Time
15 mins
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Rating
4.99 out of 5 stars
(66)
Ingredients
2 servings
- 2 lbs snow crab legs, (4 clusters)
- 1 cup water, (for Instant pot or steaming methods)
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
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Preparation
Step 1
In a medium saucepan melt 4 Tbsp butter and add 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Stir for 30 seconds until fragrant then remove from heat. Off the heat, squeeze in 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice. Divide between ramekins to serve.
Step 2
Place a trivet in a 6 qt Instant Pot and add 1 cup of water. Add 3-4 clusters of fresh or frozen crab legs per batch folding the legs to fit more in (thawed are easier to fit than frozen).
Step 3
Close the lid, set vent to sealing position and cook on manual high pressure for 4 minutes then switch vent to venting position and do a quick release of remaining pressure.
Step 4
Place wire rack or basket at the bottom of a large stockpot. Add 1 cup of water. Place crab legs over the rack (as many as your pot will accommodate). Bring the water to a boil then cover and steam cook until fragrant and steaming hot (5-10 minutes). Frozen crab legs will take longer, thawed crab legs cook faster).
Step 5
Using heavy-duty aluminum foil, create a foil pack with 4 clusters of crab legs. Using a long sheet of foil with the crab legs in the center, bring the two ends together and fold them together twice. Fold the other two ends together twice to seal the foil packet. Do not add water since it will steam cook with the natural moisture from the crab legs.
Step 6
Grill over medium/high heat at 450˚F for 15 minutes if frozen or 10 minutes if thawed. Crab legs are ready when you see steaming as you open the foil pack.
Step 7
Create the same foil pack of 4 crab leg clusters. Place on a baking sheet and onto the center rack of a preheated oven at 450˚F for 25 minutes if frozen or 15 minutes if thawed. The crab legs are ready when you open the foil pack and they are steaming.
Step 8
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Chef's notes
Avoid Boiling:
We don’t love the boiled crab method because you end up with a watery mess when you crack the legs open and boiling in water tends to dilute the crab meat flavor.
Cook Until Steaming and Fragrant:
In every method, the crab legs are done when they are uniformly steaming and fragrant. If you don’t see hot steam coming off of them, you haven’t cooked them long enough.
Use a Crab Cracker or a nutcracker. The shells can be tough and sharp, especially at the claw. You can also use good kitchen shears if you don’t have a crab cracker.
Serve Hot or Cold:
the juicy meat is just as tasty cold or hot so don’t worry about serving them still hot.
