How to Prepare King Crab Legs
Tender, juicy king crab legs are simple to prepare and offer a fun and festive way to celebrate New Year’s Eve, birthdays, Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, and other special occasions throughout the year. The two linked sauce options provide added appeal. With any of these methods, keep in mind that the crab is already cooked, so it needs only to be heated through. For the most succulent meat, the goal is to warm but not further cook the crab legs.
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Ingredients
- 4 frozen king crab legs (about 8 ounces each)
For serving:
- Mustard Sauce, Garlic Butter Sauce or plain melted butter, and/or lemon wedges
Instructions
- Thaw the crab legs: If you purchased frozen legs, thaw them in the refrigerator, covered, overnight or for 8-12 hours. If you don’t have time, you may expedite the thawing the legs by running the legs under cold water.
- Oven Method: (My favorite method for ease, effectiveness, and minimal cleanup.) Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Lay the thawed crab legs in an even layer on a large sheet of foil. (Tip: Heavy duty foil is helpful if you have it. Otherwise, you may wish to use a double layer of regular foil.) Bring the sides of the foil up and around the crab legs, and then crimp or fold the edges of the foil together to form a sealed package. Place the packet on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the crab shells are hot to the touch.
- Stovetop method: To steam the legs on the stovetop, add a couple inches of water to a large pot and place a steamer basket on the bottom. Bring the water to a boil before adding the crab legs. When the water boils, add the crab legs (meaty joint side down), cover the pot, and steam the legs for about 5 minutes, until just heated through. Remove to a platter with tongs.
- Grill method: Preheat the grill to 300℉–325℉. Meanwhile, lightly brush the crab legs with olive oil to prevent sticking. Place the crab legs on the grill and cook for 4-5 minutes with the lid closed. Then flip and cook for another 4-5 minutes or until hot all the way through.
- Microwave Method: (My least favorite method due to tendency for uneven cooking.) If you prefer using the microwave, you can place wet paper towels around the legs and microwave, in a single layer, on high for about 3 minutes. Stop halfway through and flip the legs. Note that this method can result in hot spots and lead to uneven and/or overcooked crab legs.
- Serve with Mustard Sauce, Garlic Butter Sauce or melted butter, and/or lemon wedges…and crackers or kitchen shears. (King crab claw shells are soft enough cut with scissors!)
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