Crab legs are easy to make at home and can be prepared using a variety of different cooking methods.Since most frozen crab legs come pre-cooked, the only thing you are actually doing is heating them up.Crab legs can be made using several different methods.
Step 1: Take the crab legs out of the water.
The crab legs should be placed in the fridge the night before.If you want to thaw crab legs, place them under cold running water for a few minutes.Most of the crab legs are pre-cooked.You can only buy a live crab if you prefer uncooked crab legs.Cook the crab legs as soon as possible after they thaw.They are only good for a couple of days in the fridge.
Step 2: The stockpot should have water and seasonings.
The stockpot should have water at the halfway point.Bring the water to a boil over medium-high to high heat by adding the salt, garlic powder, and dill.Instead of a heavy stockpot, you could use a Dutch oven.If you like crab legs, you could use a generic seafood seasoning blend instead of garlic powder and dill.
Step 3: The crab legs should be added.
The crab legs should be cooked in medium heat for 3 to 6 minutes.The crab legs should be left in the stockpot.The crab legs have to be cooked long enough to heat them.They have a delicate flavor and cooking them too long will ruin it.As the crab legs cook, the water should be at a steady boil.
Step 4: It's warm to serve warm.
Remove the crab legs with tongs and serve them on a platter.You can serve the crab legs with butter.
Step 5: Allow the crab legs to thaw.
Crab legs can be left in the refrigerator overnight to thaw slowly.You could thaw the crab legs quicker by placing them under cold water for a few minutes.
Step 6: The steamer pot should be filled with water and salt.
Add the water and salt to the steamer pot and set it to boiling over high heat.You have to have enough water to cover the bottom, but not so much that it touches the steamer rack.If you have a steamer rack that will fit over the heavy stockpot, you could use it.
Step 7: The crabs should be placed on the steamer rack.
Put the crab legs in an even layer on the steamer rack and position it over the boiling water.If you want the pot to be closed, you should use a steamer rack or basket that can be lowered into it.
Step 8: It's a good idea to cover and cook.
Crab legs can be cooked in a pot of boiling water with a lid.Before you start the timer, make sure the water is boiling.The crab legs should smell good.
Step 9: Warm serve.
Remove them from the basket and serve them with melted butter.
Step 10: Remove the crab legs.
Allow them to thaw in the refrigerator.You can thaw pre-cooked crab legs by running them under cold water.
Step 11: The oven needs to be set to 350 degrees.
Prepare a shallow baking pan by filling it with hot water.It is better to use hot water than cold water since the pan will be going into the oven.The temperature inside the oven is already close to hot water.If you cook crab legs in cold water, you may need to wait a few minutes to allow the water to heat up inside the baking pan.
Step 12: The crab should be in the pan.
The crab legs should be placed in a single layer.After the crab legs are added, cover the pan with aluminum foil.The water can be added to the pan before or after you arrange the crab legs.
Step 13: It's a good idea to bake.
The crab legs can be baked in about 7 to 10 minutes.The 4-minute mark is when flipping the crab is necessary.Make sure to put the aluminum foil back on the pan before you return it to the oven.
Step 14: Warm serve.
To enjoy the crab legs with melted butter and salt, immediately transfer them to a serving plate.
Step 15: Put the crab in a container and rinse it.
The best way to thaw crab is to put it in the refrigerator overnight.Crab legs can be frozen by running them under cold water.If you don't have to thaw the crab legs by running them under cold water, you can remove any remaining ice crystals.Before using, dry with clean paper towels.
Step 16: The crab legs should be put in a slow cooker.
Add enough water to cover the crab legs in the slow cooker.The layers of crab legs should at least be even.An oval slow cooker works better than a round one because of the crab legs.You don't need much water to cover the crabs.Crab legs that are too dry or not sufficiently heated could be a result of too little or too much.
Step 17: Put the butter, garlic, and dill in a container.
The butter should be melted in a small bowl.If you prefer a stronger garlic taste, you can use 4 cloves of garlic instead of the concentrated garlic powder.Since the crab legs are being cooked slowly, the flavors of the seasonings have a better chance to penetrate the thick shell and flavor the meat beneath.
Step 18: The butter should be added to the crab legs.
The crab legs are in the slow cooker.Spread the butter over as many crab legs as you can.You don't need to coat the crab more thoroughly.
Step 19: Cook for 4 hours.
Crab legs should be cooked in the slow cooker until they are steaming hot.Add another 30 minutes to the cooking time if you didn't have time to thaw your crab legs.
Step 20: It's best to serve it hot.
The crab legs need to be removed from the slow cooker.Transfer them to a platter and enjoy.If you want, you can serve the crab legs with melted butter or lemon wedges.
Step 21: Remove the crab legs.
The easiest way to thaw crab legs is to put them under cold water.The recommended method takes a long time.Place the crab legs in the fridge and let them thaw out for 8 hours or overnight.It is not recommended to use the microwave for the purpose of thawing seafood.
Step 22: The crab legs should be transferred to a microwave-safe container.
If possible, arrange the crabs in a single layer.You may want to cook the crab legs in separate batches if you can't arrange them all in a single.If you arrange them in multiple layers, you will need to toss them with a fork in the middle of the cooking cycle to make sure they cook.A glass casserole dish with a lid is a standard choice, but any microwave-safe container will suffice.
Step 23: Add some water.
For every 8 ounces of crab legs, fill the container with warm to hot water.The recipe uses 3 lbs of crab legs, so you will need to add more water.Warm to hot water is better than cool water.
Step 24: The microwave is on full power.
The crab legs need to be cooked for 3 to 4 minutes.Microwave on 100 percent power for 18 to 24 minutes for 3 lbs of crab legs.The crab legs may need to be moved in the middle of the cooking process to promote even cooking.
Step 25: It's warm to serve warm.
If you want, you can serve the crab legs with melted butter or lemon wedges.