King Crab Cooking

Kids coming home for Christmas. Having King crab for Christmas Eve meal. Hy-Vee had a 6.99/lb. sale that ends Wednesday. I bought 10lbs. I have made them in my turkey cooker filled with water before and they have been good. With a blizzard pending for here on Christmas Eve I am looking for a way to make them indoors. I have heard the oven works, any suggestions would be great and have a Merry Christmas. Can’t wait to have a few adult beveraqes and catch up with the boys.

Don’t boil them the good flavor of the crab ends up in the water. You need to steam them in a big steamer. I purchased one for about 40 dollars. Once you do it this way you wont boil them again. Some guys add seasoning to the water or crab but why cover up the flavor. Dip them in melted butter and enjoy!!

A cooking rack will do, all you need to do is raise the crab above boiling water in an enclosed pot. Check the internet for time suggestions. Crab does not take long to steam! Add a little lemon to the water!!!

You are going to laugh, but trust me… Wrap crab legs in wet paper towels with a bit of fresh dill. Wrap in saran wrap and microwave for 2 minutes. Best you will ever have. Remember, crab legs are already cooked, when you buy them. this is how I do it.

Alton’s Crab Legs

King crab are already pre-cooked. So steam them if you can or bake them. I use a big giant canning pot with a metal rack on the bottom to keep the crab from getting in the water. Usually three to five minutes top – warm the crab.

Great price! I got $10/lb at Cub. Once I had king I’ll never go back to snow.

The crab legs that you are buying from the grocery store are already pre cooked. So basically you are just warming them up.

Boiling washes out the flavor. Steaming is fine but takes a long time. The best way I have found is just bake them in the oven until warm.

Split the leg sections at the joints if the legs are still one piece. The narrower front sections take less time to warm the the larger sections that were connected to the crabs body.

Spread the split legs onto a baking sheet. Put the sheets into a 350 degree preheated oven until warm. Typically the front sections will take 4-6 minutes. The thicker sections that connect to the body will take slightly longer. Maybe 5-7 minutes. They do not take long to warm and you do not really want to cook them just warm them through.Too much cooking and they get tough and taste fishy.

I make mine on the grill. Put them on frozen. 15 minutes and turn them for 15 more. The ends might get a little charred. Its fool proof you can screw it up. If they are smaller than a quarter round then less time.

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You are going to laugh, but trust me… Wrap crab legs in wet paper towels with a bit of fresh dill. Wrap in saran wrap and microwave for 2 minutes. Best you will ever have. Remember, crab legs are already cooked, when you buy them. this is how I do it.

Alton’s Crab Legs

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That sounds like it is worth trying

I may try the microwave, that sounds like a plan!

I’d rethink the microwave idea. Seriously. Microwaves change the flavor of all meats, and that would include crab.

A pressure steamer is the best choice.

Well, I love crab but refuse to cook them in my house. SMEEELLLLYYYY! Is the garage an option using a roasting pan? That way is easy and safe to do in the garage and wont pollute your house with stink. That is the method of choice at the cabin year round.

Go to Walmart and buy a double deck Rival or Sunbeam steamer! Best $20 investment you will ever make!!! Heck, buy 2!!

Tuck has the right idea. Steaming is the best way to go….

We probably do crab once a month or so. For us the best method is wrapping 2-3 pieces in tinfoil and heating them in the oven, they steam in their own juice, and if you don’t unwrap them right away they keep warm wrapped in tin foil for longer. 400 degrees until hot (as mentioned they are already cooked)

Now I swear by this other may not like the idea much, but I thaw and soak my crab in fresh cold water, changing the water atleast twice, and gentely squeeze out some of the crabby juice out of the legs between changing the water, retains all crabby goodness without any fishy/salty lingering taste, Ive found it really doesnt affect the flavor or taste in any negitive ways, good “clean” crab flavor, especially after you steam it in tinfoil.

I also says splurge a little and get some good expensive butter, here in MN I like to get “Hope” butter made in Hope MN, Ive also had plugra (sp?) You’ll think yeah whatever like it makes any difference, but do yourself a flavor and get some, melt some regular normal store bought butter, melt some of the “preimum” butter and compare them side by side with some crab, and you’ll understand why I think it’s worth spending the extra $3 on the good butter.

Most everthing we do is simple, we let our ingredients do the talking, follow these tips, I bet people rave about the crab Its also a great way to manage the cooking of the crab so it’s hot and ready.

Thanks Nick , I’ll give your idea THE TEST. Sounds good

Might have to grab a little crab for christmas night for ourselves….

Steaming is definitlly a great way to go but if you can fire up the grill theres no better way to cook king crab that brings out the flavor. HY VEE did get a nice batch of king crab this time, if you really want some huge, big big legs go to Sams club, they do cost more….$12.98lb, but oh so so good. Hope you enjoy……BTW what a coincedence as we are having king crab and prime rib tonight for X-mas eve dinner.