King Crab advice

We’re having King Crab on NYE – I’ve never cooked it myself but heard it’s pretty simple to steam. Any preferred methods from those of you with experience? was thinking of using our Turkey Roaster and putting the crab up on a rack and steaming it that way?

Also, we’re having it with steak so it will be complimentary. It will be just my wife and myself along with my 9 and 12 yr old boys who’ve never tried it. How many pounds would you buy? Was thinking two? (and I think that’s all my wife would allow at nearly $40/lb). Would that give us each 1 or 2 healthy leg segments?

Appreciate any advice. THANKS!

All of the frozen king (or any other ) crab is already cooked. You can also just thaw it out and serve cold. I think it’s best that way. Others like it warmed up. Cookie sheet wrapped in foil in the oven for a few minutes is all you need.

Pound a person for adults. But I can toss back 2 easy!

-J.

Steamed, boiled, grilled, it is all good.

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Two pounds per person is an hors d’oeuvres. But two pounds will give all “a taste”.

I will pay extra for the pre scored legs if I can find them, but that’s a personal choice.

I use a 9×13 cake pan to catch any of the smelly water. Since they are likely frozen there is water in the legs already. 10-15 minutes at 350 is all a person needs and I watch them starting at 8 minutes. Dried out legs is not what you want at $40+ per pound. Steaming them as you described works too and might be a little more forgiving if they stay in too long.

I have a friend that puts them in boiling water for about 5 minutes, but I don’t have a kettle that big.

Don’t forget to have drawn buttery on hand!

I just do 5-6 minutes in a 9×13 in a 350 degree oven. I’ve found overcooking makes the meat tougher to get out of the shell. 2 lbs with steak should be good. Just remember that a lot of that weight is inedible shell.

Clarify some butter…mmmm mmmm!

We always do snow crab on Christmas Eve. Our kids love it. I prefer snow to king, but that’s just me (I also don’t care for lobster).

Can I come over for dinner on NYE, Thunderlund?

One helpful tip, use crackers on the claws, use a scissors on the rest of the legs, cut right down the middle of them.

Thanks all, sounds pretty fool-proof. Do you let thaw first, I assume (but keep cold). Or do you put them right in the oven frozen?

Thaw them out. They thaw out pretty quick just rinsing with cold water in the sink.

-J.

I like them warm, made them last week. I use a big pot and steamer. Long legs will bend and fit in a regular pot when thawed. They take 5-10 minutes depending on the size. I used a small knife or scissors for the shells. Make sure the kids dont cut themselves on the shells, they have spikes

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40 dollars a pound Is way to high. I’ve gotten them for 22-23
A pound. But you have to buy them in 10 pound boxes. From the restaurant depot over in Brooklyn center. You can either steam them or just warm them up in a cake pan. Happy New Year

I put them frozen on the grill about 8 minutes each side. Keeps the house from getting all stinked up from making them in oven.

We’re doing crab for NYE also, but Snow crab instead of King as thats my FW favorite meal of all. (Me, I’ll be having a 12 oz ribeye and a pound of Jumbo shrimp with xtra horsy cocktail sauce).

I use a big steamer pot and basket, and can get about 4 pounds in there. I rinse in cold water to thaw the legs and then they fold enough, to fit in it easily. I figure about 7-8 minutes in the pot to be just right.
Years ago (like 25) we bought a set of the small metal forks and metal crab crackers that you see at red lobster etc. and they have been great. And we have a set of the “Stolen from Joe’s Crabshack” shell cutters which are awesome slitting the thin shell snow crab legs.

Some Asti for the FW and a decent bourbon for me and we are lucky to make it to midnight

buck-slayer wrote:

I put them frozen on the grill about 8 minutes each side. Keeps the house from getting all stinked up from making them in oven.

My friend and his family are coming up tomorrow for new years and is bringing the 10lb box.
That’s a fun place!

Cub has them in their ad this week for $20.99 lb.

I’ve never had crab. Is that weird?
DT

Boil them then throw on a medium hot grill for a few minutes each side. Will dry out the shell making it much easier to crack open.

deertracker wrote:

I’ve never had crab. Is that weird?
DT

If I was on death row crab legs would be my last meal and lots of them!!

Most stores will sell the cheaper yellow king crab, pay a few bucks more for the red. Sam’s Club is yellow king crab, but the shell is pre-sliced make extraction easy. We are going to do a huge shrimp/crab bake with a couple friends, maybe $200 worth of Argentine jumbo red shrimp and crab (3 varieties). Going to be epic. We did one in Florida a couple months back, pictured is on of the two pans.

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buck-slayer wrote:

If I was on death row crab legs would be my last meal and lots of them!!

Seafood night at most casino buffets is often the busiest night. Very few places can you go and just devour as much seafood as you want to for a set price anymore.