How to Steam Crab Legs
Do you love steamed crab legs but aren’t quite sure how long to actually steam them? Most of the crab legs you find at the store are cooked and frozen so they only need to be reheated. Read on to find out more about preparing perfectly steamed crab legs yourself.
Servings 4 servings
Ingredients
- 3 pounds crab legs king crab or snow crab (thawed)*
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 lemon
- fresh parsley minced – optional
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with 1 inch of water and bring to a boil.
- Carefully place the steamer basket in the pot. (Regular steamer baskets can hold about 1-1.5 pounds, so steam in batches if needed.)
- Using tongs, add the crab legs to the steamer basket. Cover and steam for 6-7 minutes.
- Remove from the steamer and serve with lemon wedges and melted butter. Sprinkle optional fresh parsley on top.
Notes
- *Ensure your crab legs are thawed completely before use.
- To eat king crab legs: cut the crab legs in half with a knife or scissors to expose the flesh.
- To eat snow crab legs:
- Pull legs and claw off the cluster, breaking each piece at the joint. Bend each leg gently until the shell breaks and the meat will come out of the shell in lumps.
- For the claws, use a crab leg cracker to break the shell. Peel off the shell and take the meat out.
- For the cluster, you can pick meat out with a fork.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days to use in seafood salad or sandwiches.