Q&A for How to Cook King Crab Legs

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How do I prepare king crab legs that have been split and frozen?

Michele

Top Answerer

The same as you would unsplit, though you might not need as much time to heat them up.

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Question

Do I defrost the crab before boiling it?

Community Answer

For best results, you should definitely defrost the crab before boiling in order to maintain the crab's meat texture.

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How do I reheat crab legs that have previously been steamed?

Community Answer

Just microwave them until your desired temperature is reached .

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Can king crab legs be defrosted in the microwave?

Community Answer

Yes, but it is much easier to just boil them from frozen. When you do, use salt in the water, because if you don't, it will pull a lot of flavor out of the crabmeat.

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Can king crab be steamed in an electric roaster?

Michele

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If your roaster allows for liquids, then yes. You can steam crab in any heated container that will bring water at least to a simmer.

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How long should I microwave crab legs for?

Community Answer

It is not recommended to microwave them, as they will get very hard and may not be edible afterwards.

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Question

Can I cook them frozen?

Michele

Top Answerer

King crab legs are precooked at the site of capture. Since all you're really doing is reheating them, the answer is yes, you can reheat them from frozen. Just add a few minutes to the time whether you steam, boil, grill or bake.

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Question

Can king crab legs be steamed in the microwave?

Community Answer

Yes, I did it and it worked great! You'll have to experiment with cook times, though, because every microwave is different.

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Question

Do I put the crab legs into the pot after they're thawed?

Community Answer

You should use a steamer basket, if possible; but yes, once thawed and the water in the pot is boiling, into the pot they go.

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Question

How do I cook shelled Alaska king crab legs?

Michele

Top Answerer

If the meat is already out of the shell, you can do several things with it. Make crab cakes. Sauté them in butter and a little garlic. Make a gratin. Make crab dumplings.

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Question

Salted or unsalted butter for king crabs?

Michele

Top Answerer

The choice is yours. It's a matter of personal preference, though most people will agree that salted is best.

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Question

How do I get crab meat out of the legs?

Michele

Top Answerer

See wikiHow to Open King Crab Legs for step-by-step directions with pictures.

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Question

For grilling Alaska king crab, do I flip the legs and cook for 5 more minutes (for a total of 10 minutes)?

Michele

Top Answerer

Yes. You're reheating already-cooked crab, so 10 minutes should be enough time to heat through.

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Question

Can I boil crab legs directly from a frozen state?

Community Answer

Yes, you can.

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Question

After steaming my crab legs, is it OK to put them in the oven to keep them warm?

Michele

Top Answerer

Keeping them warm for in the oven is fine, so long as you don't allow them to dry out.

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Can I use an electric steamer?

Michele

Top Answerer

Yes, you can use an electric one.

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Question

How do I make drawn butter?

Michele

Top Answerer

The easiest way is to melt the butter in a microwave, allow to cool in the refrigerator, and remove the layer of fat that rises to the top. Drawn butter (aka clarified butter or ghee) is butter with the fat removed.

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Question

Can pre-split king crab legs be smoked in a smoker and for how long?

Brett Gilbert

Top Answerer

Yes.and it's very similar to grilling them. Leave them in for up to 25 minutes and keep them well-coated with butter sauce for a delicious meal.

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Question

If I am boiling the king crab legs, can I cut them at the joint to fit in the pot?

Brett Gilbert

Top Answerer

Yes, that won't be a problem. Just make sure the water is bubbling hot while they cook. If you don't wait for the water to boil, the crab legs won't cook all the way through.

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