How do you cook crab legs?

Question

I was just wondering..i bought some yesterday and I dont want them to come out tasting gross

thanks for your help!!

Answer 1

Steam them (do NOT boil them, all the tasty juice will go into the water if you boil them) over simmering/boiling water until the crab legs turn bright red.  

Answer 2

*GRILLED CRAB LEGS WITH PROVENCAL

BUTTER

1/4 (1/2 stick) c. butter

1/4 c. olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. thyme

1/2 tsp. rosemary

1 1/2 to 2 lbs. Alaska King crab legs; thawed if necessary

Thickly sliced zucchini, red, bell pepper and eggplant

Melt butter with olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat, then stir in garlic, thyme and rosemary. Remove from heat. Place crab legs shell side down on a well oiled, clean grill over a medium hot fire. Grill about 4 minutes brushing with butter, until crab is heated through thoroughly. Place veggies on grill, brush with butter and cook, turning occasionally, until cooked through. Remaining Provencal butter may be used as dipping sauce. 4 servings.

* Steamed Lemon Grass Crab Legs

     2 tablespoons vegetable oil

     3 cloves garlic clove, pressed

     1 (1 inch) piece fresh ginger root, crushed

     1 stalk lemon grass, crushed

     2 tablespoons fish sauce

     1 tablespoon oyster sauce

     salt and pepper to taste

     2 pounds frozen cooked Alaskan king crab legs, thawed

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the crushed garlic, ginger, and lemon grass; cook and stir until brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the fish sauce, oyster sauce, salt and pepper until blended. Add crab legs, cover, and cook over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until heated through, about 15 minutes.

*Garlic Crab Legs

    3 pounds king or snow crab legs

      1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter

      1 cup olive oil

      1 large onion, skins removed and diced

      1 large red bell peppers, cored and diced

      1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

      3 heads of roasted garlic, flesh squeezed from the peels

      1 head of cabbage, thinly sliced into 1/4 inch slivers

      1/2 cup dry white wine or dry white vermouth

      2 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt

      1/2 teaspoon freshly ground coarse black pepper

      1 loaf of fresh bread

In a large stockpot over medium heat, melt the butter and add the oil, onions, pepper, parley, garlic, half of the cabbage, wine, salt, and pepper and cook until the cabbage starts to wilt, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low.

Meanwhile, remove the crab legs from their packaging and lightly rinse with cold water, shake and set aside.

When all the crabs are cleaned, place the crab legs in the pot along with 1 cup of water. Stir the crabs around and add the second half of the shredded cabbage. Once the crabs and cabbage are well combined, cover the stockpot and raise the heat to medium. Cook the crabs until the meat is tender, about 15 minutes. Occasionally check the water level, which should increase as the crabs release their juices (but if this does not happen, just make sure there is enough water to continue to cook the crabs). Stir the pot well halfway through so that all the crab legs get a chance to cook directly in the liquid.

Serve immediately in a large bowl with fresh bread to sop up the juices.

*CRAB MEAT SALAD

Frozen crab legs (8)

Hard boiled eggs (6)

Celery (5 ribs)

Mayonnaise

Chop crab legs, celery and hard boiled eggs. Mix with mayonnaise. Chill and serve.

*crab legs with mustard dipping sauce

1 tablespoon dry mustard

1 tablespoon boiling water

1 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon prepared horseradish

2 pounds cooked crab legs, shells removed

Place dry mustard in medium bowl. Add 1 tablespoon boiling water and stir to form paste. Cool. Whisk in mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard and horseradish. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve sauce with crab legs.

ENJOY :-)

Answer 3

***To steam crab legs

      Pour 2 cups of water in a steamer or a large pot, add 1 tablespoon of salt and bring to the boil.

Add the crab legs, placing them onto a rack in the bottom of the pan or into the steaming basket.

As the water starts to boil again, begin timing.

Steam the crab legs for between 5 - 7 minutes, until you can begin to smell their aroma and until they are warm. Take care not to overcook the legs as they have already been cooked once.

Remove from the heat and serve hot with melted butter and lemon wedges.

***To boil crab legs

      Half fill a large saucepan with cold water and add a tablespoon of sea salt and seasoning if you wish.

Bring the water to the boil and then drop the crab legs in.

Reduce the heat slightly and allow the crab legs to simmer and heat up for 5 - 7 minutes.

Remove from the water and rinse the crab legs. Serve hot.

***To bake crab legs

     Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).

Crack the whole crab legs and place them on a baking tray.

Brush the crab legs with butter or oil, seasoning and lemon juice and bake in the oven for 8 - 9 minutes.

***To microwave crab legs

    Wrap the crab legs in a damp paper towel and cook on high for 2 - 3 minutes.

Serve hot with butter, cocktail sauce or lemon wedges.

Answer 4

the easiest way is to boil them in hot water.

boril the water and but them in for about

HOW TO COOK FROZEN UN-COOKED CRAB LEGS

BOILING Boiling crab legs is easy, some prefer to add either 1 tablespoon salt or 1 tablespoon vinegar to the water. Fill a pot approximately ½ to 2/3 full of water depending on the number of crab legs to be cooked.

Bring water to a heavy boil. Place uncooked crab legs into the boiling water and allow the water to return to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook them approximately 20-25 minutes

Steaming Place pre-cooked frozen crab legs

in a vegetable steamer or colander over heavy

and rapid boiling water (fill pot about 1/3 of the

way with water.) Cover tightly and steam them

10-12 minutes until heated through and through.

Pre-cooked crab legs can be eaten cold without cooking otherwise they just need heating without further cooking.  

Answer 5

you boil them cuz it kills the germs

Answer 6

just so you know, 99% of the crab legs you buy are already cooked. all you need to do is heat them through. someone else gave a bunch of different ways to do this so i won't bother.