How To Cook Crab

Why pay a premium at restaurants for a crab dinner when you can have a feast at home for a fraction of the cost!

Our Alaskan crab legs are large 6/9 size Bairdi Snow Crab and are loaded with delicious chunks of meaty crab.  They are sold pre-cooked and frozen – all crab is sold this way, unless purchased live.  To prepare our crab legs at home, all that is required is heating them through before serving.  There are many ways to do this.  Here are three methods.  The simplest way, and perhaps the best, is boiling (or blanching) the legs in boiling water.  This method removes a lot of the salt from the crab legs, so if you prefer more of that salty flavour, try baking or steaming in stead.

To steam crab legs

  1. Pour 2 cups of water in a steamer or a large pot, add 1 tablespoon of salt and bring to the boil.
  2. Add the crab legs, placing them onto a rack in the bottom of the pan or into the steaming basket.
  3. As the water starts to boil again, begin timing.
  4. 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.
  5. Remove from the heat and serve hot with melted butter and lemon wedges.

To boil/blanch crab legs

  1. Half fill a large saucepan with cold water and add a tablespoon of sea salt and seasoning if you wish.
  2. Bring the water to the boil and then drop the crab legs in.
  3. Reduce the heat slightly and allow the crab legs to simmer and heat up for 5 – 7 minutes.
  4. Remove from the water and rinse the crab legs. Serve hot.

To bake crab legs

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  2. Crack the whole crab legs and place them on a baking tray.
  3. Brush the crab legs with butter or oil, seasoning and lemon juice and bake in the oven for 8 – 9 minutes.
Last updated byLawrence Weiss