How To Cook Snow Crab Legs At Home? | Step By Step Guide

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Snow crab legs are a delicious seafood treat that is simple to prepare at home. Their sweet, succulent meat pairs perfectly with melted butter or creative sauces. Cooking your own snow crab allows you to control ingredients and seasonings to your taste. Impress your family or guests with restaurant-quality crab legs you prepared from scratch.

Ready to dive into delicious snow crab? This guide will walk you through choosing ideal crab legs, cooking methods, seasoning ideas, serving suggestions, and pro tips for preparing tender, flaky snow crab legs at home. Armed with these tips, you’ll gain confidence cooking up these coveted crustaceans.

What Is Snow Crab Legs?

Snow crab legs are the long, spindly legs of snow crab, a species of crab that lives in cold, northern waters. Some key facts about snow crab legs:

• Snow crabs have 10 legs, but only the legs are eaten. The body meat is not usually consumed.
• The legs are long, thin, and tend to be slightly bent. They can range in color from creamy white to red.
• Snow crab legs have a delicate, sweet flavor and flaky texture. The meat pulls apart in segments, making it easy to extract.
• They are low in fat and calories compared to other types of crab legs. Snow crab is considered a lean source of protein.
• Snow crab legs are often served steamed or boiled with melted butter or lemon wedges as dipping sauce. They make a popular appetizer or main course.
• Most snow crab legs come precooked and frozen or fresh from Alaska, Canada, and other northern regions where snow crabs are abundant.
• Due to their delicate flavor, snow crab legs are usually enjoyed on their own rather than used in other dishes or cuisines.

Choosing the Right Snow Crab Legs

Picking the Perfect Snow Crab Legs

When selecting snow crab legs, choose legs that are from the colder waters of the north pacific ocean. The colder water makes the meat sweeter. Look for legs that have a solid weight to them and feel cold to the touch. Avoid legs that seem lightweight or smell fishy.

Decoding Snow Crab Legs: What to Look For

• Weight – Heavier legs indicate more meat. Light legs may be waterlogged.
• Color – Legs should be bright red/orange. Avoid yellow or grey legs.
• Coldness – Crab meat is highly perishable so cold legs ensure freshness.
• Odor – Legs should smell like ocean, not fishy. Fishy odor indicates spoilage.

Freshness Matters: How to Choose the Best Snow Crab

For peak flavor and texture, select the freshest snow crab legs possible:

• Check sell-by date. Best if sold within 3 days of catch.
• Look for chilled legs with tight, hard shells. Soft shells indicate dried out meat.
• Make sure leg joints are intact, not cracked.
• Avoid legs with yellowing or foul odors.

Choosing fresh, high-quality legs is key for delicious snow crab. Now let’s explore cooking options!

Cooking Snow Crab Legs Methods

Snow Crab Legs: Your Cooking Options Explored

There are several cooking methods that all yield tender, juicy snow crab legs:

Method	Cooking Time	Tools Needed
Steaming	5-8 minutes	Steamer basket & pot
Boiling	5-8 minutes	Large pot
Baking	10-15 minutes	Baking sheet
Grilling	8-12 minutes	Grilling grate
Broiling	3-5 minutes	Oven safe pan

Mastering Different Cooking Methods

• Steaming is a simple, foolproof way to cook snow crab legs that keeps them moist. Place legs in a single layer in a steamer basket and steam for 5-8 minutes.
• Boiling offers similar results to steaming. Submerge legs in rapidly boiling water and cook 5-8 minutes.
• Baking legs in the oven allows flavor absorption from seasonings. Bake at 400°F for 10-15 minutes.
• Grilling imparts a wonderful charred flavor. Grill legs over direct medium heat 8-12 minutes, turning frequently.
• Broiling gives a quick burst of intense heat. Broil 4-5 inches from heat for 3-5 minutes per side.

How To Cook Snow Crab Legs?

Boiling

Boiling is one of the most straightforward methods for cooking snow crab legs.

Ingredients:

• Snow crab legs
• Water
• Salt (optional)

Instructions:

1. Fill a large pot with water: Add enough water to completely cover the crab legs. Add a tablespoon of salt if desired.
2. Bring the water to a boil: Once the water is boiling, add the crab legs. If they are still frozen, they might lower the temperature of the water, so wait until it returns to a boil.
3. Cook for about 4 to 5 minutes: Once the water returns to a boil, cook the crab legs for about 4 to 5 minutes. They only need to be heated through since they are already cooked.
4. Drain and serve: Remove the crab legs with tongs and drain them. Serve hot with melted butter and lemon wedges.

Steaming

Steaming is a gentler method that helps preserve the flavor and texture of the crab.

Ingredients:

• Snow crab legs
• Water

Instructions:

1. Fill a pot with a few inches of water: The water should not touch the steamer basket when it is placed in the pot.
2. Bring the water to a boil: Place a steamer basket in the pot.
3. Add the crab legs to the basket: Cover the pot.
4. Steam for about 5 to 7 minutes: Steam until the crab legs are heated through.
5. Serve: Remove the crab legs and serve with your choice of sides and condiments.

Baking

Baking crab legs can infuse them with flavors if you choose to season them.

Ingredients:

• Snow crab legs
• Butter (optional)
• Garlic (optional)
• Lemon juice (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Prepare the crab legs: Split the shells or leave them whole. Place them on a baking sheet.
3. Add flavors (optional): Brush with melted butter, sprinkle with garlic, and lemon juice for added flavor.
4. Cover with foil: To keep them moist, cover the crab legs with aluminum foil.
5. Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes: Bake until they are heated through.
6. Serve: Serve hot with additional butter and lemon wedges.

Grilling

Grilling crab legs can add a smoky flavor.

Ingredients:

• Snow crab legs
• Oil or butter
• Seasonings (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
2. Prepare the crab legs: Brush the crab legs with oil or melted butter. You can also add seasonings like garlic powder or paprika.
3. Grill the crab legs: Place them on the grill and cover. Grill for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side.
4. Serve: Remove from the grill and serve with butter and lemon slices.

Serving Snow Crab Legs

Delicious Ways to Serve Snow Crab

Snow crab isn’t limited to just legs. Consider these easy, appetizing serving ideas:

• Crab cakes – Fold lump crabmeat into breadcrumbs, eggs, and seasonings. Pan fry into patties and serve with aioli.
• Stuffed mushrooms – Fill mushroom caps with crabmeat, cheese, and breadcrumbs. Bake until hot and melty.
• Crab stuffed salmon – Layer crabmeat inside salmon filets. Bake until fish flakes easily.
• Crab salad – Toss crab chunks with celery, onion, avocado, lemon juice, and mayo. Enjoy in lettuce cups.
• Crab dip – Combine cooked crab with cream cheese, sour cream, and spices. Serve with crackers or veggies.

Creative Snow Crab Dishes

Let your creativity run wild with these inspired snow crab recipes:

• Crab mac and cheese – Fold crabmeat into cheesy macaroni. Top with panko breadcrumbs and broil.
• Snow crab boils – Boil sausage, corn, and potatoes in crab broth. Add legs once other ingredients are cooked.
• Crab omelette – Make fluffy omelette filled with crab, cheese, and fresh herbs.
• Crab sliders – Top mini buns with crab cakes, avocado, and spicy remoulade.
• Crab fried rice – Stir crabmeat into fried rice with peas, carrots, eggs, and soy sauce.

Tips and Tricks Cooking Snow Crab Legs

Cracking Open Snow Crab Legs Like a Pro

Cracking into crab legs is simple with a few tips:

• Use kitchen shears or cracker tool to cut shell on underside.
• Snap open shell, then remove pointy back fin.
• Pull out whole leg carefully to keep meat intact.
• Use small fork to pull meat out of segments.

Knowing When Snow Crab is Cooked

Check doneness by:

• Looking for opaque, pearly white meat.
• Flushing red shells indicating heat has penetrated.
• Poking shell to check interior color.
• Flaking a section to test – should separate easily when done.

Storing Snow Crab

• Never re-freeze thawed crab legs.
• Refrigerate leftover crabmeat up to 2 days.
• For longer storage, pick crabmeat and freeze up to 3 months.
• Use leftover crabmeat in crab cakes, dips, sandwiches, pasta dishes and more.

Conclusion: Snow Crab Legs

Armed with this comprehensive guide to shopping, preparing, cooking, and serving spectacular snow crab legs, you have all the tools to make restaurant-quality crab feasts at home. Use these tips to choose your ingredients, master cooking methods, get creative with seasoning, try fun new recipes, and troubleshoot any issues. Cooking up tender, succulent, flavorful snow crab is fun and rewarding. Get ready to impress your guests – and your own tastebuds! – with your new crab cooking prowess. The world of delicious home-cooked snow crab awaits.