How to Steam Crab Legs at Home

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steamed crab legsPhoto by xuhulk is marked with CC BY 2.0

Get ready to enjoy a classic seafood feast in the comfort of your home with our in-depth guide  to Steaming Crab Legs! These simple steps, plus a few tools and ingredients, are all you need  to prepare a sensational seafood meal in no time at all.  

Here at Maine Lobster House, we pride ourselves in offering fresh, delicious seafood delivered  right to your door. Begin with an order of our Alaskan King Crab Legs and you’re in for an  incredible meal that you and your guests are sure to savor.  

With just a few additional tools and ingredients, you’ll be ready to prepare your Steamed Crab  Legs with ease.  

What You’ll Need:  

Ingredients:  

  • Crab Legs 
  • Butter (salted or unsalted) 
  • Seasonings of Choice (for  flavored butter)  
  • Fresh Lemon Wedges

Tools:  

  • Large Pot with Steamer Basket 
  • Tongs 
  • Aluminum Foil (optional)  
  • Small Saucepan  
  • Seafood Crackers (for serving) 
  • Platter (for serving) 

Before beginning any preparation of crab legs, you’ll want to defrost them in the refrigerator  overnight (approximately 8-12 hours). Doing so ensures a consistent thaw while keeping  freshness and flavor intact. Be sure to cook your crab legs immediately after defrosting.  

Once defrosted, follow these simple steps below: 

  1. To begin, you’ll want to prep a large pot for steaming. Fill your pot with water and place  over medium heat. Fill the pot a few inches high, making sure that the steamer basket is  not submerged in the water once inserted.  
  2. Bring the pot of water to a boil.  
  3. Place the steamer basket in the pot and add crab legs, making sure not to overcrowd the  basket. 
  4. Cover the pot with a lid and let steam. If the lid does not sit comfortably on top of the pot,  carefully cover the pot with aluminum foil instead.  
  5. Let crab legs steam for 5-7 minutes until heated through. Larger crab legs, like Alaskan  King Crab legs, may take a few additional minutes.  
  6. You can tell that crab legs are nearing doneness upon smelling a sweet seafood aroma.  Other signs of doneness include the color of the shell, and the color of the crab meat,  which will be opaque white. When cracking open a crab leg, steam should rise, indicating  that the meat is heated through.  
  7. Once done, remove the crab legs from the steamer basket with tongs and place in a  serving dish.  
  8. Repeat the steaming process a few times if necessary, until all of your crab legs have been  steamed.  
  9. Serve crab legs immediately alongside a flavored dipping sauce or classic clarified butter  and fresh lemon wedges.  
  10. To prepare a butter sauce, simply melt a few tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan  over medium heat. Add desired seasonings, stir until melted, and serve hot. 
  11. Don’t forget your seafood claw crackers for serving!  

It’s really that simple to make steamed crab legs at home! A few simple ingredients and quick  steps is really all you need to have a fresh seafood feast on your dinner table in just a few  minutes.  

Browse additional recipes in our Seafood University, or place your order for Crab Legs online  with us today!

steamed crab legs

Steamed Crab Legs

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Course Main Course

Equipment

  • large pot with steamer basket
  • tongs
  • aluminum foil
  • small saucepan
  • seafood crackers (for serving)
  • platter (for serving)

Ingredients
  

  • crab legs
  • butter (salted or unsalted)
  • seasonings of choice (for flavored butter)
  • fresh lemon wedges

Instructions
 

  • To begin, you’ll want to prep a large pot for steaming. Fill your pot with water and place over medium heat. Fill the pot a few inches high, making sure that the steamer basket is not submerged in the water once inserted
  • Bring the pot of water to a boil
  • Place the steamer basket in the pot and add crab legs, making sure not to overcrowd the basket
  • Cover the pot with a lid and let steam. If the lid does not sit comfortably on top of the pot, carefully cover the pot with aluminum foil instead
  • Let crab legs steam for 5-7 minutes until heated through. Larger crab legs, like Alaskan King Crab legs, may take a few additional minutes
  • You can tell that crab legs are nearing doneness upon smelling a sweet seafood aroma. Other signs of doneness include the color of the shell, and the color of the crab meat, which will be opaque white. When cracking open a crab leg, steam should rise, indicating that the meat is heated through
  • Once done, remove the crab legs from the steamer basket with tongs and place in a serving dish
  • Repeat the steaming process a few times if necessary, until all of your crab legs have been steamed
  • Serve crab legs immediately alongside a flavored dipping sauce or classic clarified butter and fresh lemon wedges
  • To prepare a butter sauce, simply melt a few tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add desired seasonings, stir until melted, and serve hot
  • Don’t forget your seafood claw crackers for serving!