How to Cook Crab Legs: Steam, Boil, Bake and Grill
Sweet, tender crab legs feel like a restaurant treat, and they are one of the easiest seafood dinners you can make at home. Because they arrive already cooked, all you have to do is heat them through and serve them with warm butter. This guide shows you how to steam, boil, bake, and grill crab legs, with exact times for snow and king crab.
Below you will find how to thaw crab legs, four easy ways to heat them, a cook time chart, how much to buy per person, a quick garlic butter, and tips for tender, juicy crab every time.
Are Crab Legs Already Cooked?
Yes. Snow crab and king crab legs are cooked and flash frozen right on the boat, soon after they are caught, to lock in their freshness and sweet flavor. That means you are not cooking raw crab at home, you are gently reheating it. The goal is simply to warm the meat through without overcooking it, which keeps it tender and juicy rather than tough. This is why crab legs are so quick and forgiving to prepare.
Types of Crab Legs
Intershell carries the three most popular kinds of crab, each with its own character:
Snow crab has long, slender legs with sweet, delicate, snowy-white meat, and it is the most popular choice for an easy crab dinner or a seafood boil. King crab has thick, meaty legs with a rich, buttery flavor, making it the showpiece for a special occasion. Jonah crab meat is already picked from the shell, sweet and flaky, and ready to use in crab cakes, rolls, and salads.
How to Thaw Crab Legs
For the best texture, always thaw crab legs before heating. The simplest way is to move them to the refrigerator the night before, where a small pack thaws in 6 to 12 hours and a larger pack in 12 to 48 hours. If you are short on time, place the sealed crab in a colander and run cold water over it for about 10 minutes. Do not use hot water or try to thaw the crab by cooking it, as that ruins the natural texture and flavor.
How to Steam Crab Legs
Steaming is the recommended method because it warms the crab gently and keeps the meat moist without making it watery.
- 1Boil a little waterAdd 1 to 2 inches of water to a large pot and bring it to a boil. You can add a bay leaf, lemon, or a spoonful of seafood seasoning for extra flavor.
- 2Add the crab to a steamer basketSet a steamer basket in the pot and arrange the crab legs inside. Bend the legs at the joints if needed to fit.
- 3Steam until hotCover and steam for about 4 to 5 minutes for snow crab, or 6 to 8 minutes for larger king crab, just until the crab is hot and fragrant.
- 4ServeLift the crab out, plate it, and serve right away with warm butter and lemon.
How to Boil Crab Legs
Boiling is fast and works well when you want to season the crab, and it is the natural fit for a seafood boil. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and add a generous amount of seafood seasoning such as Old Bay. Submerge the crab legs completely and boil for about 4 to 5 minutes for snow crab, or 5 to 7 minutes for king crab. Drain them right away so they do not get soggy.
How to Bake Crab Legs
Baking is perfect if you love garlic butter, since the crab soaks up the flavor as it warms.
- 1Heat the oven to 400°FPreheat your oven to 400°F, or 200°C.
- 2Butter the crabArrange the crab legs in a single layer on a baking sheet and brush them generously with melted garlic butter and a splash of lemon juice.
- 3Cover with foil and bakeWrap the sheet tightly with aluminum foil to trap the steam, and bake for about 8 to 10 minutes for snow crab, or 10 to 15 minutes for king crab, until heated through.
How to Grill Crab Legs
Grilling adds a light smoky flavor and a hint of char. Heat the grill to medium, brush the crab legs with oil or melted butter, and grill for about 5 to 7 minutes for snow crab or 7 to 10 minutes for king crab, turning once, until hot. Because the crab is already cooked, you are just warming it and adding color, so watch it closely so it does not dry out.
Crab Leg Cook Times
Since crab legs only need to be reheated, the times are short. Use this chart as a guide, and remember that king crab legs are thicker and need a bit longer than snow crab.
| Method | Snow Crab Legs | King Crab Legs |
|---|---|---|
| Steam | 4 to 5 min | 6 to 8 min |
| Boil | 4 to 5 min | 5 to 7 min |
| Bake at 400°F | 8 to 10 min | 10 to 15 min |
| Grill | 5 to 7 min | 7 to 10 min |
All times assume the crab is fully thawed. The crab is done as soon as it is hot and fragrant throughout, so avoid heating it longer than needed.
How Much Crab Per Person
Crab legs include the shell, so plan on about 1 to 1.5 pounds of crab legs per person for a main course, and a little less if you are serving other dishes alongside. If you are using picked crab meat, about 1/2 pound per person is plenty. For a full breakdown across different seafood, see our seafood portion guide.
Garlic Butter for Crab Legs
A simple garlic butter is all crab needs. Melt 1 stick of butter in a small pan, add 3 to 4 minced garlic cloves, and cook gently for about a minute until fragrant. Stir in a squeeze of lemon, a pinch of chopped parsley, and, if you like, a little Old Bay. Serve it warm for dipping, or spoon it over the crab. Cocktail sauce is a nice second option.
How to Eat Crab Legs
Eating crab is half the fun. Bend each leg at the joint to snap it, then use kitchen shears or a seafood cracker to split the shell down the side and slide the meat out in one piece. A small seafood fork helps with the narrow sections. Dip the sweet meat in warm butter and enjoy. Serve crab legs with classic sides like roasted red potatoes, corn on the cob, coleslaw, or crusty bread.
Tips for Perfect Crab Legs
- ✓Thaw first. Fully thawed crab heats evenly and keeps its texture
- ✓Do not overheat. The crab is already cooked, so warm it just until hot to keep it tender
- ✓Season the water or butter, not the crab itself, for the best flavor
- ✓Match the time to the crab, giving thicker king crab legs a little longer than snow crab
- ✓Serve right away with warm butter while the crab is hot
Frequently Asked Questions
Order Crab Legs Online
Bring home sweet, wild-caught snow crab and rich Alaskan king crab, cooked and flash frozen to lock in freshness, then shipped cold from the docks of Gloucester.
More Seafood Guides and Recipes
Keep cooking with these Intershell guides.