How to Cook frosty Crab Legs

Strictly speaking, you probably won't need to cook those frosty crab legs you purchased at the supermarket or at the reduction club store--it has already been done for you. You will just need to heat them up. Make sure you do it properly, though, by following these tips.

You must first thaw the crab legs. Allow them to thaw in your refrigerator overnight; don't make the mistake that many people do of thawing them at room temperature or, even worse, thawing them by zapping in a microwave oven. Thawing at room temperature is a bit risky from a food-safety standpoint , and microwaving can overcook crab legs.

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Once the legs are completely thawed, then you can heat them in the microwave--or in a approved oven. You can also steam or boil them.

Microwaving

Place crab legs in a microwave-safe pan or on a dish. Cover with a merge of thicknesses of paper towels and heat on high for 2 to 3 minutes.

Boiling

Fill a large pot 2/3 full of water. Add several shakes of salt and any other seasoning that you like. Bring water to a boil. Drop crab legs into the boiling water. Immediately sell out heat and let the pot simmer for 4 to 6 minutes.

Steaming

Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil on stove. Place crab legs in a vegetable steamer or a colander and place over the pan. Allow the legs to steam for 4 or 5 minutes.

Heating in an Oven

Heat oven to approximately 420 degrees F. Place crab legs on a baking sheet and place in oven on a top rack. Roast for 4 or 5 minutes.

The best crab legs are king crab legs, but most types of crab sold for food have a good deal of meat in their legs and especially their claws. Sometimes there is more meat in the legs than in the body itself.

Crab legs are made up of three inescapable sections. To get at the meat, just break the sections apart at the joints. Then take hold of one of the sections and press it with your thumbs on the flat side until the shell cracks. You should be able now to remove the shell and pull out a good-sized piece of meat. The claws will probably need to be cracked with forceps or with extra tools ready from kitchen specialty shops.

Cooked crabmeat right from the legs is delicious by itself, or you can brush it with melted butter before eating. Crab leg meat is also good in any method calling for crabmeat generally.

How to Cook frosty Crab Legs

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