Best way to prepare Crab Legs?

Question

What is the best way to prepare already-cooked crab legs (snow or king)? I've heard to rinse them to get the saltwater off. Is this true?

Answer 1

I've never heard of rinsing them. I just steam them for about 8 minutes. Then dunk the meat in melted lemon-garlic butter. Mmmmm.

Answer 2

I suggest precutting the shells to make them easier to peel when being eaten. The best thing to use is a pair of cooking shears. Cut a slit along the back (white part) of the leg, starting at the body end and going out as far as you can to the tip of the leg. The white part is softer than the front, so it's not too tough to cut with a good pair of shears. But, it's a lot easier to do this when the legs are still cold than when they're still hot. And, it doesn't affect the way they cook. Some people put out parchment paper on the table and use a mallet to crack the shells after they've been cooked. But, this can get pretty messy. Plus you get lots of bits of shell in the meat. About an hour before cooking them, soak them in salty water. I put a couple of tablespoons of salt into my sink and put in enough cold water to cover the crab legs. Then I stir it up to dissolve the salt and put in the crab legs. When you cook them, put enough water in the pot to cover the crab legs. Heat the water to a rolling boil. Then add a couple tablespoons of the Old Bay seasoning and immediately put the crab legs in. The water will stop boiling. Cover the pot and leave it set for about 5 minutes. Monitor the pot, in case it starts boiling again. If the pot is covered, this may cause the water to overboil out of the pot. Safety tip for opening a boiling pot of water: Open the lid toward the back of the stove first and hold it there for a few seconds before fully removing the lid. This makes all the superheated steam go out the back of the pot instead of in your face or arms. After 5 minutes, turn off the heat and remove the pot from the burner if you have an electric stove. Pull the legs out of the water with a pair of tongs and place them into a collander to drain for a few minutes. You can then place them on a large platter to serve them. I don't like anything with my crab legs - the crab flavor is why I eat them. My wife likes melted butter and some people like fresh lemon juice. So, you can have a bowl of cut up lemon wedges on the table when you serve the crab.

Answer 3

Use some zatarains crab boil to season a pot of boiling water. Add your crab legs, then turn off the heat. Let the crab legs sit in the hot water, steeping, for 10 minutes or so. They won't cook further but will absorb the flavor of the seasoning. Very good!

Answer 4

boil em and add cajun seasoning or crab/lobster seasoning to em. with some salt. dont overdo it tho.

Answer 5

wash them and then steamed them or blanch them quickly in boiling water

Answer 6

steam them or grill them.