by If you’re a seafood lover, September is the best month of the year. As fish starts to slim down and schools start to close, Alaska – as well as other states with bountiful fishing industries such as California and Washington – are opening up their waters for harvest. One of the most prized catches? King crab legs. Price-wise, you could expect to pay anywhere from $30 to more than $100 for a typical serving of king crab legs. But if you think that the price is forking out, you can now get your hands on some for a fraction of the cost with today’s modern imitation crab legs.
Over the last few years, manufacturers have started producing fake crab legs made from ingredients such as chicken, pork and fish as an alternative to real seafood.
Now, if you’ve never cooked this particular delicacy before, don’t fret! It’s actually quite easy and takes under an hour from start to finish.
About King Crab Legs How To Cook
King crab legs are the most expensive seafood dishes on the market. After all, they are in high demand during the month of September, which is when harvesting season begins. The king crab legs you purchase in the store comes fresh from Alaska and is harvested off of factory ships during the winter months.
Just like the actual crab legs, the imitation ones are edible. However, there are some differences between the two. The imitation version is usually about five inches long, compared to its natural counterpart which is about a 14-inch span. It also tends to be flatter but it does share some of the same texture as that of a real crab leg when cooked properly.
How to Steam King Crab Legs
- Start by filling your pot with a gallon of water, cover it and let it warm for about ten minutes. Once the water is warm, add a teaspoon of salt to speed up the cooking process.
- Add your king crab legs and then cover the pot for about five minutes to steam. Repeat this until the meat of the crab is slightly opaque and able to be pulled apart easily.
- Once the meat is ready, go ahead and pull the crab legs out of the pot. You can now serve them with a side of melted butter or use them with your favorite recipes.
How to Grill King Crab Legs:
- Set up your grill for indirect heat. You can do this by removing the burners under your grill grates and placing an aluminum tray on top of the burners. Fill it with some water or other liquid like beer and place a drip pan at the bottom of your grill. This will prevent the fire from spreading.
- Next, soak a handful of wood chips in some water for about five minutes. Once the time has passed, place the kebab skewers on top of the drip pan and then place them on your grill grates. Put one king crab leg on each kebab skewer and then close the lid on your grill for about ten minutes to cook through.
How to Bake King Crab Legs:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a baking dish in the oven for about five minutes to preheat as well. You can also use a roasting pan instead.
- While the oven is preheating, mix together some melted butter with white wine vinegar, lemon juice, and minced garlic. After doing so, pour the mixture into your casserole dish and add your king crab legs on top of the mixture in a single layer without touching each other.
Best Way To Cook King Crab Legs at Home
In order to cook king crab legs at home, you first need to defrost them. This can be done in the refrigerator, at room temperature or in cold water. Once they’re ready, place some breadcrumbs into a large bowl and preheat your oven on broil. Make sure that the broiler rack is located on the topmost position. Then get a cookie sheet and place it along the rack. This is where your king crab legs will be placed while they bake. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
While your oven is heating up, start preparing the meat inside of the king crab legs by pulling out any cartilage and shell pieces with a pair of tweezers and a fork. This can also be done before you defrost them, if you prefer.
Now, take your defrosted king crab legs and put them on the cookie sheet. Make sure that the tips of the legs are facing the heating element. Once you’ve placed them on the cookie sheet, put a tablespoon of butter on top of each one and then season it with salt. Place your oven rack next to the broiler rack so that they’re close together.
By this time, your oven should be hot enough to start cooking.
How to Serve King Crab Legs
For the best results, place the cookie sheet with your king crab legs on the topmost rack in your oven. Make sure that you leave yourself about two minutes to play around with the heat settings before you place them in the oven.
After two minutes have passed, carefully remove them from the oven and transfer them to a serving platter. They should be golden brown, crispy and tender at this point and ready to serve.
Is it better to boil or bake king crab legs?
In general, it’s better to boil king crab legs than it is to bake them. Boiling is generally a faster method of cooking and therefore yields the best results for the taste buds.
How long should you cook king crab legs?
King crab legs can take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes to cook depending on how you want them done. If you want them lightly boiled then cook them for about 20 minutes, but if you’d rather have them fully cooked then cook for about 40 minutes.
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How to Defrost King Crab Legs
The best way to defrost king crab legs is to defrost them in the refrigerator overnight. Simply place the king crab legs into a bowl, add a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil and then set them aside. This will defrost them in no time at all.
How to Store King Crab Legs
After you purchase king crab legs, it’s best to store them in the freezer. This will keep them fresh for a long period of time and will also prevent them from going bad from bacteria. If you’re only planning on cooking them after a few days, then you can also store them in a cold refrigerator.
Although it’s not recommended, if you’re storing king crab legs for about three weeks, then you can store them in the fridge or on your countertop.
If You Like This, Try Other New Recipe
Who would have thought that preparing this fancy dish could be so simple? There’s no reason to be intimidated, so give this a try in your own kitchen today!
