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How to Boil Crab Legs: 9 Easy Steps

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When it comes to learning how to boil crab legs, many people immediately dismiss the idea because they think it is difficult. In reality, boiling crab legs at home is an incredibly simple process that anyone can do, so crab lovers can rejoice at the chance to bring this delicious meal into their homes. With a few simple ingredients, you can have perfectly prepared crab legs that will impress your family or any guests that you might have. All you have to do is go out and purchase some delicious crab legs and get to work boiling them with a few easy steps. You will end up with a delicious meal in no time at all! By the way, we recently added an article about crawfish.

how to boil crab legs

Contents

  • Step-By-Step Instructions
  • How Long Should You Boil Crab Legs?
  • Serving Size
  • Calories
  • How to Boil Crab Legs
    • Equipment
    • Ingredients  
    • Instructions 
    • Notes

Step-By-Step Instructions

  1. The first step when it comes to learning how to boil crab legs is to get a large pot and add water to it. Since crab legs can vary in length, the size of the pot is incredibly important. You want to make sure you have the right amount of room for the crab legs to boil and cook evenly throughout. It is safer to use a larger pot and risk it being too big rather than too small. This also makes other parts of the process easier when learning how to boil crab legs.

empty pan

  1. For this approach, we will be using king crab legs, but you can also use it for other kinds of crab legs. However, depending on the size and thickness of the legs you choose, you might have to make variations in learning how to boil crab legs. Smaller legs might require less time to cook completely.
  2. After you have chosen your crab legs, you want to take the time to sit down and wash them. The best way to go about this is to run the crab legs under cold water. You will want to rub away any visible sediment and ensure that all parts of the legs have been thoroughly rinsed. As is the case with any kind of food prep, when learning how to boil crab legs, you must focus on food safety.
  3. While the crab legs are being cleaned, bring the pot to a steady boil. Since you will lose some water to steam, it is important to really fill the pot when adding your water. This will help make sure you can cover the crab legs.
  4. When the water has begun to boil, you can add a half tablespoon of salt to the water to assist with the boiling process and to help bring out more flavor in the crab meat. If the water is only subtly boiling, it can be helpful to give the mixture a quick stir to distribute the salt.
  5. Once the salt has been spread throughout the water, it is time to add the crab legs. As you add each individual set of crab legs, make sure you take the time to push them down. You want the crab legs to be completely submerged, so don’t hesitate to treat it like a puzzle and push them down where you can. Making sure that all parts of the crab legs are cooked right is crucial when it comes to learning how to boil crab legs. Using a spoon or another utensil, push the crab legs down so they are forced down into the water. Don’t be afraid to hurt the legs when you push them into the water. This is why having a large pot is so important.

crab legs in the pan

  1. When the crab legs are completely submerged within the water, you want to cover the pot so they can cook. Let the crab legs boil for 3 to 5 minutes depending on how many crab legs you put in and how big they are.
  2. After the crab legs have been properly boiled, you will want to use tongs or other utensils to remove the legs from the boiling water. Gently pull out the cooked legs and set them on a plate.
  3. Before the legs get the chance to cool, serve them up on a plate for you or your guests and celebrate. You just learned how to boil crab legs!

crab legs on a plate

How Long Should You Boil Crab Legs?

When it comes to figuring out how to boil crab legs, it is important to remember that cooking is an art and a science. On average, you should boil king crab legs for 3 to 5 minutes. However, this cook time can vary depending on the amount of crab being cooked and the size of the legs.

Serving Size

Raw Crab Legs (Pounds)Crab Meat (Pounds)Serving Size (Per Person)
1 lb.½ lb.1
2 lbs. 1 lb.2

Calories

On average, a single Alaskan king crab leg has roughly 130 calories. This number can fluctuate depending on the size of the leg, but it should be considered when choosing portions with dietary restrictions.

crab legs

How to Boil Crab Legs

Vera Stetsenko
Learning how to boil crab legs is a simple process that anyone can do. When you boil your crab legs, all you have to do is wash the crab legs, add them to boiling water for a short period of time, and serve them up. This completely simple process makes it easy for anyone to prepare crab legs at home, which is a great way to save money!
4 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 8 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine all
Servings 135 grams
Calories 130 kcal

Equipment

  • Pan
  • plate
  • Tablespoon
  • Kitchen tongs

Ingredients
  

  • Crab legs
  • Salt (½ tablespoon)
  • Water

Instructions
 

  • Get a large pot and add water
  • Wash crab legs
  • Bring the pot to a steady boil
  • Add a half tablespoon of salt
  • Add the crab legs
  • Over the pot so they can cook
  • Remove the legs from the boiling water
  • Serve them up on a plate

Notes

Useful tips:
  • Be careful when handling crab legs, as they can be sharp and can easily cut you if you handle them too roughly
  • Avoid the sharp claws at the end of the crab legs for your safety
  • Rinse the crab legs for 20 to 30 seconds in cold water before boiling
  • Serve crab legs with melted butter and lemon for a delicious flavor boost
  • Use a fork to break the crab legs open in the event you are missing the proper tools
  • Adjust the boiling time for your crab legs in the event that you have more crab legs, or they are smaller or larger than traditional king crab legs
Keyword boil crab legs, how long to boil

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Comments

  1. jokerslot

    May 17, 2023 at 4:49 pm

    4 stars
    Magnificent site. Lots of useful information here.
    I am sending it to several friends ans additionally sharing in delicious.
    And certainly, thank you in your effort!

    Reply

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VeraHi! I’m Vera Stetsenko. Easy-to-prepare and time-saving, how-to-boil recipes will rediscover taste in boiled food that will upgrade your daily meals or special dinners.
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