How Long to Cook Crab Legs
While there's no denying that crab cakes are delicious, there's something uniquely satisfying about cracking open freshly cooked crab legs served with a generous side of melted butter. To know how long to cook crab legs, though, you need to decide on how you're going to prepare them.
How Long to Cook Crab Legs in Boiling Water
Crab legs take about 5 minutes to boil. Boiling is the most common method used for cooking crab legs. Make sure to use a large pot of water and add some salt before you add the crab legs.
How Long to Steam Crab Legs
It takes 5 to 7 minutes to steam crab legs in a steamer basket over boiling water.
How Long to Cook Crab Legs in the Oven
It takes 6 to 8 minutes to cook crab legs in the oven. Just place the crab legs on a baking sheet and put them under the broiler for 3 to 4 minutes, then flip them over and cook them for another 3 to 4 minutes. While boiling and steaming are much more common cooking methods, this approach saves having to bring a big pot of water to a boil. If you line your baking sheet with foil, you won't even need to wash a pan!
No matter how you cook your crab legs, you'll know they're done when the shells turn red and the meat looks opaque.