When it comes to cold seafood platters, crab legs are often
served high over a bed of ice or arranged on buffet tables for large gatherings
like weddings. It's common to find them at raw bars and restaurants. When you
see them out, you might overindulge in them, but have you ever wondered how to
prepare crab legs in a healthy way and still taste the best? Do you think you
require specialized tools or culinary skills to cook crab legs? Not at
all.
It's very simple to cook tasty and healthy crab legs. Make
sure to buy the fresh and good quality crab legs for sale near you to enjoy a great feast. In this
post, we will uncover the best way to cook crab legs. Before proceeding
further, let us first understand-
Why Do We Freeze Crab Legs?
Crabs release ammonia or very distasteful compounds when
it's dead. So, it's recommended to freeze the flesh to maintain its freshness
and taste. Moreover, it is also boiled or steamed alive followed by freezing
for packaging purposes. This way the steamed frozen crab legs can be cooked
whenever you want to eat.
Next is,
Choosing The Right Crab Type
Crabs are available in multiple varieties depending on the
region you live and seasonal availability. Yes, crabs have seasons when they
are in abundance and best to eat. But the king crab and snow crab are the most
popular kinds for their legs. Let's give you an overview of king crabs and snow
crabs.
King Crabs: As the name suggests, king crabs are much larger than snow crabs with big, meaty legs. They are often termed Alaska King crabs as they are present in abundance along the state’s coastline.
Snow crabs: Snow crabs are smaller than king crabs and have longer, skinnier, less meaty legs. They are found in the icy waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Both types are available frozen all year round from
specialty markets, big box stores, and internet retailers, including numerous
vendors that sell straight to customers.
What is the best way to cook Crab Legs?
If we compare steaming to the boiling method, steaming is
the superior and the best method to cook this Epicurean cuisine.
Why Steaming Rules?
Crab legs are generally sold pre-cooked and flash-frozen as steamed frozen crab legs. The best way to reheat them for
serving at home is to steam them since the soft, moist heat helps maintain the
meat's delicate texture and natural sweetness. If they are overcooked they will
become rubbery or lose their aromatic juices, which is a common thing when they
are boiled. Hence, they become more difficult to consume when they boil because
the spaces between the shell and the meat may absorb more water.
Thawing Gives You An Advantage
It's not necessary to thaw the legs before cooking, but it's
worthwhile if you have the time. Thawed legs will steam more evenly and
quickly. If you're pressed for time, you can thaw them in a colander under cool
running water until there is no more ice. However, ideally, thaw them in a bowl
overnight in the refrigerator.
The next question that arises in our mind is-
How to Steam Crab Legs
Now you know that it is best to cook crab legs via steaming.
Then comes how to do it the right way. Here’s how:
First, select a steamer basket and a pot big enough to
accommodate the crab legs. Its lid should be fit & tight.
After adding a few inches of water to the pot, place the
basket on top.
Salt or season the water.
Place the crab legs in the steamer basket and bring the
water to a boil.
Once the legs are thoroughly heated, cover the saucepan and
let them steam. If the crab legs were frozen when you put them in the steamer,
it would take a few more minutes. Thawed crab legs should take four to five
minutes.
Before serving, let the legs cool a little. Melted butter
and lemon wedges go well with them.
Are the Crab Legs Done Or Not?
Take a deep breath. When the crab legs begin to smell
cooked, you will know they are done! In addition, the meat should be perfectly
cooked with a reddish-pink appearance and luscious flesh.
Seasoning
You should, at minimum, add salt to the pot. Some cooks like to add bay leaves, lemon wedges, Old Bay seasoning, or a splash of white wine to the water, but that's all up to you. This can enhance the flavor of the crab, but honestly, the meat is so good just the way it is that there's no need for seasoning.
This is all about crab legs and the best approach to cook
them to look healthy & delicious. However, the choice of crab legs also
affects its delicacy. So, always opt for fresh & good quality crab legs for
sale near you to lure its complete flavor and nutritional content. We recommend
visiting Overnight Maine Lobster to buy fresh crab meat or order delicious crab
food. You can also join their recipe club to try mouth-watering seafood
recipes. Browse their site to know more!
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