King crab is a type of shellfish with extremely long legs. They are usually cooked after they are caught and frozen to preserve freshness. The tender white meat is cooked for only a few minutes and served with butter.
Steaming King Crab Legs
Place the king crab legs in the refrigerator overnight to thaw. Leave them there for 24 hours, if you have a large batch to defrost. Fill a large stock pot with water. Cover it. Set it to boil on your stove. Make sure you have a cover and steamer insert for this method of cooking. Cut two lemons into slices and place them in the water. Cut two cloves of garlic in half horizontally, and place them into the water as well. Remove the lid and place the steamer basket inside once it is boiling. Before placing king crab legs into the basket, use kitchen shears to cut the crab legs at the joints, then place them in the steamer. Cover the stock pot and basket. Set your timer for 5 minutes. Remove the cooked crab after 5 minutes. Do additional batches as needed. Serve with melted butter. You should cut the crab shells vertically or serve the legs with a crab cracker.
Baking King Crab Legs
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grab a large cooking sheet and cover with aluminum foil. Cut the crab legs at the joins with kitchen shears. Place them atop the lined baking sheet. Boil some water in a kettle. Pour 1/2 cup of water onto the baking sheet. The water should cover the bottom of the pan. Cooking shellfish with some steam or water will keep it from getting dry and rubbery. Sprinkle the surface of the legs with herbs, such as garlic or dill. Squeeze lemon wedges over the legs. Place extra lemon wedges in the pan. Cover the crab legs with a layer of aluminum foil. Seal it as tightly as possible. Place the baking sheet in the over to cook for 10 minutes. Remove the pan. Crack a leg to see if it is hot in the middle. If so, serve with melted butter and crab crackers immediately.
Grilling King Crab Legs
Cut your defrosted king crab legs so that they will fit onto your grill. Make sure to cut them at the joints. Preheat your grill on low. You only want it to get to a temperature of about 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush the surface of the crab legs with oil. Set the crab legs on the surface of the grill. Close to the top. Let them grill for 5 minutes. Flip over the crab legs. Remove after 5 minutes. Serve immediately with melted butter and lemon wedges.
Boiling King Crab Legs
Fill a large stockpot with water. Set it to boil on your stove with the lid on. Reduce the temperature to set at a simmer. Insert the king crab legs into the boiling water. Cover the pot. Set your timer for 5-7 minutes. Remove with tongs and drain. Serve with melted butter and lemon wedges.
