To boil crab legs, the general recommended time is about 3 to 8 minutes, depending on whether they are pre-cooked (frozen) or fresh:
- For frozen, pre-cooked crab legs (most store-bought), boil them in seasoned, salted water for 3 to 5 minutes just to heat through, as they are already cooked
- For fresh, raw crab legs, boil for 6 to 8 minutes until the meat turns opaque and the shell changes color
- A common approach is to bring a large pot of salted water with seafood seasoning to a boil, add the crab legs, and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes until heated through
- After boiling, crab legs are typically served warm with melted butter or a garlic butter sauce.
Boiling times longer than 8 minutes may overcook the crab, making the meat rubbery
. In summary:
Crab Leg Type| Boiling Time
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Frozen, pre-cooked| 3 to 5 minutes
Fresh, raw| 6 to 8 minutes
General reheating| 5 to 8 minutes
This method ensures crab legs are heated properly without overcooking
