Snow Crab Legs
July 21, 2016
Revised & updated 1/12/2021 - Once you discover how easy & relatively inexpensive it is to make Snow Crab Legs at home, compared to ordering it in a restaurant, you'll wonder why you never did it before! I like to serve Snow Crab Legs with a side of mashed potatoes & either corn, steamed broccoli or a vegetable medley like carrots, summer squash & broccoli.
Serves: 2
Directions
1 Defrost crab legs for about 2 hours & then rinse in cold water.
2 Set up your dinner table with napkins, seafood forks, seafood crackers or nutcrackers.
3 Also add to the table a large bowl, lined with a bag, for discarding crab shells.
4 On the stove top; melt 1 Tblsp of ghee in each of 2 separate metal butter servers, on warm heat. Keep warm till ready to serve.
5 Fill a 16 quart stock pot, 2/3 of the way, with water. Add salt & sugar to the water. Partially cover & bring to a rapid boil on high heat. (See Tip #4 for alternative cooking method)
6 On your counter, nearby the stock pot; set up a dinner plate with a large colander on top & a large set of tongs. Place crab leg racks in the boiling water, partially cover & boil for 3 minutes. Do not overcook.
7 Using the tongs; remove leg racks to the plated colander to drain for a couple of seconds & immediately transfer to 2 serving platters.
8 Add your side dishes, melted ghee & serve right away.
Tips & Suggestions
1 You can buy frozen snow crab legs (precooked) in the seafood department of most grocery stores. I like to wait until it goes on sale & then buy several bags weighing between 2 1/2 to 3 lbs (each bag serves 2) & store them in the freezer.
2 Ghee is clarified butter & can be purchased in jars in most natural food stores or larger supermarkets. Here's a recipe if you'd like to make your own from scratch: Cut up 1 pound of organic, unsalted butter into 1 Tblsp pats & place in a small saucepan. Melt over low heat, then remove from heat & let stand 3 minutes. Skim froth off the top. Pour slowly through a cheesecloth into a glass jar, leaving the milky solids in the bottom of the pan. Cover & store in the refrigerator (will keep indefinitely). Yields about 3/4 lb.
3 If serving more than 2 people; increase the amount of ghee. Then at step# 7 place leg racks on a large baking sheet & keep warm in a preheated 175° oven. Repeat cooking procedure with remaining crab leg racks & serve everyone at the same time.
4 Alternative cooking method: At steps #5 - 8 preheat oven to 400°, place defrosted very wet crab legs on a large baking sheet, bake for 6 minutes (do not overcook), using tongs remove to serving platters, add your sides & melted ghee, serve immediately.
5 There's not just crab meat in the orange leg parts, but there's also loads of delicious meat in the upper white section, so be sure to dig it out & eat that as well.
I’ve never made snow crab legs at home but definitely want to try them They look delicious and fun to eat!
Simone, I can always count on your posts to give me simple and good ways to enjoy the most elegant foods, Wow to these crab legs, mmm and thank you!
Crab is seriously amazing and these pictures are making me hungry.
I love snow crab legs but have never tried making them at home. Mostly because of the expense of buying them. But I’ll have to see if I can find them on sale somewhere. I also never considered serving them with ghee. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Thanks for the idea of using frozen crab legs have never tried using it. I normally get it fresh from the local seafood store when available. Will try it with ghee as mentioned in your recipe.
I’d never thought to use ghee with crab legs, but it makes perfect sense. I just had some crab legs delivered (if anyone else needs the hook-up: https://qualityseafooddelivery.com/crab/), so I’ll be trying it this weekend!
Oh yes Halie, the ghee really adds that “extra bit of something” to the taste… much better than melted butter! Thanks for sharing your link for delivery, I’m going to check it out!
I just bought a 30 pound box of snow crab legs for only $250! (about $8.33 a pound!)
These aren’t imported or old, last year’s catch either. SIL works for a restaurant supply company.
Thanks for the ideas!!
Oh my goodness, now I’m jealous… that’s such an awesome price! Hope you’ll try my recipe & ideas when you cook some of them 🙂
I loooooove crab legs but never had the guts to cook them myself!!! Your recipe is easy to follow, can’t wait to try it, super excited!!!
Oooh you’re gonna love these Chad, I just made them again last night & they were divine!
I’ve never made snow crab legs myself, but i love them!!! Now i know how to:)))
Glad to help 🙂 They really are easy to make & now I’m craving them… I’m going to have to look for an upcoming sale on them!
Love crab legs. This sounds delectable.
Due to my shellfish allergy, I don’t have ANY expertise in cooking things like this. My family LOVES seafood, and while I figured out shrimp and salmon, I thought crab legs were beyond me. Thanks to your step by step instructions, my family is so happy!
Awww that’s a shame that you have allergies to seafood Kylee. However, it makes me happy to know that I’ve helped you be able to serve snow crab to your family!
I must admit I’ve always been intimidated by making crab legs but this looks so easy! Thanks!
I was too Karen until one of the guys at my local supermarket let me in on the secret! That was over 30 years ago & I’ve been enjoying them ever since 🙂
Nothing makes me happier to hear that you & your family enjoyed this recipe Michele! Great idea covering the table with newspaper… gonna have to do that myself next time I make crab legs 🙂
Perfect step by step instructions that I followed!
I covered my table with newspaper and let my son and husband have at it!