When it comes to preserving the maximum flavor and tenderness of Alaskan king crab legs, nothing beats steaming on the grill. Since the king crab is the largest species of crab on earth — some can grow to weigh more than 20 pounds! — it’s important to choose a preparation method that is manageable, yet yields the best results. Using the grill allows you to avoid a mess in your kitchen and warm pre-cooked crab legs slowly to avoid overcooking.
Ready to throw your own crab feast? Follow these simple steps.
5 Simple Steps to Steam Alaskan King Crab Legs on the Grill
Step One: Rinse
Run your pre-cooked, frozen king crab legs under warm water for four or five minutes to thaw and get them ready for steaming. Keep in mind that four pounds of steamed king crab legs yields about one pound of meat, so plan accordingly to feed your crowd.
Step Two: Flavor
While the natural flavor of king crab legs is delicious all on it’s own, you can also infuse seasonings and spices into your crab legs before steaming. Try these suggestions to mix it up:
- Louisiana Style: Apply garlic, beer, lemon juice and Cajun seasoning liberally to the crab legs for a spicy twist.
- BBQ Style: Adding your favorite BBQ sauce to the crab legs before you steam them will infuse them with robust flavors that accent their natural richness.
- Old Bay Style: Old Bay is a seasoning mix usually used on blue crabs on the east coast, but this classic flavor option can also enhance the flavor of Alaskan king crab legs.
Step Three: Wrap
Next, wrap the king crab legs in aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.
Step Four: Grill
Place the aluminum foil wrapped Alaskan king crab legs directly on an open grill for five to seven minutes, turning them over at least once to ensure they are heated all the way through.
Step Five: Serve
Unwrap your perfectly steamed, juicy king crab legs and serve them up with a bit of melted butter for dipping. Or, you can use the meat to prepare crab salad, crab cakes, crab soup or any number of other delicious recipes. By steaming the legs on the grill, you’ll have tender, impeccably flavored crabmeat to impress your guests.
Let’s get cooking. Order a batch of Alaskan King Crab legs today.
