Dungeness crabs are a species found on the West Coast between Alaska and Northern California. How it Transfer the Dungeness crab to a warm serving plate and serve immediately while warm. So, should you thaw Dungeness, or heat them from frozen? Dungeness crab legs are thin, compared to other species of crab caught in Alaska, which can make for a relatively large size differential between the leggy part of the product and the end that’s been separated from the crab’s body, known as the “shoulder.” For Dungeness crab legs with hefty shoulders, you definitely will want to defrost before cooking so that the crab meat will be warmed through evenly. By reserving your monthly seafood share, you’re helping build a more sustainable food system that’s better for humans and fish alike. , Reviews. Bring everything to a boil, then add the crab legs to your steamer basket. Whole Dungeness crab purchased from a grocery store or fish market is often boiled before it is sold. Close the pot with a tight-fitting lid or aluminum foil, then allow the legs to steam for 4 minutes if thawed and about 6 minutes if frozen. This spice has now been added to your Flavor Profile, under "My Spices". If you’re using Dungeness crab legs with small shoulders, or just heating up some smaller pieces that were left in the bottom of your bag, you can skip the defrosting step and prepare a meal of Dungeness crab legs from frozen with no issues. Are you sure you want to remove from My Spices? The Taste You Trust™. Wear heavy oven gloves and use tongs with a long reach. Whoa Nelly! Make Homemade Veggie Burgers that Taste Great and... 2 live Dungeness crabs (3 1/2 to 4 pounds). The LIVESTRONG Foundation and LIVESTRONG.COM do not endorse advertisements are served by third party advertising companies. For a bit of extra color, add fresh flat-leaf parsley to the butter or on top of the cooked crab before serving it. Defrost frozen crab legs. The pride of the Pacific coast, the mighty Dungeness crab is well known for its slightly sweet, delicate flavor and abundance of meat. Place the steamer basket in the top of the stockpot and heat the liquid over high heat until boiling with the top on the pot. We value your privacy. Set a steamer basket into a pot large enough to accommodate your Dungeness crab legs, filling the bottom of the pot with an inch or so of liquid. Serve with melted butter. It should not be Drain well. It’s your way to save recipes and spices, get inspired — and receive special offers and discounts. How to Steam Frozen or Thawed Snow Crab Legs. PARTNER & LICENSEE OF THE LIVESTRONG FOUNDATION. Because we are constantly improving our products, we encourage you to read the ingredient statement on our packages at the time of your purchase. Be careful when removing the Dungeness crab from the steamer basket, as the steam may burn you if you are not careful. Privacy Policy Whoa Nelly! 2020 Place the cooked Dungeness crab in the top of the steamer and reduce the heat to medium. Copyright © 2020 McCormick & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. We suggest rinsing off any ice glaze under cold, running water so that there aren’t any super icy sections for more even cooking. Crab clusters are an easy way to enjoy these treasures! *Click here to view our nutritional definitions. Make sure your crab has been cooked, especially if you are buying whole Dungeness crab from a busy fish market, as raw crab will need to be steamed for longer. After being defrosted, it won’t take more than 5 minutes to give the legs a good steam. In our opinion, the ideal way to heat the renowned West Coast crustacean, beloved for its sweet and briny flavor, is to steam it. and However, some varieties of crab legs are much less dense and won’t suffer much from being heated up straight from the freezer. 3 Using tongs, remove the crab to a colander and rinse under cold water until cool enough to … When steaming most wild Alaskan varieties of seafood, thawing out your proteins before introducing them to heat is the best way to ensure even doneness and ideal textures in the final product. Even during a brief steam, these ingredients will add a subtle complexity to the crab meat. The pride of the Pacific coast, the mighty Dungeness crab is well known for its slightly sweet, delicate flavor and abundance of meat. Our Black Bean Quinoa Burgers get their bold flavor from... Want to learn how to make s'mores at home? After being defrosted, it won’t take more than 5 minutes to give the legs a good steam. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the LIVESTRONG.COM Heat the Dungeness crab in the stockpot for three minutes over medium heat. Sprinkle with OLD BAY. Add the white wine and water to a large stockpot. The crabs reach a size of up to 10 inches across and have five legs on each side. . Christopher Godwin is a freelance writer from Los Angeles. Steamed up with OLD BAY® and served with butter, this is a treat no crab connoisseur can pass up. Godwin has published poetry, fiction and nonfiction in publications like "Spork Magazine," "Cold Mountain Review" and "From Abalone To Zest.". Cover.Steam 18 to 20 minutes or until crabs turn bright orange. An easy steamed Dungeness crab recipe with step-by-step cooking and cleaning instructions. Click below to search our FAQ’s or contact us.