If you love crab legs, you probably enjoy eating them all the time. However, there are only so many times you can eat them in a week. To keep them fresh for later, you may wonder if freezing cooked crab legs is an option.
Can You Freeze Cooked Crab Legs?
You can definitely freeze cooked crab legs. It’s the perfect way to preserve them, and they’ll last up to 6 months in the freezer. To do it, simply place your cooked crab legs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and cover them with another layer of parchment paper. You can then transfer them from their baking sheets into freezer-safe bags or containers for long-term storage.
How To Freeze Cooked Crab Legs
Freezing cooked crab legs can be done successfully if you know what to do.
Step 1: Prepare the Crab Legs
There are a few ways to prepare crab legs before freezing them. One way is to remove the shell and then boil or steam the meat until it is tender. You can also bake or pan-fry the meat until it is fully cooked.
Step 2: Cool and Wrap the Crab Legs
Once your crab legs are boiled or steamed until tender, let them sit at room temperature until it’s cooled. Freezing them while it’s still hot will cause condensation to form in the freezer bag. This will cause ice crystals to form on the crab legs which could damage them.
On it’s cooled, put them in an airtight zip-top bag or wrap them in foil before placing them in the freezer. You’ll want to make sure that all of the air has been removed from these containers because it will help keep your crab legs fresh for longer periods of time.
Step 3: Label and Freeze Your Crab Legs
With a marker, write the date of freezing on the freezer bag. This will help you keep track of how long the crab legs have been in the freezer.
After labeling the bag, place the cooked crab legs into the freezer for storage.
How Long Do Cooked Crab Legs Last In the Freezer?
Crab legs can be frozen for up to 12 months, but it is better to use them within 3 months of freezing.
You may notice that your cooked crab legs become dry once they have been frozen for a while. This isn’t harmful, but it does make them less tasty than they would be if they were still moist when you take them out of the freezer.
How To Defrost Cooked Crab Legs
So you have cooked crab legs and you want to eat them now, but they are frozen. Don’t let them sit out at room temperature, as this could cause bacteria to grow on your food.
Instead, there are several methods to defrost cooked crab legs:
Defrosting Cooked Crab Legs In The Fridge
The best way to defrost crab legs is in the refrigerator. This method keeps your crab cold and ready for immediate consumption.
To defrost your cooked crab legs, simply place them in a sealed plastic bag and then place them in the fridge until they are completely thawed out. It may take several hours or even overnight, so plan ahead before serving!
How to Defrost Crab Legs in Water
Use cold water to defrost your crab legs quickly. The longer meat sits in warm water, the more it will cook. Fill a large bowl or container with cold water and place the crab legs in it. Allow them to soak for about 30 minutes; this is enough time for most of the ice crystals to melt from the surface of the meat. Drain off the excess water and pat dry with paper towels before using the crab legs in a recipe or serving them as an appetizer or main course item.
How To Defrost Cooked Crab Legs In The Microwave Oven
1) Place your cooked crab legs in a microwave-safe dish with at least 2 inches of water in it. If it is too small, then your crab will touch the bottom and may get burned by the hot plate.
2) Set your microwave on high and cook the crab legs for 1 minute at a time until they are thawed through (about 10 minutes). Be sure to stir the water after each minute so that all of your meat gets heated evenly and doesn’t get too hot on one side while it’s still frozen on another side (which could cause bacteria growth).
Can You Refreeze Cooked Crab Legs?
You can refreeze cooked crab leg, but it’s not recommended you do so.
After freezing and defrosting their meat for the second time, it will be mushy and their shells will be soft. You’ll also notice that when you cook them again in the oven or even just heat them up in a pot of boiling water, they’ll have lost much of their flavor and texture.
Instead of freezing the cooked crab legs again, place them in the fridge. You can store them in the fridge for about 3 days before they go bad.
Do Cooked Crab Legs Freeze Well?
Cooked crab legs freeze quite well. If you have a lot of cooked crab legs left over from your feast and don’t want to waste any of them, freezing them is the best way to preserve them.
For the best result, freeze them within 2 hours after it’s cooked. This will help keep the crab legs fresh for a long time.
Conclusion
Once the crab legs are cooked, if you need to keep them fresh for more than a few days, freezing them is the best option. You can freeze just the crab meat or freeze them in their shells.
Kate has been in the food business for over 20 years. Worked as a cook at several buffets which include Old Country Buffet, Five Star Buffet, and Ichiban Buffet. Now, I’m mostly at home cooking for my family, caring for chickens and ducks, and tending the garden.
