Steaming and Boiling

The most traditional way to cook crab in coastal regions is simply to steam it or boil it, keeping the focus on the crab's own flavor. Steaming portioned, thawed crabs takes five to eight minutes, while whole crabs can take 10 minutes or longer, depending on their size. Boiling is slightly quicker, with thawed leg clusters or half-crabs typically requiring five to seven minutes. Individual legs or claws take a minute or two less, and whole crabs take a minute or two more. Boiling offers the option of seasoning the water heavily, either with sea salt or a "crab boil" seasoning mix, to complement the crabs' natural flavor.

Grill and Go

Grilling the crabs on your barbecue is a less common alternative -- but a good one. The shells retain steam as the meat heats, cooking the meat gently within the protective surroundings. The shells themselves become slightly charred from the intense heat of the grill, adding a distinctive flavor to the flesh inside. Grill thawed crab legs or clusters for four to five minutes per side, over moderately high heat, then serve them immediately.

Cooking From Frozen

Although you'll get the most consistent and reliable results by thawing your crabs, it isn't entirely necessary. You can steam or boil your crabs or crab legs right from the freezer -- just increase the cooking time by two to three minutes. To test whether they're done, snap a leg and sample a portion of the meat. If it's hot and juicy all the way through, they're done.