Quick answer
Heat the oven to about 350°F to 375°F, place the crab in a covered pan with a small amount of water, and warm it for roughly 10 to 15 minutes for whole crabs or 15 to 20 minutes for thawed crab legs. Frozen, already-cooked crab legs usually need closer to 20 to 25 minutes. The foil cover and the steam it traps are what keep the meat moist.
Is the crab still safe to eat?
Check this before reheating. Cooked crab should be refrigerated promptly after a meal, and the commonly cited guidance is to eat leftover cooked seafood within about 3 to 4 days. If the crab has been in the fridge for 3 days, smells strongly sour or ammonia-like, or feels slimy, throw it out. If you are unsure, it is safer not to eat it. People who are pregnant, older, or have weakened immune systems should be especially careful with leftover seafood.
Reheating does not make questionable crab safe. Aim to heat leftovers until steaming hot throughout, with 165°F (74°C) as the typical food safety target.
What you need
- A baking dish or a roasting pan with a rack
- Aluminum foil
- A little water, or water mixed with beer, cider or white wine
- Optional butter, garlic, lemon and Old Bay seasoning
- An instant-read thermometer
How to reheat whole crabs
- Heat the oven to about 350°F to 375°F.
- Set a wire rack inside a roasting pan and pour in about 1 inch of water, keeping the water below the rack.
- Place the crabs on the rack. A light stack is fine if the pan is small.
- Sprinkle with Old Bay or another seasoning if you like.
- Cover the pan tightly with foil to hold in the steam.
- Bake about 10 to 15 minutes, until the crab is hot throughout.
How to reheat crab legs and clusters
- Heat the oven to about 350°F.
- Arrange the legs in a baking dish with roughly half an inch of water. Add garlic, butter or herbs if you wish.
- Cover tightly with foil. Some cooks poke a couple of small holes to let extra steam escape.
- Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes if the crab is thawed.
For clusters of Dungeness crab, our guide to cooking Dungeness crab clusters covers a stovetop steaming method, and the oven roasted version adds garlic butter.
Cooked crab legs that are frozen
Already-cooked frozen crab legs can go straight into the oven, but they take longer. Plan on about 20 to 25 minutes, and some sources call for a hotter oven (up to about 425°F) for large frozen king crab legs. Thawing in the refrigerator overnight first gives more even results and shortens the baking time. Check that the thickest part is hot before serving, and add a few minutes if it is still cool in the middle.
Crab meat and imitation crab
Picked crab meat dries out quickly, so warm it gently in a covered dish with a little butter, at a lower temperature, for just a few minutes, or stir it into a hot dish at the end.
Imitation crab (surimi), including products sold as snow crab style legs, is already cooked and does not need much heat. Warm it briefly in a covered dish or in a sauce, and follow the package directions, since the product can turn rubbery if heated too long.
How to tell it is ready
- The shell is hot to the touch and the crab is giving off steam when you open the foil.
- The meat is hot in the center when you break open the thickest part.
- A thermometer reads 165°F (74°C).
If the meat looks dry or tough, it has likely been heated too long or without enough steam. Next time shorten the time or add more water to the pan.
A tip for easier cracking
Crack the legs soon after they come out of the oven. The longer they sit, the harder it can be to pull the meat free. If you plan to eat only part of the crab, crack and remove the meat for the portion you will refrigerate.
Other ways to reheat
- Steaming on the stovetop for a few minutes is quick and gentle.
- A skillet with butter or oil works for leftover pieces of meat.
- The microwave is fastest but can heat unevenly and make crab rubbery, so use short bursts if you must.
FAQ
How do you cook frozen crab legs that are already cooked?
Thaw them in the refrigerator if you can, then bake in a covered dish with a little water. If cooking from frozen, add several minutes and check the middle.
How do you heat up surimi snow crab legs?
They are already cooked, so just warm them briefly according to the package, in a covered dish, a sauce or a short steam.
Can I eat crab that has been in the fridge for 3 days?
Cooked crab is often kept 3 to 4 days at most. Judge by smell and texture, and when in doubt, throw it out.