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Air fryer is the quickest way to cook or reheat crab legs at home. Directions are so easy, your ready to eat crab will be done in less than 10 minutes
What crab legs to use
When in season i use dungeness crab. It fit perfect in to the air fryer basket! Sprinkle crab legs with some seasoning and enjoy. Snow crab is another great option for an air fryer because it also fits. We usually purchase snow crab already frozen in plastic bag in carton boxes. This packaging saves all the flavor and prevent legs from getting freezer burned.
Where to buy
If we are talking about fresh crab legs, get them from your local seafood store if available. Big stores like Costco, Savemart carry fresh legs too when in season.
Frozen crab legs can be found almost everywhere. Even Walmart has it in their freezer section. Make sure you get crab that fit in your air fryer. Frozen Alaskan crab may not fit.
Ninja air fryer crab legs
You can make this recipe in your Ninja Foodi too! You can pressure cook legs with in the trivet with about 1 cup of water on the bottom. Use 0 minutes under pressure. Basically it will stop cooking as soon it will get pressurized.
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For the Ninja air fryer option, just cook it on 340 degrees for 5 minutes.
Cook it from frozen
If all you have is a bag of frozen crab legs, no need to worry. They will be absolutely delicious and taste just like fresh. Just add 2 minutes to a cooking time.
Serving suggestions
If you serve this as an appetizer, just melt some butter and set it in a small bowl by the legs platter. If you want to make a whole meal out of it, add some side dishes like:
Crack legs open with a special tool. If you don’t have one on hand, just use whatever you have. I used my old nut cracker. Worked perfect! My kids love to have some crab meat for lunch and crack dungeness crab legs by themselves. Easy Peasy!
Air fryer dungeness crab legs fresh or frozen
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb crab legs about two crab leg clusters
- 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning*
- 1/2 cup butter melted, for dipping
Instructions
- Season crab legs with the old bay or cajun spices and place in the air fryer.
- Cook for 5 minutes at 345 degrees. There is no need to preheat the air fryer.
- Crack legs and dip crab meat in butter for extra flavor