Perfectly Steamed Wild-Caught Crab Legs In The Instant Pot {Paleo, Whole30, Real Food}
The Instant Pot takes all the intimidation out of something fancy like crab legs! When dipped in K2-rich butter, these perfectly steamed wild-caught crab legs in the Instant Pot provide one powerfully nourishing meal or appetizer — perfect for any special occasion where you want to serve Real Food!
When you need something truly special to celebrate any occasion, you want to include foods that might not normally make it into your shopping cart…
Like wild-caught crab legs!
In just minutes, crab legs go from frozen to perfectly steamed… in your Instant Pot!
So, if you’ve ever felt intimidated by steaming your own crab legs, or if you’ve ever said, “Yeah right. I’ll leave that to the qualified professionals at the high-end seafood restaurant”…
YOU CAN DO THIS! Trust me, if I can, YOU CAN. 😉
Dipped in some salty, lemon-y butter, oooooooh, perfection! These perfectly steamed wild-caught crab legs in the Instant Pot seem gourmet, but they’re so super-duper simple.
Is Crab Good For Us?
You bet it is!
In fact, wild-caught (emphasis on wild-caught) crab is full of protein, vitamins, and essential minerals!
Crab is high in calcium and phosphorus — so, it’s excellent for our bones and teeth!
Because of its concentration of copper, selenium, B vitamins, and Omega-3 fatty acids, wild-caught crab is also awesome for the brain and nervous system.
When dipped in K2-rich butter, these perfectly steamed wild-caught crab legs in the Instant Pot provide one powerfully nourishing meal or appetizer. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than that!
Perfectly Steamed Wild-Caught Crab Legs In The Instant Pot
Dipped in some salty, lemon-y butter, oooooooh, perfection! These perfectly steamed wild-caught crab legs in the Instant Pot seem gourmet, but they're so super-duper simple.
Ingredients
- 2poundswild-caught Snow Crab legs
- 1cupwater
- 1/3cupsaltedgrass-fed butter, melted (or ghee)
- lemon slices
Instructions
- Place the metal trivet in the bottom of your Instant Pot.
- Add 1 cup water.
- Add the crab legs to the pot. If it helps to thaw them slightly so you can fit them all in the Instant Pot, that's fine.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot and seal the vent.
- Press the "Manual" button and adjust the time to 3 minutes.
- Quick release the pressure as soon as the Instant Pot beeps.
- Use tongs to carefully transfer the cooked crab legs to a platter for serving.
- Serve with melted grass-fed butter and lemon slices!
Wait! Don’t Toss Those Leftover Shells!
When everyone has had their fill and has licked their fingers clean, don’t toss the leftover crab shells.
Use them… To make a nourishing crab stock! All the beneficial minerals in the crab shells find their way into the stock! Plus, crab stock is PERFECT for delicious soups like crab and/or lobster bisque!
How does one make Instant Pot Crab Stock? Simple!
Just place all your shell bits and pieces back into the Instant Pot (no need to wash it, if you just steamed crab in it!). Add just enough water to cover all the shell pieces.
Close the Instant Pot and seal the vent. Press the “Manual” button and adjust the time to 60 minutes. As soon as it beeps, you can immediately release the pressure – OR – let it naturally release. It doesn’t matter either way.
Store your crab stock in glass jars in the fridge and use within 3 days. If you don’t plan to use it within 3 days, it’s best to freeze it. Seafood broths, in my experience, don’t last as long as beef, pork, or chicken broth.
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Have you made crab legs in your Instant Pot?
Updated 05.02.2018
[…] Steamed Wild-Caught Crab Legs in the Instant Pot […]
If you are making stock can you use the cup of water you just steamed the crabs in as well?
Sure! That would work!
I only have 2 clusters frozen. Should I do less time?
No, you can do the same amount of time. They should still cook perfectly. If you’re really worried about it, maybe decrease the time by 1 minute, but not more. Hope that helps!
Do you think I could use King Crab with this? Should I change the time?
How about the cook time if you have 3lbs worth? (Both for snow crab or King)
Oh, Sandy, I just don’t know. I would hate to tell you the wrong time and ruin your expensive crab!
I just got my first IP (LUX model). I’m very confused by this thing. I have a couple questions that maybe you can answer. When I plug it in, is it automatically set to a certain pressure before I touch any buttons? In your directions above for the steamed crab legs, what actually happens when the manual button is pressed? Can’t I change the time with the +/- buttons? Why is the manual button pressed first? I’ve seen other recipes that say to cook at high pressure, but I don’t know how to do that. I have no idea what… Read more »
Hi, Lisa, I have the IP Duo, so my buttons may be different than yours. When you plug it in, it doesn’t automatically do anything. You actually have to choose your function first. I believe that Instant Pots’ default setting is high pressure on Manual. Each function (Manual, Soup/Stew, Meat, etc.) has a default pressure setting. My Duo has a “Pressure” button that I push to switch from low to high pressure. Whatever function you’re using (Manual, Soup/Stew, etc.) has to be pressed first, then you use the +/- buttons to adjust the time. If that doesn’t answer your questions,… Read more »
Such a great idea to cook these in the Instant Pot! My family would love to have this for dinner.
Perfect crab legs in the instant pot! Thank you!
I love that you cooked them in the Instant Pot! I’ve never tried crab!
I can’t even remember the last time I had crab legs! Love that you prepared them in the Instant Pot!
We have a tradition of eating crab legs every Christmas…a total luxury! And now a way to prep them in the Instant Pot!! Thank you!
It’s our new tradition too! This was our 3rd year to do IP crab legs!
I’m definitely trying this. I love crabs and prefer it over lobsters, and this looks like a delicious recipe!
I love ALL shellfish!
Oh so fun! I love that you can use the shells for stock afterward! I bet that tastes amazing!
It makes a crab/lobster/shrimp bisque like no other!
Looks amazing! I love crab legs!
Wow! This is good to know. I never buy crab legs because I am too intimidated but this seems super easy!
Just 3 minutes, love this!! I grew up eating crab often, and especially on New Year’s; how special, Lindsey. Love that you provide and figured out IP cooking instructions!!