Easy Crab Cake recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to fry or bake crab cakes? ›

Are crab cakes better baked or fried? You can either bake or fry these crab cakes. My personal preference is to bake them because it's easier (no risk of them falling apart when you flip them) and they are less prone to drying out (it's easy to overcook the crab cakes when frying them in a pan).

Refrigerate Your Crab Cakes

There's actually a pretty easy fix for this common problem. Simply stick your crab cakes in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. The time they spend there will allow the crab cakes to solidify their shape.

Tartar sauce and co*cktail sauce are tried-and-true, but so many other things are delicious with crab cakes.

It's very important to use fresh, good-quality lump crab meat. Look for fresh-off-the-boat crab meat, which is sold in a clear plastic container, usually resting on ice in the seafood department. It's expensive, but one pound is enough to make six generous crab cakes (or 12 mini ones).

One of the most popular ways to cook a crab, especially in Maryland and along the eastern shore, steaming provides an even and gentle cook for the delicate meat. The extreme heat caused by the method brings exquisite flavor into it without as much of a threat of overcooking.

Brown the patties on each side in a frying pan and allow them to cook all the way through in the oven before serving. In this video, Chef Mark provides an online cooking lesson for a delicious crab cake.

The eggs and mayonnaise act as a binder, but a filler is also important to help hold the patties together when they cook. Saltine cracker crumbs make the best filler for crab cakes.

Why are they mushy on the inside? Using canned crab meat that hasn't been fully drained may lead to extra liquid in the mixture, making the cakes mushy. Using low-quality crab meat may also lead to mushy cakes, which is why I recommend using lump crab meat.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Scoop the crab mixture into eight 1/3-cup mounds; lightly pack into 8 patties, about 1 1/2 inches thick. In a large skillet, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the crab cakes and cook over moderately high heat until deeply golden and heated through, about 3 minutes per side.

Why are crab cakes expensive? ›

The Cost of Catching and Processing Crab Meat

One of the main reasons why crab meat is expensive is due to the high cost of catching and processing the crabs. Crabbing is a labor-intensive process that requires skilled workers to operate specialized equipment such as crab traps and crab pots.

Now once you have your crab cooked and picked, here are my favorite dipping sauces to go with the crab meat. A simple Garlic Clarified Butter dipping sauce, Avocado Wasabi Mayonnaise dipping sauce and a Curry Mustard dipping sauce; all three are very different from each other but totally delicious.

Yes, you can cook crab meat directly from the can. However, it is recommended to rinse the crab meat with cold water to remove any excess brine or salt before using it in your recipe.

Deviled crabs are somewhat similar to boardwalk-style Maryland crab cakes. Differences include the oblong shape, the seasonings used, and the preferred method of eating (by hand). Since deviled crabs were designed to be hand-held, they are packed together more densely than a crab cake so as to not come apart easily.

The Differences In Maryland Crab Cakes

For starters, they typically use more meat and less other filling compared to regular crab cakes. Of course, every recipe is different, but Maryland's versions really allow the crab meat to shine and only use enough fillers to hold the cakes together.

As a general guideline, bake them in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes or until they are golden brown and cooked through. Monitor the cakes closely to prevent them from becoming dry or overcooked.

Broiling is one of the best ways to cook cakes, because the flavor of the crab does not have to compete with that of the cooking oil. All you need to do is brush the cakes with a little melted butter if desired and place them about 3 inches from the heat in a preheated broiler until nicely browned.

While any type of cooking naturally reduces the nutrients in food, frying reduces the most nutrients while absorbing fat from the oil. Baking, however, enhances some nutrients and makes the protein in some foods easier to digest, making it a better and healthier way of cooking food than frying.

To cook in an oven: preheat the oven to 450°F. Brush the crab cakes with a little oil then bake on a tray for 12 minutes. Flip them over and bake for another 5-7 minutes, until crispy and golden brown. Let them stand for a couple of minutes before serving then enjoy!