Crab cakes are a tasty treat that captures the heart of anyone who takes the first bite. But you may not always have the time or luxury to combine the ingredients to make some at home, and it’s why store-bought options of different brands are available at grocery stores. And here, we’ll show you how to prepare them so you can get a tasteful experience close to freshly-made ones.
Crab Cakes Nutrition Facts
Why Use Store-Bought Crab Cakes?
Of course, you may feel cooking store-bought crab cakes is inferior if you’re used to making it from scratch. But before you write it off, consider its numerous advantages;
They’re Convenient-Store-bought pancakes that come in various sizes and flavors. Plus, you can use them in any recipe, from main courses to fillings for burgers and sandwiches. And they’re quite affordable, so you don’t have to start a typical crab cake recipe from scratch if you don’t want to.
They’re Easy-Most store-bought crab cakes that come with simple instructions on cooking. Plus, if you’re already a gourmet enthusiast, you can adjust the recipe to suit your preference rather than make a new one from scratch.
They’re Fast- Most store-bought crab cakes are smaller than homemade sizes and cook as quickly as 15 minutes.
They’re Pre-Cooked-You cut valuable cooking time by using store-bought crab cakes, as they mostly come pre-cooked. This means you won’t need a longer duration for cooking as you’re mainly reheating them instead.
Tips for Making the Best Crab Cakes
- If you’ll be deep-frying or sautéing them, it’s best to use frozen crab cakes. But note that this would cost you more cooking time.
- If you don’t want to start with frozen crab cakes, consider thawing them in the microwave for one minute.
- If you prefer to start with defrosted crab cakes, bring them out of the fridge at least 15 to 20 minutes before cooking.
- If you’re using an air fryer, you’ll need to line the basket with parchment paper rounds, so they don’t stick to the grates when they’re moist.
- You can serve these store-bought crab cakes with sauces, dressings, spices, aromatics, seasonings, and vegetables for maximum flavor infusion.
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Cooking Store-Bought Crab Cakes
On the Stovetop
You can make store-bought crab cakes on the stove using a skillet or pan. And there are two ways to make it happen.
Pan-Frying: Add two tablespoons of cooking oil to a skillet and set it on medium-low heat. When the oil warms, place the crab cakes and cook both sides for five minutes each. If the crab cakes are frozen, cook them at eight minutes per side. You’ll want both sides to reach a golden-brown color, so be gentle when flipping them. You can also add any aromatics and vegetables to the mix as you cook. And once they’ve reached internal doneness of 165F, take them down and let them drain in a paper-lined bowl.
Deep-Frying: Pour oil into a deep fryer or saucepan to about an inch, and let it heat to at least 300F. Then, lower the crab cakes into the oil and cook for six to seven minutes until they reach 165F. When ready, take the crab cakes with a filter and drain them in a paper-lined bowl. And after draining, transfer them to more paper towels and squeeze them gently to remove any extra oil.
In the Oven
Program the oven to 350F and lay some parchment paper on a baking sheet. Then, brush the sheet with oil or butter, and arrange the crab cakes on it. Next, brush the crab cakes with oil to crisp the texture when cooked. Next, cook frozen crab cakes for 20 to 25 minutes and thawed ones for 12 to 14 minutes in the preheated oven. And flip them at half the cooking time, so all surfaces are exposed.
In the Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 400F, and line the basket with parchment paper. Then, arrange the crab cakes and lower them into the air fryer. Cook the crab cakes for seven to eight minutes or until it reaches 165F at the center. Then, take the crab cakes out and serve as desired.
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Baked Crab Cakes(1 serving)
Instructions
- Set the oven to 400F, and grease a cookie sheet with cooking spray. Then arrange the crab cakes on the sheet, and brush them lightly with mayonnaise. Slide the sheet into the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the internal temperature hits 165F.
Also, watch this video for more ideas.