How to make crab meat recipes in an air fryer or oven? Are you a Seafood lover? Then this article is for you. There is nothing quite like a delectable crab cake that is golden brown on the surface while still being savory and moist on the inside.
And because you have an Air Fryer, you can cook fabulous crab cakes with far less stress and mess than traditional frying methods.
Flavorful Air Fryer Crab Cakes are made with crab meat, breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, and seasonings to make the freshest and most juicy crab cake you've ever had.
Using an air fryer to make crab cakes is a simple way to feel like you're at a 5-star restaurant. Here's the catch, though. Mix the ingredients in a bowl, shape them into patties, and air fry them!
The peppers and onions in these crab cakes made in an air fryer give them the right mix of flavors and textures that a real crab cake should. Plus, it is KEY to making crab cakes in the Maryland style.
What Kind of Crabmeat You Should Use
I think lump crab meat is best for this recipe. It's the best way to get that traditional crab cake taste and texture.
It also helps the crab cakes stay together when they are air-fried.
Even though it can be a little pricey, it is worth the cost. If you're only cooking for one, this crab cake recipe is freezer-friendly.
What is imitation crab made of? Can I use real crab meat instead?
Imitation crab isn't made of crab meat. Instead, it's a combination of ground-up fish, starches, eggs, seasonings, and flavorings meant to mimic the texture and taste of crab.
It tends to be cheaper, easier to find, and less expensive than real crab meat. You're welcome to use it here, but if you want to make authentic crab cakes, you'll probably want to stick with the real stuff.
Recipe 1
These Maryland-style crab cakes are unlike anything else you've ever tried. They're light, fluffy, and deliciously moist—and best of all, they take just minutes to cook up in your air fryer.
Cook time: 15 Minutes
Additional: 10 Minutes
Total: 25 Minutes
Servings: 4 Persons
You’ll Need (Ingredients):
- Two cans of lump crab meat
- Half cup mayonnaise
- One teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning
- One Teaspoon Kosher Salt and
- One Teaspoon Black pepper
- Four tablespoons of melted butter
Directions
STEP ONE: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
STEP TWO: Place each piece of crab cake into a small baking dish and bake for 10 minutes.
STEP THREE: While the crab cakes are cooking, prepare the rest of the ingredients.
STEP FOUR: After 10 minutes, remove the crab cakes from the oven and place them onto a paper towel-lined plate. Let cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
STEP FIVE: Once cooled, move the crab cakes to a clean surface and gently press down on the center of the crab cakes. This helps flatten the crab cakes and makes it easier to form them into balls.
STEP SIX: Fill a shallow bowl halfway with flour and set aside.
STEP SEVEN: Dip the crab cakes into the flour and shake off any excess.
Recipe 2
Crab meats are very famous appetizers. They're super easy to make, and the best part about them is that they come out crispy and delicious. You will love how the breadcrumbs soak up all the juices while keeping a crisp exterior.
Cook: 10 Minutes
Additional: 10 Minutes
Total: 20 Minutes
Servings: 4 Persons
Directions
We would like to use a mix of regular white bread and Italian bread because both give the melt a nice texture. I usually buy mine already cut into cubes, but you could easily slice it yourself.
Toast the bread first, and let it cool down completely before adding it to the fryer. This helps keep the bread crunchier.
Add some melted butter, salt, and pepper to the bread, and toss well. Then place the bread pieces inside the air fryer basket and cook for 3 minutes at 350 degrees F.
While the bread is cooking, combine the cream cheese, mustard, and your favorite dipping sauce, Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper in a bowl. Mix thoroughly.
Once the bread is done, remove it from the air fryer and spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the surface. Top with the crabmeat, sprinkle with parsley and return the bread to the air fryer for another 2 minutes.
Remove the bread and serve immediately. Garnish with additional parsley, if desired.
Recipe 3
Crab cakes are one of the people's favorite appetizers because they're easy to make ahead of time and taste great cold or warmed up later.
They're also perfect for entertaining since you can prepare them in advance and pop them in the oven to bake while guests arrive.
Ingredients
To make them, start by combining the following elements in a large bowl.
- Ten Ounces lump crab meat
- Two eggs
- ¼ cup whole milk
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- One tablespoon mayonnaise
- Olive Oil Spray
Cooking Steps
You would love to serve it with a side of tartar sauce, but you could easily swap out the condiment for something else, such as cocktail Dipping sauce, mustard, horseradish, or even ketchup.
To make a crab cake batter, combine the abovementioned ingredients and stir well. Then, form the mixture into small patties about 2 inches wide and ¾ inch thick.
Place the patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze them for 15 minutes. This step prevents them from falling apart during cooking.
Once frozen, place the crab cakes in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm them up.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When it's ready, add the crab cakes and cook them for 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and heated through.
The final product should be moist enough to pick up with a fork but retain some springiness. If they seem too dry, brush them lightly with additional olive oil spray.
Recipe 4
Ingredients
- One pound Crabmeat
- One liter Water
- One Tablespoon Fish Sauce
- One cup Cornstarch
- One egg
- Three tbsp Breadcrumbs
- One tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- Olive oil Spray
Directions
Add the crabmeat to a bowl, then add the water and hot fish sauce. Stir to combine and ensure all of the crabmeat is coated in liquid.
In another bowl, add 1/4 cup cornstarch, one egg, and 3 tbsp breadcrumbs. Stir until it becomes sticky but not too much (you don't want it gooey)
Preheat your Air Fryer at 360 degrees for 5 minutes with oil set for 350F/180C (make sure you remove any metal or plastic from inside before you start cooking so that they don't melt).
Now add your crab cakes in small batches, so they are spread out evenly in one layer on an air fryer basket lined with parchment paper.
Cook each batch for 8-10 minutes until golden brown on both sides; flip over halfway through cooking time--this will ensure even heating throughout! Remove when done and serve immediately with tartar sauce on top if desired.
Tips to Make the Best Crab Cakes
Make sure to spray cooking spray on the bottom of the air fryer basket and the tops of the crab cakes. This keeps the cakes from sticking to the air fryer basket and helps the outside get golden brown and crispy.
Use a Three-tablespoon ice cream scoop or just measure out three tablespoons for each crab cake if you want them to be appetizer size.
For even cooking, make sure there is space between each crab cake and don't put too many of them in the pan. When you air fry them, they will shrink a little and puff up a little.
Make sure the canned crab meat is well drained, so you don't end up with soggy crab cakes.
Make sure the celery and green onion are chopped into small pieces so that the crab cake mix stays together. The pieces won't stick together as well if they are too big.
How Do I Reheat Crab Cakes in the Air Fryer?
Crab cakes are one of those foods that everyone loves. They're delicious and filling, especially when served warm. But what happens if you don't want to heat up the kitchen oven? You've got options: microwaving, grilling, baking, and even freezing.
But there's another option too: the air fryer. This appliance cooks food without oil or grease, making it great for reheating leftovers, cooking seafood, and creating healthier versions of classic dishes like fried chicken and french fries.
One thing you'll notice when heating crab cakes in the air fryer is how much better they taste compared to the ones you'd make in the oven. This is because the air fryer heats food evenly and quickly.
And since there's no grease involved, you won't end up with greasy crusts. Plus, the moisture stays locked in, giving you tender meat every time.
To use the air fryer to reheat crab cakes, follow these steps:
1. Heat the air fryer to 350°F. If you're unsure whether your air fryer reaches this temperature, check the instructions included with it.
2. Add the crab cakes to the air fryer basket. Cook for 3 minutes.
3. Flip the crab cakes over and cook for two more minutes.
4. Remove the crab cakes from the air fryer. Serve immediately.
How to Store
The best way to store the Air Fryer imitation crab cakes is to keep them in an airtight container such as a Ziploc bag. This will help you to avoid odor and moisture build-up. You can even use a vacuum sealer to make sure there are no leaks.
Advanced Preparation
Yes. Before forming the cakes from the batter for the crab cakes, you may create the mixture and store it in the mixing bowl, covered, in the refrigerator for up to four hours.
Alternately, you might form the batter into cakes and chill it for the same length of time in individual layers on a covered platter in the refrigerator before air-frying it.
How to make Air Fryer Crabmeat Recipe FAQs
1. Can I put crab meat in the air fryer?
Yes, crabmeat is safe for use in the air fryer. However, be careful about how much you add. Too much crab may cause your food to taste fishy and smell like seafood.
Also, avoid adding too much salt. If you do add salt, try using only 1/4 teaspoon per pound of crabmeat.
2. How do you cook pre-packaged crab meat?
There are several ways to prepare pre-packaged crabmeat. The easiest way is to boil it for about 10 minutes until it turns pink.
Then drain off any excess water, and add mayonnaise and Fresh lemon juice. You can also use a squeeze of lemon by lemon wedges. This recipe works well when making crab cakes.
3. Can you fry imitation crab meat?
Yes, it's possible to fry imitation crab meat at home. The best way to do this is to use a deep frying pan filled with oil until it reaches 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Then, add the imitation crab meat into the hot oil and stir for about 4 minutes. Remove from heat after the imitation crab meat has browned slightly. This process should yield delicious results.
4. How do you cook store-bought crab cakes in the Airfryer?
The best way to cook store-bought crab cakes is to add them to the Airfryer after they are cooked. This ensures that the meat stays moist and juicy.
To ensure that the crab cakes stay together while cooking, place them between two pieces of parchment paper.
5. Can you air fry frozen crab cakes?
Yes, you can air fry frozen crab cakes. The key is to place them in a nonstick pan and cook for about 6 minutes per side until they brown slightly. If you want to add extra flavor, sprinkle them with Old Bay seasoning. This is how the frozen crab cakes will be tastier.
6. Is an imitation crab a real crab?
The imitation crab is not a real crab, but it tastes like one. Crab meat is made from crawfish, which are small crustaceans found in Louisiana and other states in America. They are actually related to shrimp, and they taste similar to lobster.
However, unlike true crabs, an imitation crab has no claws and legs, and it looks nothing like a real crab.
7. How do you tell if crab cakes are made?
To check if they're cooked through, use a toothpick to test for doneness. If it comes out clean, then they're ready.
8. Is imitation crab meat already cooked?
Imitation crab is already cooked. The only thing left for you to do eat it.
9. How do you make imitation crab taste better?
The best way to make imitation crab taste better is to use real crab meat instead of canned crab meat. If you can't find fresh crab meat, then try using a combination of cooked shrimp and crab meat for a similar effect.
10. Can a dog eat imitation crab?
Yes, they do! Imitation crab is made from tofu, which is actually a soy product. Tofu has no nutritional value, but imitation crab contains protein. The best way to feed your dog imitation crab is to cut them into bite-size pieces and mix them with food.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed making this recipe with us. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them in the comment section below. We'd love to hear from you. As always, thanks so much for reading, and be sure to share this post with your friends on social media.
