Yes, you can freeze steamed crabs. For the best results, pick the meat out first and freeze that. Freeze it within a day or two of steaming and use it within 2 to 4 months. Whole steamed crabs can be frozen too, but the meat tends to turn watery and stringy.
Option 1: Freeze the picked meat (best)
- Chill the crabs in the fridge within 2 hours of steaming.
- Pick out the meat and check it for bits of shell.
- Pack it into freezer bags or containers, pressing out as much air as you can. A spoonful of milk or a light brine over the meat helps protect it from freezer burn.
- Label it with the date. Fresh crab meat keeps its quality for 2 to 4 months frozen.
Option 2: Freeze whole steamed crabs
- Cool them completely in the fridge.
- Wrap each crab tightly in plastic wrap, then in foil or a freezer bag.
- Use them within about 2 to 3 months. Expect softer meat than when fresh.
Thawing and reheating
- Thaw it in the fridge overnight. Never thaw it on the counter.
- Picked meat: use it cold in salads and dips, or add it to hot dishes like soups, pasta or crab cakes near the end of cooking.
- Whole crabs: steam them for 5 to 10 minutes, just until heated through. Longer and the meat dries out.
- Don’t refreeze thawed crab.
Before freezing: how long do steamed crabs keep in the fridge?
Use leftover steamed crab within 2 to 4 days, the same as fresh crab meat. If they smell strongly fishy or of ammonia, or the meat is slimy, throw them out.
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (fresh crab meat: 2 to 4 days in the fridge, 2 to 4 months in the freezer).