How To Reheat Crab Cakes

A Crab Cake is a combination of sweet crab meat with bread crumbs, mayonnaise, mustard, egg, and a variety of seasonings. Once it is made into a cake, it can be sauteed, baked, grilled, deep-fried, or broiled. Crab cakes are delicious on their own, in sandwiches, atop salads, and many versatile preparations. Sometimes we prepare a little too much or purchase more than we can have in one day and may need to store them for later reheating. Below is brief description on how you can reheat crab cakes.

The Toaster Oven Method

One of the most effective methods for reheating crab cakes is in the toaster oven. It is important to reheat your crab cakes at room temperature if you are going to be using an oven. Also take note that dry heat might dry them out. Add a pan of water on another rack to create a moist environment without getting your crab cakes wet. Simply follow these steps to reheat crab cakes in the oven.

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees,
2. Lay your crab cakes on a foil-covered baking sheet to prevent sticking,
3. Give each cake room, and do not crowd them,
4. Let them heat for 10-15 minutes,
5. You can add a skinny layer of butter on top of the crab cakes to keep them moist during reheating as well as to add flavour,
6. Check if they are warm enough and serve when ready,

You can reheat your crab cakes on a baking sheet, but it is better to use a covered pan in the oven, so that your crab cakes do not dry out.  A toaster oven allows for even heating, it  will dry up any excess moisture, in the oven and the texture of your food will not change.

The Broiling Method

Another effective way to heat your crab cakes is broiling them. Also ensure that when broiling your crab cakes you start at room temperature and add a thin layer of salted butter as described earlier. The butter will melt and create a lovely brown crust and be sure not to use a top rack like you’re broiling a steak, instead put the pan one level down.

1. Allow your crab cakes to broil for 5 minutes or so and keep a close eye on them,
2. You can also use tongs to turn them and broil for another 5 minutes,

The benefits for broiling are effective heating, plus it will dry up any excess moisture and it doesn’t change the texture of food. However, broiling can dry food out, and there is a risk of burning the your crab cakes.

The Instant Pot Method

The Instant Pot method is another effective way of warming up your crab cakes since the instant pot has a keep warm option that would be perfect for reheating your crab cakes. Be sure not to use a pressure cooker, but just as a warmer. The instant pot method is a versatile appliance has wide range of capabilities. Follow these simple steps to warm up your crab cakes using an instant pot.

1. Use the keep-warm function because it is a gentle method for reheating,
2. Apply some cooking spray to prevent sticking.
3. Use tongs to get the crab cakes apart in and out without breaking them apart.

The instant pot method is an effective and gentle heating method, plus it doesn’t change the texture, of your crab cakes.

The Stovetop Method

The stovetop method is also effective when it comes to reheating crab cakes. Follow these simply steps to reheat your crab cakes on the stove top.

1. Take out your skillet,
2. Apply a small amount of oil in the bottom or a generous amount of cooking spray,
3. Bring it to heat, and add a small amount of water,
4. Add your crab cakes and cover with a well-fitting lid,
5. Let your crab cakes heat up and serve when ready,

This stovetop method will ensure that your crab cakes are heated evenly. You can also add a thin layer of salted butter on top of each cake so that it melts through.

The Air fryer Method

You can heat up your crab cakes in an air fryer by simply following these steps,

1. Spray the crab patties on both sides with cooking spray before placing them in the basket of your air fryer.

1. Set the air fryer’s temperature to 370 degrees
2. Let your cakes heat up for 6-8 minutes.
3. Your crab cakes should come out warm and crisp and serve when ready,

The Microwave Method

Another method for reheating crab cakes is in the microwave. Microwaving crab cakes is a straightforward and easy process plus it is effective and quick. Follow these steps to reheat your crab cakes in the microwave,

1. Let your crab cakes come to room temperature, especially if you are getting them from your fridge.
2. Place your crab cakes in a microwave-safe dish.
3. Make sure that they are evenly spaced out and that the container isn’t overly crowded.
4. Brush your crab cakes with butter and make sure that the surface of your crab cakes is fully and evenly coated.
5. Heat your crab cakes for a minute on the medium setting and serve when ready,

Take note that the microwave is not the best method to reheat crab cakes. The microwave may negatively impact the texture of your dish. Your crab cakes may become tough and rubbery once they come out of the microwave.

Tips For Reheating Crab Cakes

Crab cakes can be fragile to handle. You need to be careful when reheating them, because they can easily break apart. This is true regardless of the method you choose to reheat them.

• Make sure that there is even heat Distribution –
• When reheating your crab cakes, remember that the ideal texture for the dish is slightly crispy. The last thing you want is for them to turn into a mushy waste.
• Aside from its sumptuous flavour, one of the most distinctive characteristics of crab cakes is its shape. As such you will need to retain its shape throughout the heating process. So it is important to follow the instructions as closely as you can to ensure that your crab cakes retain their shape, moisture and crispiness.