How to Reheat Crab Cakes? Best Tips and Tricks

Crab cakes are delicious. Whether made from real crab meat or meat free such as with lion’s mane “crab cake”, these things are delicious and incredibly moreish. If somehow though, you have been able to end up with leftovers then you may be wondering how to reheat crab cakes. Don’t worry though, we’ve got you covered.

Table of Contents

• Are Leftover Crab Cakes Enjoyable When Cold?
• Can You Reheat Cooked Crab Cakes?
• Methods To Reheat Already Cooked Crab cakes
  • In The Oven/Toaster Oven
  • On The Stovetop
  • In The Microwave
  • In An Air Fryer
• How You Can Enjoy With Leftover Crab Cakes
• How To Reheat Crab Cakes?
• FAQ – How to Reheat Crab Cakes?

Are Leftover Crab Cakes Enjoyable When Cold?

Whilst we will be discussing whether you can and should reheat crab cakes, you may also be wondering if crab cakes are at all enjoyable when eaten cold.

Now, like with other cooked foods you can eat crab cakes when they have gone cold and be completely safe. However, as we all know, just because you can do something doesn’t always necessarily mean that you should.

Unfortunately, this is the case with cold crab cakes, since unlike something like cold pizza to most people cold crab cakes are nowhere near as nice as hot ones. 

The reason for this is that crab cakes contain large ratios of crab meat, eggs and mayonnaise. All of which are ingredients that dramatically change in taste when cold. Particularly when stored in the refrigerator.

Can You Reheat Cooked Crab Cakes?

With the above in mind, you will naturally be inclined to want to heat up your crab cakes again. However, certain foods can be a bit temperamental when reheated and may make you ill. As such you may be wondering, is reheating crab cakes safe?

Fortunately, the answer is in fact yes, you can reheat crab cakes. However, you should only do so if they were cooked within the last day and were properly stored in the refrigerator. This is because seafood in particular can be something of a minefield when it is not completely fresh.

Additionally, how you go about reheating crab cakes is very important since they are quite fragile. This is due to much of their structure being held together by bread crumbs and eggs.

As such, when reheating your crab cakes, you will want to employ a method that allows them to heat evenly whilst retaining their shape. After all, you don’t want your crab cakes to crumble when reheated, right?

Methods To Reheat Already Cooked Crab cakes

With the above information in mind, it is important to consider your options carefully and figure out if there are any methods that are realistically practical for you to use. Fortunately, though, there are quite a few options available to you regarding how you can go about reheating your crab cakes. These are as follows:

• In The Oven/Toaster Oven
• On The Stovetop
• In The Microwave
• In An Air Fryer

Each of these options has its own pros and cons. Additionally, how they will be used to reheat crab cakes may require you to be quite specific. Fortunately, though, we’ve broken down the process for each of your options down below.

In The Oven/Toaster Oven

One of the simplest and best ways to reheat near enough any food is to use your oven or even a toaster oven. Crab cakes are no exception in this matter since cooking in the oven allows them to heat up evenly whilst avoiding any changes in temperature.

Whilst using the oven to reheat crab cakes is a straightforward and easy process though, there is one thing you need to be wary of. In the oven, there is a risk that your crab patties will become dried out, making them, therefore, less pleasant to eat.

Fortunately, though, there are steps that you can take in order to prevent this from occurring. For example, you can use a foil-covered baking sheet or pan. Alternatively, having another pan filled with water on another shelf of your oven can help add moisture back into the sweet crab meat along with other ingredients of your patties.

When reheating your crab patties in the oven or toaster oven, you should follow the steps below:

1. Preheat your oven to a temperature of 325°F (or approximately 168°C)
2. Whilst your oven warms up, allow your crab cakes to warm up to room temperature on your countertop. This will help prevent them from drying out as a sudden change in temperature can cause dryness.
3. On a foil-covered baking sheet, lay out your crab cakes. When doing so ensure that they each have enough room as overcrowding may cause them to not heat evenly.
4. To add an extra layer of flavour and help retain moisture, gently brush your crab cakes with a small amount of butter.
5. Put the baking sheet in the oven and allow them to warm up for roughly ten to fifteen minutes.

On The Stovetop

For the crispiest reheated crab cakes with a lovely brown crust using the stovetop is an excellent and effective way to do things. When done in a good quality pan this method will excellently reheat your crab cakes without negatively affecting the texture whilst evenly warming them throughout the process.

1. Allow your crab cakes to warm up to room temperature on your countertop. This will help prevent them from drying out as a sudden change in temperature can cause dryness.
2. To add an extra layer of flavour and help retain moisture, gently brush your crab cakes with a small amount of butter.
3. In your pan add enough olive oil (or other cooking oil) to coat the bottom of your pan and begin heating it over the stove.
4. Once the oil is bubbling hot, add a small amount of water.
5. Following the water add your crab cakes.
6. Cover your pan with a glass lid whilst ensuring that any moisture or vapour is trapped within. 
7. Allow the butter to melt through and the crab cakes to steam. Once the butter has completely melted through, your crab cakes should be ready.

In The Microwave

Probably the fastest and easiest way to reheat crab cakes is to use the microwave. As we all know, the microwave is a quick and convenient way of heating up snacks. 

However, when using the microwave, whilst it is significantly quicker, there is definitely a downside to doing so. Inevitably using the microwave will likely have a significant impact on the overall texture of your crab cakes. 

In the worst case scenario, your crab cakes may become somewhat rubbery in texture. That said though, this is not guaranteed and when in a rush the microwave is a still a fast an convenient method to warm up your crab cakes.

When using the microwave to wamr up your crab cakes, you do so by following the method below:

1. As with the other options above, allow your crab cakes to warm up to room temperature on your countertop as this will prevent them fro drying out.
2. Put your crab cakes in a microwave safe dish whlst ensureing they are not overcrowded and are evenly spaced out.
3. To further ensure they remain moist brush your crab cakes with a thin layer of butter. Ensure that they are fully and evenly coated when doing so.
4. Put your crab cakes in the microwave on a medium heat setting for one minute. Following which they will be ready to eat.

In An Air Fryer

If you have an air fryer then these can also be used to reheat crab cakes. As we know, air fryers are a convenient and often simple way of cooking a variety of delicious foodstuff. 

When using an air fryer for reheating your crab cakes, you can expect the final outcome to be warm and wonderfully crispy. As such, when using an air fryer for this purpose you should follow the guidelines below:

1. Spray cooking spray on both sides of each of your crab cake patties.
2. Place you now sprayed crab cakes inside the air fryer.
3. Set the temperature of your air fryer to 370°F (or 188°C)

How You Can Enjoy With Leftover Crab Cakes

Now you know how to reheat your leftover crab cakes you may be wondering if their are any particularly good ways they can be served. Fortunately, there are plenty of brilliant ways you can use your leftover crab cakes to make some creative and delicious meals. Some of these possibilities include:

• Crab cake sliders: If you’ve got some slider or small burger buns then these are a wonderful option for using leftover crab cakes. These could also be served with some coleslaw or classic burger toppings such as lettuce and tomato. Additionally, a side of chips would pair excellently with these sliders.
• Crab Cakes With Fettuccine Alfredo: Alfredo sauces goes wonderfully with both crab and lobster ravioli. As such, if you are planning to make some fettuccine alfredo, or simply have some leftover, why not pair it with your leftover crab cakes? The combination of the pasta, sauce and crab cakes is truly delicious and adds a great variety of delicious textures and tastes to the meal.

Ultimately there are variety of ways that you can use your leftover crab cakes. As such, why not experiment a little with whatever is at hand that you think might go well with them?

How To Reheat Crab Cakes?

We all now know that leftover crab cakes not only can be heated bu they quite frankly should be to be at their nicest. This is especially true when you are serving thm with complementary dishes such fettuccine alfredo or in slider buns.

Fortunately, crab cakes can be reheated in a variety of different ways, from your oven, to the microwave and even an air fryer. As such, you have plenty of options at your disposal when heating up crab cakes. As such, no matter if you need them quickly, want them nice and simple or deliciously crispy, you can reheat them exactly as you need to whist having them taste fresh.

FAQ – How to Reheat Crab Cakes?