Can You Grill Crab Cakes?

Is it even possible to grill crab cakes? Will they crumble? Will they fall apart? Will they burn? Well… cue up the Mission Impossible theme music, we’re going to take on the “impossible” sounding task, and grill us up some crab cakes! 

The Challenges 

Challenge # 1…The best crab cakes contain more crab meat than filling (filling being the key to holding the crab cakes together), making them more susceptible to breakage if overly handled and sticking. 

Challenge #2…Breading and bread crumbs can easily burn or get overly toasted. Bread crumbs are one of the ingredients used in the filling, so we need to be cautious and mindful to prevent burning. 

Challenge #3… When moisture or drippings drop onto the coals or heat source, that causes flames to come up and over the grill grates (aka. flare-ups). That’s great for burgers, steaks, and chops, not so great for crab cakes. 

The Solutions   

So, taking into consideration our challenges, cooking directly on the grill grates, over open flame, is not the ideal way to grill our crab cakes. But! Hope is not lost, for each of our challenges we have an equally ‘grill-able’ solution. 

(Crab cakes should always be cooked to 165°F)

Quick Note on Direct and Indirect Grilling 

A key element to our crab cake grilling success is using both direct and indirect grilling. Direct grilling, or direct heat, is where you are cooking ‘directly’ over the flames or coals. Taking on the full heat. 

Indirect grilling is when you cook away from the direct heat source, relying on the residual, circulating heat, to cook your food or cool things down a little when it gets too hot. 

Setting up your grill for both styles is really easy. For a gas grill, turn on only half of your grill. One side will be for direct grilling, the other (turned-off side) will be for indirect grilling. Same goes for charcoal grills. Once the coals have been prepped, push them over to one side, creating the same direct and indirect effect.  

Solution #1…Skillet Grilling! This is the safest way to grill your crab cakes while still being able to impart that smoky-char flavor. Cast iron skillets or skillets designed for use on the grill are ideal for this task. Preheat your grill and skillet over medium-high heat (350°F-400°F). Once hot, add your butter or oil to the skillet, and once melted, add your crab cakes and sear. Cook your crab cakes for about 6-10 minutes (depending on their size), flipping halfway through. If you notice that your crab cakes are browning faster than you’d like, use that indirect side of your grill to cool down your skillet. 

Solution #2…Grill Pans & Baskets! These cool grilling gadgets might be marketed for veggie use. But! Trust me, they work just as well with grilling crab cakes. Since these pan and baskets are slotted or perforated, you’re going to want to avoid using butter or oil, that can cause flare-ups (you can lightly spritz your pans and baskets with cooking spay), and grill using a lower temperature, medium or medium-low (Medium Heat: 300°F-350°F, Medium-Low Heat: 250°F-300°F). This will help reduce the risk of your crab cakes burning while still achieving that grill-appeal. You always have that indirect side, just in case your crab cakes are cooking too quickly. This method may take a little longer than ‘skillet grilling’ (lower temperatures = longer cook time), about 8-12 minutes, depending on size, and flipping halfway through the cook time. 

Solution #3…Grill Griddles! These are another clever contraption that can turn a section of your grill into a hibachi! For these you can use a little oil (might want to avoid using butter, since you won’t be able to relocate the griddle to an indirect side, and butter can burn pretty quickly), especially if your grill griddle has higher sides (keep the oil from dripping into your grill). Cook your crab cakes over medium to medium-low heat  (Medium Heat: 300°F-350°F, Medium-Low Heat: 250°F-300°F), adjusting the temperature as needed and being sure to thoroughly preheat your griddle before adding the crab cakes. These will take about 8-12 minutes to cook, depending on size, and (as always) flip your crab cakes halfway through the cooking time. 

Buy Fresh Maryland Crab Cakes Online

No need to bother with frequent trips to the grocery store, Cameron’s Seafood is delivered right to your door! We offer customizable shipping options, allowing you to determine when and where you’d like your goodies delivered. On the day your order is scheduled to ship, we catch, prepare and package your order with care, in an insulated box. Our seafood should always reach your doorstep cold and securely packaged (you deserve the best!). That is why we guarantee your shipment with cash refunds or reships. 100% satisfaction is our guarantee! Shop our entire catalog of exceptional seafood here. And, be sure to check out the crab cakes! 

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