Air Fryer Frozen Crab Cakes
This easy method for Air Fryer Crab Cakes shows you how to get perfectly cooked crab cakes that are tender on the inside and crispy on the outside using your air fryer or Ninja Foodi. These crab cakes are cooked straight from frozen in no time for the perfect snack, dinner, or party appetizer!
Frozen crab cakes are just as good as freshly made ones . . . most of the time. I found that the best way to get a frozen crab cake to taste fresh and have the best texture is by cooking them in my air fryer.
When you cook frozen crab cakes in your air fryer, they thaw out gently while staying tender and soft on the inside while a crispy crust develops on the outside.
Shouldn’t I just use the directions on the packaging?
Since the air fryer is a small convection oven, it uses dry heat to circulate air around the food making it cook fast. This means that the time and temperature may need to be adjusted and will be different from what’s on the package instructions.
This is especially true with frozen foods that are as delicate as crab cakes. They are thawing AND cooking during the air frying process, so the time and temperature will vary.
🤔Why make frozen crab cakes in the air fryer?
There’s less to clean up. No oil splatters to clean up from deep frying. Not even a sheet pan that you’d put in the oven! The only thing that gets dirty is the air fryer basket which is easy to clean.
Crab cakes with perfect textgure. This is probably one of the only methods you can use to get a crab cake that has a nice crust on the outside and still stays tender on the inside without falling apart.
They cook FAST A perfectly cooked crab cake takes just 10 minutes to cook perfectly depending on the size. Mini crab cakes cook even faster!
No waiting around. Once the crab cakes are in the air fryer, you can just set it and forget it. No need to flip them either.
No thawing. Frozen crab cakes will thaw and become nice and crispy all in one shot without the need to thaw them overnight.
🦀Ingredients & Equipment
Frozen Crab Cakes – These days you can find frozen crab cakes in the frozen seafood section of most grocery stores. Popular brands include Phillips, Handy crab cakes, Dockside Classics, SeaPak, and Gorton’s. I’ve purchased crab cakes from Walmart and Aldi, too!
Air Fryer or Ninja Foodi – Any air fryer can be used to make crab cakes. I use my Ninja Foodi multicooker and Ninja Foodi Grill which both have air frying capabilities along with a permanent spot on our countertop.
📖How To Air Fry Frozen Crab Cakes
1️⃣ Preheat your air fryer to 375F for 3-5 minutes.
2️⃣ Add frozen crab cakes to the bottom of the air fryer basket and set the timer for 12 minutes. You may not use all of that cooking time.
3️⃣ At the 5 minute mark, check on the crab cakes to see how they are coming along. This is when you’ll decide if you need the full 12 minutes.
4️⃣ Cook for another 5-8 minutes or until the crab cakes are golden brown on the outside and warmed through on the inside. This amount of time will depend on how hot your individual air fryer is.
5️⃣ Remove carefully from air fryer with a spatula and serve hot with your favorite sauce.
⏲Best Time & Temperature To Air Fry Frozen Crab Cakes
The amount of time it takes to air fry a crab cake roll depends on how thick and wide it is. These are general recommendations. The typical crab cake needs about 8-10 minutes to cook at a temperature 375F . Always check regularly within the last 5 minutes of cooking to ensure they don’t burn or overcook.
- Mini Frozen Crab Cakes – 8-9 minutes at 375F
- Standard Size Crab Cakes – 10-12 minutes at 375
- Homemade Crab Cakes – 8-12 minutes at 350
🔥Storing & Reheating
Storing Leftover Crab Cakes: Store your leftover cooked and cooled egg rolls in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheating: Reheat cooked crab cakes by placing them in the air fryer for 5-8 minutes at 325F until warmed through and crispy again.
❔FAQ
Neither! The air fryer is the best method because you get that crispy fried taste without the use of any excess oil.
If you’re using frozen crab cakes, chances are that it’s already pre-cooked. To check for sure, use a kitchen thermometer to check the internal temperature to see if it is 165F
Generally for frozen foods, I like to preheat my air fryer as it cuts down on actual cooking time and allows the food to thaw, then cook quickly.
I like to put the foil UNDER the basket to catch any excess oil or grease that comes off the sausage. This eliminates the need to clean the entire air fryer and you’ll just use the basket. If the foil is in a position where it can become loose, it may get sucked into the heating element when the air circulates so be sure it’s weighed down properly.
🧊More Air Fryer Frozen Foods
Air Fryer Frozen Crab Cakes
Equipment
- Air Fryer or Ninja Foodi
Ingredients
- 4 Crab Cakes frozen
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 375F for 3-5 minutes.
- Add frozen crab cakes to the bottom of the air fryer basket and set the timer for 12 minutes. You may not use all of that cooking time.
- At the 5 minute mark, check on the crab cakes to see how they are coming along. This is when you’ll decide if you need the full 12 minutes.
- Cook for another 5-8 minutes or until the crab cakes are golden brown on the outside and warmed through on the inside. This amount of time will depend on how hot your individual air fryer is.
- Remove carefully from air fryer with a spatula and serve hot with your favorite sauce.
Notes
⏲Best Time & Temperature To Air Fry Frozen Crab Cakes
The amount of time it takes to air fry a crab cake roll depends on how thick and wide it is. These are general recommendations. The typical crab cake needs about 8-10 minutes to cook at a temperature 375F . Always check regularly within the last 5 minutes of cooking to ensure they don’t burn or overcook.- Mini Frozen Crab Cakes – 8-9 minutes at 375F
- Standard Size Crab Cakes – 10-12 minutes at 375
- Homemade Crab Cakes – 8-12 minutes at 350
Haven’t tried the frozen crab cakes yet. Appreciate your instructors for Air Fryer times. I’ll let you know how I do !