Thaw frozen crab legs if needed
Rinse the crab legs under cold water
Steam, boil, bake, or grill the crab legs until heated through
Let the crab legs cool slightly before handling
Use kitchen shears or a crab cracker to split the shell
Pull the shell apart along the length of the leg
Remove the meat in one piece if possible
Use a fork, skewer, or seafood pick to get out smaller pieces
Dip the meat in melted butter, lemon, or sauce if desired
Discard the shell and any inedible parts
Repeat with each leg and claw
Eat slowly and check for any shell fragments