There are 2 main reasons why your crab cakes might be falling apart while cooking: Crab cakes need to be refrigerated for 30 minutes minimum before cooking to help bind the ingredients. If you can chill them for 2 hours, that’s even better! If you skipped the binder, or didn’t use enough, your crab cakes may fall apart. Panko or breadcrumbs, egg, and mayonnaise are all ingredients that will help hold your crab cakes together. I like to use just enough so my crab cakes don’t fall apart.