People buying snow crab king crab for the first time will have different questions about the best crab products. Do they want Alaskan king snow crab legs? Do they want to buy claws? How available and affordable are king snow crab legs in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic?
There are a few things that you should know before purchasing Alaskan king snow crab, including what they look like and how they taste.
Snow Crab Prices
| Company | Price/lb | Minimum Order | Shipping | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Seafoods | $19.55 | 11 lbs | $16.20 | |
| Crab Place | $22.69 | 3 lbs | $29.95 | |
| Cameron’s Seafood | $36.66 | 3 lbs | $39.99 | |
| Fulton Fish Market | $36.80 | 2.5 lbs | $25.32 |
What is the King Snow Crab Appearance?
There are three different types of commercially harvested Alaskan King Crab. These types include the red King Crab, blue King Crab, and golden King Crab. The largest crab – the red King Crab – has three pairs of walking legs and one pair of claws. Alternatively, the Alaskan snow crab has a hard, rounded shell. The crab has four pairs of walking legs and one pair of claws. The top of the crab is identified by its brownish color. The color underneath the snow crab is lighter.
Region of Snow Crab King Crab
The red King Crab is found in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. The habitat is along the Gulf of Alaska’s coast and is south to British Columbia, Canada. However, fishing is closed in certain areas, such as the Pribilof Islands and Western Aleutian Islands. There is a slight overlap for the habitats of Alaskan snow crabs. These crustaceans are found off the coast of Alaska, located in the Bering, Beaufort, and Chukchi Seas. There are fewer fishing limitations due to a 2018 stock assessment that determined Alaskan snow crabs are not overfished.
Snow Crab King Crab Price and Availability
During the 2019-20 season, the red King Crab ex-vessel price was $9.12 per pound. It surpassed the previous 2011 dockside delivery record high of $9.06 per pound. However, a recent biomass decline is a cause of concern regarding availability. There is a worry that crabbers are primarily catching older crabs. Additionally, the catch per unit of effort dropped to 15 keeper crab per pot last season. The number is a stark contrast to 20 in the previous year and 38 per pot in the 2016-17 season.
COVID-19 also upended the commercial snow crab king crab fishing industry. For snow crab, the quota increased by 23% compared to 2019. The snow crab price per pound, put into effect in May, was $3.50. While global supplies were expected to crowd 100,000 tonnes and demand grew despite higher prices, COVID-19 delayed the season. The reasons include social distancing protocols and grocery purchases not making up the difference of closed restaurants.
What Does Snow Crab King Crab Taste Like?
There is a notable difference between the two types of crab. Snow crab meat is sweet and it has a briny flavor. The meat’s texture is firm. Snow crab meat, which is commonly shredded, is more affordable than King Crab. Its market price is approximately $25 per pound. Alternatively, King Crab is snowy white with red streaks. Its flavor is also sweet, with a mild flavor. Many compare its taste to lobster. The costly crustacean is about $47 per pound.
Best Recipes for Snow Crab King Crab
One great King Crab recipe is “Hot Crab Dip”. The recipe takes about 40 minutes to prepare and key ingredients are 1 cup lump crab meat, 8 ounces of cream cheese, and 1/3 cup of mayonnaise. For snow crab, a recipe for “Snow Crab Zucchini Rolls” takes only 13 minutes. Among the ingredients, you will need 2 zucchinis (large), 3/4 cup of snow crab meat, and 2 chilies.
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