What is the Difference Between Crab Legs and Crab Leg Clusters?

It can be undoubtedly a lengthy process when it comes to buying crab legs. As a customer, you want to make sure that you are paying a reasonable amount. You may also want to know that the company you buy from has strong sustainability practices and transparent customer service. However, the big question you should ask yourself is, “What type of crab legs do I want to buy?”

Not all crab legs are created equal and it is important as a customer to know which type of crab legs suit your needs. Some crab legs are sweeter than others and some crab legs hold more meat. It also comes down to size – do you want to buy crab legs by the pound or buy them in crab leg clusters? Before you make your final decision, there are a couple of distinguishing factors that you should know. Plus, we’ll walk you through standard per-pound costs to let you know when you’re getting a good deal.

Snow Crab Clusters Prices

Dungeness Crab Clusters Prices

How Many Legs Are in 1 Cluster of Crab Legs?

When it comes to buying clusters, they are most commonly sold as snow crab clusters. These clusters are considered an alternative to purchasing traditional crab legs or, in particular, King Crab legs. While King Crab legs are known for their large size and tremendous amount of meat, snow crabs also have long legs. But whether you buy 2 clusters of crab legs, 3 clusters of crab legs, or just one, the amount of meat you receive will be different.

Snow crab meat is also considered more fibrous than that found in King Crab legs. While the snow crab’s long legs are thinner and perhaps not as impressive, it is an affordable option for the average consumer since restaurants are more eager to sell King Crab legs.

Snow crabs are harvested in the cold waters from the Pacific Northwest and Northwest Atlantic, Alaska to Siberia, as well as Greenland to Newfoundland. Crab season lasts from mid-April to early November (it begins as soon as the ice breaks). The crabs, themselves, are largely legs, and their bodies are short and round. The average size of snow crabs is 2 to 4 pounds. When they are sold in crab leg clusters, it means that the crab is already split and cleaned.

Snow crab clusters typically consist of the legs still attached to some meat from the crab’s body. Similarly, for the rare King Crab clusters, it typically includes three legs, a claw, and a shoulder in a cluster of crab legs. However, size can vary with crab leg clusters and those that include five legs can weigh in at approximately a half-pound per cluster.

Ultimately, when buying snow crab clusters, the company Wholey finds that the same rules generally apply for how much you should purchase. The typical crab cluster range from the picky eater to the voracious crab enthusiast can be anywhere from a half pound of crab clusters to 2 pounds per person.

Once the time comes to eat your crab legs, there is no need to worry. Once you break apart the crab leg clusters and remove the crab leg by twisting the leg at the joint, the cooking process is straightforward and like if you bought any other crab leg.

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