There are a number of longstanding myths when it comes to purchasing seafood online. There are also myths about purchasing fresh versus frozen seafood. Before you think twice about placing your next seafood order, there is one important fact to know: fresh and frozen seafood are not mutually exclusive. There are a number of ways that snow crab and other seafood providers ensure their product arrives fresh on your doorstep that involves freezing the crab after harvesting.

If you’re interested in buying snow crab online, consider the following price grid. These reputable sellers represent a range of pricing options. This should allow you to compare costs easily.

Snow Crab Legs 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

How to Know Your Frozen Snow Crab Legs Are Fresh

One of the ways you can guarantee that the products you order are fresh is by researching the company from which you plan to buy the snow crab. A company with a strong and transparent customer service arm is important. Many companies will make sure to discuss their sustainable fishing practices and provide information about where they fish, when all of their products were caught, how far their seafood traveled and the practices implemented by fishers.

A popular fishing practice that will ensure the freshness of your frozen snow crab legs is flash freezing. Flash freezing is when seafood is frozen within 25 to 35 hours after it is harvested. The accelerated process uses ultra-low temperatures. The benefit of flash freezing is that the seafood can be processed and frozen solid within hours of harvesting rather than days.

By flash freezing products, it guarantees that the seafood maintains its nutrition, texture and flavor. It also has the added benefit of companies not using artificial preservatives. Ultimately, flash freezing extends the snow crab’s shelf life.

Are Frozen Snow Crab Legs Shipped Overnight?

Snow crab, like other seafood options, are among the products that companies will ship overnight. Whether the product shipment is for next-day delivery or a specified date, the companies ship overnight to guarantee freshness, as well as safety for those eating it.

There are instances with online seafood shipments where products arrive partially thawed, but that is not inherently a cause for concern. It is important to keep in mind that seafood that is marked “fresh” in grocery stores were already frozen and defrosted prior to getting laid out on the ice. However, there are ways to make sure that your product does not thaw before its arrival.

Many seafood companies use FedEx for frozen snow crab legs and other seafood shipments. Insulation and refrigerants are key recommendations that companies use to safeguard their products’ freshness. For certain companies, dry ice is included, especially during the summer for 2-day deliveries.

Other companies will let you add some dry ice or gel coolants to your order for an additional fee, and they may also offer dividers if you want to separate your frozen products from others. These methods will mean that flash frozen seafood is sometimes fresher, if not as fresh, as seafood that is not frozen. It will still depend on how far the seafood traveled, but it is a great benefit if you do not live in or near a coastal community.

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