Can You Buy a Whole Snow Crab Online?

When buying snow crab, there are different options for how you can buy the meat based on the desired crab body part. The legs and the claws are popular choices when buying most types of crab online. However, you may be asking yourself whether you can order a snow crab whole from a company and have a live full snow crab delivered to your house.

Unfortunately, whole snow crab for sale is hard to come by for a couple of reasons. However, there are alternative tasty options for snow crab deliveries that will make a delicious meal for you and your loved ones.

Snow Crab Prices

Why Can’t I Find A Whole Snow Crab Online?

Snow crab, also known as the “queen crab”, can grow in size to weigh about 5 to 7 pounds. The lifespan of the snow crab is long – the crustacean can live approximately 20 years when they are not harvested. However, once Atlantic snow crab is caught and brought to the shore, the fishers begin to quickly process the crab. By doing so, they are guaranteeing the optimal freshness of the whole snow crab.

Snow crab is processed into two sections. These sections are referred to as clusters, and each cluster consists of four legs, one claw, and a shoulder. The processors clean these clusters and once they size grade them, they are packed into pans.

It is important to note that snow crab is generally available pre-cooked and frozen only. The reason for that is because snow crab does not survive well or for an extended period of time when kept in tanks. As a result, the whole snow crab is cut into pieces prior to delivery.

Is Snow Crab Ever Sold Live?

The short answer is, no. Snow crab is considered too large and spindly to be sold live. Like their counterpart, the King Crab, snow crab is cooked once harvested. However, despite processors pre-cooking the crab, it does not mean that they are not fresh. Fresh snow crab will arrive icy, but that should not cause concern because it will not be hard frozen. For seafood lovers, the fresh taste is considered superior to any frozen products.

Although companies often sell the same products – clusters or sections – there are sometimes variations in the meat that they sell. Some of these options may include split clusters/sections. These are leg shells that are partially removed so that the meat is exposed. Another option might be salad meat, which includes the snow crab’s shoulder meat and the tips.

The benefit of processors cooking and cutting whole snow crab prior to delivery is that it is an easy process for the customer once the product arrives on their doorstep. The only cooking steps that are necessary when you are preparing the snow crab is that it should be thawed when used for chilled applications. Alternatively, all you need to do is thaw the snow crab and then reheat it for hot applications.

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