Alaskan King Crab Legs You Can Enjoy

Alaskan king crab legs are the most regal of seafood, and there is also a sense of excitement when these appear at the dinner table.  In Alaska there are three commercial king crab species: red king crabs, blue king crabs, and golden king crabs. Red king crabs are very large; their legs can reach spans of 6 feet.  The Blue king crab is the largest of these three species and can sometimes exceed 18 lbs.  The golden king crab is significantly smaller than the red and blue king crabs, averaging 5–8 lb.

Alaskan king crab fishing is carried out during the winter months in the waters off the coast of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. The commercial harvest is performed during a very short season, and the catch is shipped worldwide. While some fisheries ship king crab legs fresh caught and packed in dry ice, many offer already cooked and flash frozen so that the preparation at home is simple. 

Alaskan king crabs have greatly declined in numbers over the last 20 years.  Several theories for the precipitous drop in the crab population have been proposed, including overfishing, warmer waters, and increased fish predation. The red and blue king crab population has stayed relatively low in almost all areas except Southeast Alaska since 1983, forcing many fishermen to concentrate on the Golden King Crab.  Overall, the diminishing harvest of king crabs has led fisherman to catch snow crabs.  Snow crab legs are similar to Alaskan king crab legs in flavor, but are smaller in size.

To have crab legs delivered direct from the fishery ensures the seafood is fresh and it brings the elegance of eating in a fine seafood restaurant right to your door.  Simply thaw the crab legs overnight and serve them cold with cocktail sauce or warmed with melted butter.  Alaskan king crab legs are so special they will turn any meal into a celebration.