Snow Crab - Enjoy The Flavor And Texture

Crab remains a very popular seafood entree, with over 1 1/2 million tons consumed annually. In the United States fresh crabs are harvested on both coasts, the most popular being the King Crab found off the coast off Alaska.  Other popular crabs found in Pacific waters are Dungeness and Snow Crab. 

The snow crab is a crustacean, like lobster and shrimp, with a flat, almost circular body and five pairs of spider-like legs. They are caught as far north as the Arctic Ocean, from Newfoundland to Greenland in the Atlantic Ocean, and across the Pacific Ocean, including the Sea of Japan, the Bering Sea, and the Gulf of Alaska.  This variety is known for their salty-sweet flavor and delicate texture. Snow crabs can grow to about 2.5 kg (5 lbs) and 60 cm (2 ft) in length.

Snow crabs grow by producing a new shell underneath the old one, a process called molting. For the first few weeks, the new shell is soft and easily damaged, and the crab is highly vulnerable to natural predation, or to injury or death as a result of trapping or poor handling. It is believed that snow crab live for five to six years after their final molt, with a maximum lifespan of about 12-13 years.

Snow crab legs are often served in fine restaurants as clusters of long legs with succulent meat inside.  Mild and snowy white, snow crab legs are so sweet, tender and juicy that they are often mistaken for King Crab legs. Snow crab legs come fully cooked; they are cooked at sea where they are caught and flash frozen aboard the fishing vessels to protect their flavors.  Frozen cooked crab legs are easy to prepare and may be steamed or microwaved.

Whether served as whole legs or claws or used as an ingredient in soups or casseroles, these crabs will always bring a delicious taste of the sea to your dining table.