The Ultimate Guide to Purchasing King Crab Legs Online

King crab legs are a delicious and luxurious seafood treat. Their sweet tender meat and impressive size make them a fantastic centerpiece for special occasions and holidays. However finding high-quality king crab legs can be a challenge. Many grocery stores only carry previously frozen legs that have been sitting around for weeks or even months. The quality just isn’t the same.

Luckily, thanks to the internet, you can now order fresh-frozen king crab legs shipped directly to your door. Online seafood companies like Alaskan King Crab provide a convenient way to get incredibly fresh king crab delivered right to you. But how do you know which king crab website to trust? This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about buying king crab legs online.

What to Look for in an Online King Crab Company

When searching for the best place to buy king crab legs online there are a few key factors to evaluate

Sourcing and Freshness

The #1 thing to look for is how and where the company sources their king crab. Buying directly from fishermen in Alaska ensures the absolute peak freshness and quality. The crab should be flash frozen shortly after being caught to lock in freshness.

Companies that don’t disclose their sourcing or take shortcuts with freezing should be avoided. Make sure the king crab is wild-caught not farmed. Wild Alaskan king crab has a superior taste and texture.

Variety of Offerings

A good online crab company will provide a wide selection of king crab legs as well as other premium seafood like lobster tails, shrimp, and fish. This selection allows you to create the ultimate seafood feast.

Look for options like red king crab legs, golden king crab legs, and even snow crab legs and claws. More variety means you can find the perfect crab legs for your needs and budget.

Shipping and Delivery

Since you’re ordering perishable seafood, the shipping process is crucial. The crab legs need to arrive frozen solid and packed with dry ice to maintain optimum freshness.

Choose a company that offers free overnight shipping. This way, your king crab legs go from the supplier to your doorstep in 24 hours or less. Anything slower risks degrading the quality.

Customer Service

Make sure any king crab website you use has responsive, knowledgeable customer service. You want to easily get help with ordering, talk through product questions, and handle any delivery issues. Things can go wrong when shipping fresh seafood, so solid support is a must.

How and When to Order King Crab Legs Online

Ordering online offers perks like convenience and selection – but there are best practices to follow:

Order Early in the Week

To get your shipment as quickly as possible, order your king crab legs early in the week – Monday through Wednesday. This gives more wiggle room in case of any weather or shipping delays.

Orders placed Thursday or Friday are at higher risk of getting stuck for the weekend before delivery.

Order Larger Quantities for Free Shipping

One downside of online ordering is the cost of overnight shipping. But many companies offer free shipping on orders over a certain dollar amount. At Alaskan King Crab, you get free FedEx overnight shipping on orders over $300.

Take advantage of this by ordering more crab legs and seafood to hit the minimum. You can stock up for multiple meals and parties while avoiding shipping fees.

Factor in Thaw Time

Since the king crab legs arrive frozen solid, you’ll need to allot time for them to thaw before cooking. Plan for 24-36 hours in the fridge.

Order your legs early in the week to ensure they are thawed and ready for weekend meals or entertaining. Don’t wait until Friday to order if you want to serve the crab on Saturday.

How Much King Crab Should I Order?

Figuring out how much king crab to buy can be tricky when you aren’t selecting legs in person. Here are some guidelines for estimating your order:

• For a starter appetizer course, order 1 lb of king crab legs per person
• For a main entree course, order 1.5-2 lbs per person
• When in doubt, overestimate – you can always save extra for another meal.

Keep in mind that leg sizes can vary, so the number of legs in a pound will differ. Go with total poundage vs. number of legs when determining quantities.

And if you have any questions on ordering sizes, the customer service team at a quality king crab company can guide you. They want to ensure you get the ideal amount of crab for your needs.

How to Cook King Crab Legs

Preparing succulent king crab legs may seem intimidating. But have no fear – cooking them is simple and quick:

Step 1: Thaw

Thaw frozen legs for 24-36 hours refrigerated. Do not attempt to cook frozen legs – they must be thawed first.

Step 2: Steam Them

Steaming is hands-down the best cooking method. Bring 1-2 inches of water to a boil in a large pot. Place legs in a steamer basket and set over boiling water.

Steam for 6-8 minutes until bright red. They will turn opaque and flaky when fully cooked.

Step 3: Crack and Enjoy

Use a mallet to crack the shells, then pull legs apart at joints. Dip the sweet meat into melted butter or lemon garlic sauce. Enjoy this tender, juicy delicacy!

Delicious Ways to Serve King Crab Legs

Beyond steaming and dipping in butter, there are endless possibilities for preparing crab legs:

• Crab cakes – add lump crab meat to cakes and sauté until golden brown.

• Baked crab dip – combine cooked crab with cream cheese, bread crumbs, and spices and bake until bubbly.

• Crab salad – mix crab meat with lemon juice, mayo, veggies, and seasonings for a tasty salad.

• Crab linguine – toss crab meat with pasta, olive oil, garlic, white wine, and parsley.

• Crab stuffed mushrooms – stuff mushroom caps with crab dip or salad for an appetizer.

• Crab omelettes – combine crab meat with eggs and veggies for a delectable brunch option.

With the versatility of king crab meat, the recipe options are practically endless!

The Best Sides to Serve with King Crab Legs

A king crab feast deserves equally luxurious side dishes to complement the sweetness of the crab meat. Here are some mouthwatering sides to consider:

• Garlic bread or rolls – the perfect complement to soak up butter and juices

• Twice baked potatoes – decadent and rich to balance the crab

• Asparagus – elegant and fresh side that pairs beautifully

• Steak salad – hearty mixed greens, tomatoes, onions, tenderloin tips

• Bacon wrapped scallops – indulgent to match the splurge of king crab

• Shrimp scampi – another seafood delight to round out the surf and turf theme

When it comes to king crab legs, don’t hold back on the sides. Go all out to treat your guests to an unforgettable meal.

The Best Time to Purchase King Crab Legs

As a seasonal delicacy, king crab legs taste best during peak harvesting times:

• October-January – Buy legs in the fall and winter months when crabs are most plentiful after summer breeding season.

• Holidays – Holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years are a great excuse to enjoy a lavish crab feast.

• Special Occasions – Birthdays, anniversaries, dinner parties – any special event warrants a king crab extravaganza!

No matter when you choose to order, online retailers offer fresh-frozen king crab year round. But for the absolute best flavor and texture, opt for legs in those peak fall and winter months.

Is Online King Crab Worth the Price?

There’s no denying king crab legs are one of the pricier seafood options. But they provide an incredible flavor and experience that’s well worth the splurge.

Keep these factors in mind when considering the value:

• Wild-caught king crab is a high-end delicacy – treat it like lobster

• The large, impressive legs make a statement on any table

• You’re paying for overnight shipping to ensure maximum freshness

• It’s a special occasion meal – not an everyday dinner

• You can save by buying in bulk for multiple meals

Treat yourself and your guests to the ultimate indulgence by savoring every succulent bite. Those special occasions and holidays are the perfect excuse to enjoy the luxurious experience of fresh king crab.

The Verdict: Is Ordering King Crab Online Worth It?

At the end of the day, is buying king crab legs online actually worth the convenience and quality? Here are the key benefits:

• Unparalleled freshness – the crab is fresher than any grocery store

• Ideal texture – carefully handled frozen crab has the best texture

• Huge selection – choose from multiple crab types and seafood

• Tailored orders – get the exact amount of crab you need