As someone who loves cooking seafood at home I’m always on the hunt for the best places to buy quality crab legs for less. With its affordable prices on staple goods Aldi seemed like it could be a good option. But I wasn’t sure – does Aldi actually sell fresh crab legs at their stores?
I did some digging to get the details on Aldi’s selection of crab products Keep reading to learn what I found out about purchasing crab legs and other crab products from this popular grocery chain
Does Aldi Regularly Stock Fresh Crab Legs?
After browsing my local Aldi weekly ad circulars and scouring the seafood section during trips to the store, I discovered that Aldi does not regularly carry fresh crab legs. They are not a standard part of Aldi’s seafood offerings.
This makes sense as crab legs are a sought after seasonal product. Large grocery store chains may have trouble keeping them consistently stocked on shelves. It can be hard for smaller chains like Aldi to guarantee fresh supplies in stores nationwide.
So while you may occasionally spot crab legs at Aldi when they have special inventory, it’s best not to count on Aldi for fresh crab legs.
Frozen Crab Legs: An Aldi Possibility
While fresh crab might be hard to come by, frozen crab legs are more likely to pop up at Aldi. Frozen seafood can be easier for them to obtain and distribute to locations nationwide.
I have spotted frozen snow crab legs and king crab legs in the Aldi weekly ads and in the discount freezer section. These are premium varieties of crab legs straight from the icy waters of Alaska.
The frozen crab legs are precooked so they just need to be thawed and heated. Definitely a convenient option!
Looking for Crab Legs at Aldi? Shop Seasonally
After some research, I realized the best chances for finding crab legs at Aldi is to shop in peak crab season.
For snow crab legs, aim to shop from January through April when crabbing season starts up in Alaska. King crab legs are abundant from October to January.
Timing it right increases your odds of discovering frozen crab legs at Aldi during those peak months. The supply tends to dwindle off-season.
I like to check the Aldi ads and visit stores frequently when crab seasons launch. That’s when you might catch a specialty frozen seafood promotion featuring crab.
Aldi Occasionally Gets Fresh Crab: Check Finds Section
There is one section that has surprised me sometimes with fresh crab legs – the Aldi “Finds” section!
This specials aisle features rotating weekly deals on fun seasonal items in limited quantities. It’s not guaranteed, but I have discovered big beautiful clusters of fresh king crab legs there before.
The markdown is usually substantial, so they go quickly! Ask an employee when Finds stock gets refreshed so you know when to pop by.
Some people even call to ask if they have fresh crab legs before going to the store. With Finds, you just have to get lucky with the timing.
Best Ways to Enjoy Crab From Aldi
Beyond crab legs, there are other tasty ways to get your crab fix from Aldi:
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Canned Crab Meat – Chunks of canned crab meat are reliably stocked in the seafood section. These let you quickly make crab cakes, dips, salads and more!
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Imitation Crab – For an affordable crab-like flavor, use imitation crab sticks in seafood bakes, sushi rolls or as a salad topping.
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Crab Rangoon – I love steaming up these frozen crab and cream cheese wontons. Aldi’s brand is delicious!
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Crab Dip – Whip up easy hot crab dip with canned crab meat, cream cheese and spices. Serve with Aldi’s gluten-free crackers.
With some flexibility and timing your shopping trips right, you can enjoy high quality crab legs and other crab products from Aldi. Just focus your searches during peak crab season or in the Aldi Finds section.
Tips for Cooking Crab Legs
When I do find crab legs at Aldi, I like to stock up! Here are my best tips for preparing succulent crab legs at home:
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Thaw safely – Thaw frozen legs overnight in the fridge or in a cold water bath. Never thaw crab meat at room temperature.
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Split the shells – Use kitchen shears to cut through the bottom shell so the meat is easy to remove.
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Cook quickly – Boil, grill or steam legs for 4-8 minutes until the meat is opaque. Don’t overcook!
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Season simply – Melted butter, lemon juice, garlic, herbs and spices are perfect flavors. Avoid masking the sweet crab flavor.
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Extract the meat – Use a fork, lobster cracker or your hands to pick the luscious crab meat from the shells.
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Chill leftovers properly – Allow meat to cool completely before storing covered in the fridge. Use within 3-4 days.
With these expert tips, you’ll be ready to take advantage of any king, snow or Dungeness crab legs you come across at Aldi.
So while Aldi may not be the most reliable source of fresh crab legs, sticking to frozen options and grabbing their seasonal specials allows you to enjoy premium crab for less. Happy crabbing, Aldi shoppers!
Aldi crab legs – are they worth it
Does Aldi have snow crab legs?
Every once in a while, Aldi rolls out snow crab legs as part of its Special Buy (ALDI Find) rotation. During one of those events, we decided to pick up some to celebrate a special occasion among a small group of family. We were just a bit nervous about this, through no fault of Aldi.
Does Aldi sell crab cakes?
Crab cakes are some of my favorite easy foods to pair with a salad for lunch. Or when crab cakes are served alongside other seafood or a steak, they make a good fancy dinner. Aldi sells several types of crab cakes from time to time. Some of them are sold refrigerated, but most are found in the limited-buy freezer aisle.
Can you buy crab legs online?
It is tough to be a seafood lover that lives far away from a coast, with no access to a fresh seafood market. Online seafood retailers make fresh and frozen seafood, including delicious crab legs, more accessible for land-locked customers. Spend less time searching for the perfect crab legs at the grocery store or market by ordering online.
How much do crab legs cost?
When we bought them in 2019, they were each 1 1/2 pounds (24 ounces) and ran about $16.99 — about $11.32 a pound. This is more than the $8.66 a pound we paid in 2017, but is on par with what we see at other grocers. This is the most informative bag for crab legs I have ever seen in my life.