Missing those coastal comforts? Wholey’s has just the solution to satisfy your hunger for the sea. Dungeness crab is known as the undisputed king of the West Coast. Wild crabs are caught in the cold Pacific Ocean off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington for these crabs. They offer a slightly sweeter flavor than snow or king crabs. The stranger thing is that they don’t smell much like salt water, so even picky eaters might like them. One cooked Dungeness crab weighs approximately 1. When the water boils, you can set aside seven to eight minutes for each pound of meat to steam. Using a different method? Crab cakes or a salad are easy ways to make a complex and creative seafood dish.
On the West Coast, dungeness crab season usually starts in December and ends in June or July, depending on where you live. People rush to eat these delicious treats before they’re all gone. Luckily, Wholey’s Market is the one-stop shop for the freshest seafood available. You can order one cooked Dungeness crab to share with your partner on a romantic evening or a lot of them to celebrate a big event. Dungeness crab is a “Best Choice” when it comes to sustainability, according to the Seafood Watch Program. This means you can feel good about choosing it.
Don’t go to San Francisco, Portland, or Seattle in the middle of winter. Instead, order from us and enjoy a great deal and an even better meal in the comfort of your own home.
Dungeness crab is a popular seafood delicacy harvested along the west coast of North America. These large edible crabs are named after the Dungeness Spit on Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula where they are abundantly found. Their sweet, tasty meat makes Dungeness crab a cherished ingredient in many seafood dishes and recipes. But just how hefty can these crustaceans get? Let’s take a closer look at the size and weight of Dungeness crabs.
Typical Size Range
An adult Dungeness crab usually measures around 6 to 7 inches across at its widest point, which is the width of the shell. The carapace (top shell) averages about 5 to 7 inches wide in most fully grown crabs. Males tend to be larger than females on average. The largest crabs can reach up to 10 inches across.
In terms of length, adult Dungeness crabs are typically about 5 to 8 inches long when measured from the eyes to the rear edge of the shell. The overall size depends partly on the crab’s age and how many times it has molted or shed its shell to grow larger.
Average Weight
The weight of Dungeness crabs can vary substantially based on their size, sex, and fullness after a meal But most commonly, an adult male Dungeness crab weighs 1 to 3 pounds on average. A crab weighing 2 to 2.5 pounds would be considered a good, hearty size
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A small male that is around 6 inches wide may weigh about 1 to 15 pounds
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A medium male of 6.5 to 7 inches generally weighs 1.5 to 2.5 pounds.
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A large male of 8 inches or more can weigh over 3 pounds, sometimes exceeding 4 pounds.
Females tend to be smaller, commonly weighing 1 to 2 pounds on average.
Maximum Weight
Exceptionally large male Dungeness crabs can reach weights of 4 pounds or possibly more in some cases. The heaviest crab on record reportedly weighed over 4.2 pounds! It was caught in California and measured 10.75 inches across at its widest point.
Generally, the maximum weight for a Dungeness crab is about 4 to 5 pounds for a very large, old male. Any crab weighing more than 3 pounds could be considered a trophy catch by most fishermen and seafood lovers.
Weight Loss After Cooking
Keep in mind that the weight of a Dungeness crab reduces substantially after cooking because of water loss. The cooked meat inside weighs about one quarter the weight of the live crab.
So a 2-pound live Dungeness crab will yield approximately 1/2 pound of cooked crab meat. A 3-pound crab may yield around 3/4 pound of meat. If you buy cooked Dungeness crab meat at the seafood counter, this is the typical weight to expect.
Key Factors Affecting Size and Weight
Several key factors impact just how big and heavy Dungeness crabs grow:
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Age – Crabs gain weight each time they molt and get older. Molting happens annually after they reach maturity. Older crabs over 4 years of age tend to be heavier.
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Sex – Mature males are bigger and heavier than adult females on average.
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Food Supply – Abundant food sources enables optimal growth and heavier weight.
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Fishery Limits – Size limits in commercial fisheries allow crabs to fatten up longer before being legally caught.
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Climate – Colder, nutrient-rich waters produce larger crabs in regions like Alaska. Warm southern waters have slower growth.
So while the typical Dungeness crab weighs between 1 and 3 pounds, the largest males can top over 4 pounds in ideal conditions. Checking the size and heft of a cooked Dungeness crab can help gauge the expected yield of tasty crab meat inside!
Dungeness Crab Salad Recipe
Yield: 4-6 Servings
Ingredients:
- Salad dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 minced garlic clove
- 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Salad:
- ¾ pound asparagus
- Two cut romaine hearts
- One thinly sliced cucumber
- 4 sliced radishes
- 4 tomatoes, cut into wedges
- 4 boiled eggs, cut into wedges
- 1 whole cooked Dungeness crab
Directions:
- Pour the salad dressing into a bowl and mix all of the ingredients together. Let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.
- For about three minutes, boil the asparagus in salt water until it’s soft. Drain and cool.
- Prepare romaine, cucumber, radishes, tomatoes, eggs, and asparagus on plates
- Top with large chunks of crabmeat and add salad dressing
This makes a great light lunch or works as a first course for a dinner party.
All you need to know about Dungeness Crab, Snow Crab, and King Crab.
FAQ
How much meat is in a 2 lb Dungeness crab?
How many pounds is one Dungeness crab?
How old is a 6 inch Dungeness crab?
What is the size weight of Dungeness crab?
How much does a dungeness crab weigh?
The typical Dungeness crab weighs approximately 2 pounds and yields about 25% of its weight, making it one of the most productive edible crabs (via Crabbing Hub). Dungeness crabs can be found whole or as picked meat, with prices lowest during the winter months when the harvest is at its peak (via Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission ).
What happened to Dungeness crabs?
Dungeness crabs make up a massive fishery that supports communities from California to Alaska—some years the harvest results in up to 54 million pounds of crab! In 2016, the fishery was hit hard by a toxic bloom of Pseudo-nitschia algae, which delayed the Oregon and Washington fishery opening by one month and the Washington fishery by five months.
How do you identify Dungeness crabs?
You can identify Dungeness crabs by their purple-hued shells, which can grow up to 10 inches across. Dungeness crabs make up a massive fishery that supports communities from California to Alaska—some years the harvest results in up to 54 million pounds of crab!
How fast do Dungeness crabs grow?
During the first two years both sexes grow at similar rates but after two years the female crabs grow more slowly than the males. Sexual maturity may be reached at three years. At 4 to 5 years of age, a Dungeness crab can be over 6 1/2 inches in shell width and weigh between 2 and 3 pounds.