King crab is one of the most prized and delicious seafood delicacies. With its sweet, succulent meat and large, impressive claws, it’s no wonder demand is high for this crustacean. But king crab isn’t cheap – it can cost over $100 for just a few pounds So how much does king crab cost per pound in 2024? Here’s a breakdown of the latest king crab market prices and what to expect when buying king crab
King Crab Market Prices in 2024
The price of king crab fluctuates each year depending on supply and demand. Here are the latest pre-season cost projections for 2024
- Red king crab – $79.99 per pound for jumbo legs (approx 1.25 legs/claws per lb), $84.99 per pound for colossal legs (approx 1 leg/claw per lb)
- Golden king crab – $89.99 per pound
- Blue king crab – $99.99 per pound
- Snow crab – $34.99 per pound
These prices are for high-quality, wild-caught king crab sourced directly from Alaska. Expect to pay more for crab legs bought retail or from seafood markets and restaurants.
For example, a typical 1.5 pound serving of red king crab legs at a restaurant might cost $50 or more. The same amount bought directly from a supplier in Alaska would cost around $120.
Factors That Determine King Crab Prices
Several key factors impact the retail and wholesale prices of king crab each year:
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** Limited supply** – Only a certain number of crabs can be sustainably harvested each season, keeping overall inventory low. This pushes prices up.
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High demand – From consumers to restaurants, king crab is one of the most sought-after seafood items. Having more buyers than product available also increases prices.
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Difficult harvesting – King crab fishing is highly specialized, dangerous work with small profit margins for fishermen. The costs associated with catching king crab are very high.
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Export market – Much of the king crab caught gets exported to Asia where it fetches top dollar. This global demand reduces domestic supply, further driving up costs.
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Processing – Once caught, king crab must be transported, cleaned, cooked, frozen, and packaged – adding to the final retail price tag.
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Alaska regulations – Strict crab fishing rules and quotas in Alaska also constrain supply levels, making this premium crab more valuable.
Buying King Crab Legs in Bulk
One way to secure king crab for less per pound is to buy in bulk directly from a reputable supplier like FishEx Seafoods. Their seasonal king crab deals provide high quality product in larger quantities which lowers the per pound price.
For example, a 20 lb case of jumbo red king crab legs from FishEx costs $1169.10 which breaks down to $58.46 per pound. Buying individually, those same legs would cost $79.99 per pound. That’s over $20 more per pound!
Even smaller bulk orders of 5 or 10 lbs can net significant savings versus purchasing king crab legs by the single pound.
Freezing and Storing King Crab
Another advantage of buying king crab legs in bulk is that they store well long term in the freezer. This allows you to enjoy king crab for months after purchase instead of just one meal.
Properly frozen king crab legs can last up to 6 months in the freezer without losing quality. Make sure to thaw legs gradually in the fridge overnight before cooking.
Splitting a case of king crab with family or friends is a great way to divvy up the bulk savings – and the crab! Portion bags can make managing thawed crab easier for multiple occasions.
Is King Crab Worth the Price in 2024?
While king crab will remain a premium-priced seafood treat in 2024, many aficionados find the sweet taste, huge portions, and dramatic presentation worth the splurge for special occasions.
There’s simply no substitute for treating yourself and your guests to tender, delicious king crab plucked straight from the icy waters of Alaska. Just be sure to factor the high price per pound into your budget before boiling up a king crab feast.
Searching for deals on bulk orders, direct from suppliers in Alaska, can trim some cost off king crab legs this year. But quality reigns supreme when it comes to king crab – paying a little more for wild-caught, sustainably harvested crab is important.
With some savvy shopping and insider tips, you can enjoy great Alaska king crab in 2024 without totally breaking the bank. Just brace yourself for the very high, yet understandable, price per pound on these mammoth crustaceans.
Sourced Straight from Sea to Table
Sourced through trusted experts and chosen for taste, texture and quality.
Flash frozen to lock in the fresh-off-the-dock taste.
Packaged with dry ice and shipped overnight directly to your door.
Simply thaw, prep, heat, and eat.
Alaskan king crab boasts a rich, natural sweetness and firm yet tender texture.
After thawing your crab legs in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours, you can steam, grill, bake, or boil. Learn more here. We suggest rinsing your crab legs in freshwater before and after thawing them. You can also heat your king crab legs straight from the freezer; just give them more time to cook in either way.
All of our products will stay good in the freezer for several months. However, for the best taste and texture, we recommend enjoying them within 2-3 months.
All products are hand-weighed using a certified scale. We try to give you as many full legs as we can, but orders may also come with claws, knuckles, and other parts. Dry ice will be used to pack your order so that everything stays frozen until it gets to your door.
Both red king crab and golden king crab have a sweet, rich, and luxurious flavor profile. Golden king crab is a slightly smaller species caught at deeper depths. As a result, their legs are more likely to sting than those of red king crabs, so you should use good shears.
The exact amount of meat in each crab leg will vary slightly. We suggest ordering 1 to 2 pounds of seafood per person, but it depends on how hungry you are and what else is in your seafood feast.
Both red and golden king crab boast 16g of protein, ~350mg of omega 3s, and 9. 8 mcg of vitamin B-12 per 3oz serving.
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- Wild-caught by trusted experts, Alaskan King Crab Co. brings the sea right to your doorstep. Our king crab is already cooked so that it still tastes like it was just caught. Learn more here.
- A lot of good protein, vitamin B-12, and omega-3s can be found in Alaskan golden king crab meat. Even though they are a bit smaller and a little sweeter than red king crab legs, golden king crab legs are still a treat.
- Every order is put in a box with dry ice to keep it frozen on the way to your house.
- Our king crab is already cooked, so all you have to do is thaw, heat, and eat. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight (8-12 hours). Then, simply steam, grill, bake, or boil.
- If you want to make your meal even better, dip your crab legs in melted butter with our AKC “Just Add Butter” Seafood Seasoning. Don’t forget to serve some of our favorite side dishes as well.