Crab lovers listen up! Crab clusters are one of the most delectable treats from the sea. But what exactly are crab clusters and how does one cook them to succulent, mouth-watering perfection? In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about these crustacean delicacies.
Crab clusters refer to the legs and claws of crabs that are sold grouped together. Rather than getting individual crab legs, clusters give you an intact section of the crab’s appendages still attached together. The two most popular varieties sold in cluster form are king crab and snow crab.
King crab legs are the very long, thick legs of the red and blue king crabs found in Alaska. Snow crab clusters feature the shorter legs and claws of snow crab from Alaska or Canada. Dungeness crab from the Pacific Northwest is also sometimes sold in clusters of 4-5 legs.
Compared to buying individual legs, crab clusters contain more meat and a portion of the flavorful body This makes them ideal for feasting and sharing at a seafood dinner The crab clusters stay fresher when kept together rather than being broken down into individual legs.
The Benefits of Buying and Cooking Crab Clusters
There are many benefits to purchasing and preparing crab legs in cluster form:
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More economical – Crab clusters allow you to buy in bulk and take advantage of volume savings. Per pound clusters are often cheaper than buying individual legs.
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Simpler prep – With clusters, there is no need to break down and portion legs before cooking. You can cook the legs straight from the freezer.
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Retain moisture – Keeping the crab legs clustered together helps retain moisture and prevents the meat from drying out.
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Full crab flavor – The extra body meat in clusters provides more rich, decadent crab flavor to your meal.
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Impressive presentation – Serving a whole snow or king crab cluster makes for an exciting centerpiece at dinner.
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Easier eating – The legs remain segmented in clusters, making it simpler to break apart and access the coveted meat.
How to Cook Crab Clusters to Perfection
Proper preparation is key to cooking fresh, delicious crab clusters. Follow these steps for perfect crab every time:
1. Choose Fresh Clusters
When buying crab, freshness is imperative for the best texture and taste. Look for clusters that are cold, heavy for their size, and without any off putting odors. Vibrant color and firm, intact legs also indicate fresh crab.
2. Prepare Equipment
Before cooking, assemble all the necessary equipment including a large pot, steamer basket, tongs, colander, and kitchen shears or cracker tool. Having tools ready prevents a scramble mid-cooking.
3. Steam the Crab Legs
Steaming is ideal for cooking crab legs while preserving moisture. Fill a pot with 2 inches of water and bring to a boil. Place clusters in a steam basket, lower into the pot, cover, and steam for 12-15 minutes until bright red. Consider adding garlic, lemon, wine, or crab boil seasonings to the water for extra flavor.
4. Cool and Crack Open the Shells
After steaming, let the crab cool slightly before cracking open the shell. Use shears or a seafood cracker to break the shell and remove legs and claws. Take care when handling and cracking the shell to avoid potential injury.
5. Extract and Enjoy the Meat
Use a small fork to pull the crab meat from the interior and legs. Discard any cartilage or stray bits of shell. Dip in melted butter, use in other recipes, or simply enjoy the sweet crabmeat as is. Savor the delicious bounty straight from the sea!
Tantalizing Crab Cluster Recipes to Try
Beyond basic steaming, crab clusters can be used in endless appetizing recipes. Some tasty ways to utilize your crab cluster bounty:
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Crab cakes – Mix shredded crab meat with breadcrumbs, egg, and seasonings then pan fry into delightful crab cakes.
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Crab salad – Flake crab meat and fold gently into a fresh salad with veggies, lemon juice, and a light dressing.
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Crab dip – Combine crab with cream cheese, sour cream, and parmesan. Bake until bubbly for a hearty crab dip.
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Crab stuffed mushrooms – Fill mushroom caps with a luscious blend of crab and cheese then bake until golden.
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Crab linguine – Toss tender linguine with a white wine garlic sauce, crab meat, tomatoes, and parsley.
The options for crab cluster creations are endless. Let your imagination run wild!
Indulging in Dungeness Crab Clusters
Dungeness crab from the Pacific Northwest is another popular crab sold in clusters. Compared to king or snow crab, Dungeness has shorter, stouter legs and a sweet, delicate flavor. The tender white meat is slightly nutty and perfect for serving with melted butter.
When cooked, Dungeness crab turns bright orange-red. Steaming is ideal but it can also be boiled or baked. Beyond enjoying it plain, Dungeness crab meat shines when added to pastas, salads, sandwiches, risottos, and more. A cluster or two of local Dungeness crab makes for a memorable seafood feast.
Conclusion
Crab clusters offer a delicious, economical way to indulge in Alaskan king, snow crab, or Pacific Dungeness crab. Keeping the legs and claws connected retains moisture and flavor – leading to better home cooked results. Follow proper steaming and handling techniques to serve up professional quality crab in your own kitchen. Then utilize the sweet meat in everything from appetizers to main entrees. With so many options, crab clusters are sure to become your new go-to for special dinners and indulgent feasts.
Regular price $ 700
Include the most dangerous catch in your meal! These clusters come straight from the processors that the best Alaskan crab fishermen deliver to, and they have all the legs, the claw, and a good chunk of the body! These huge Alaska Snow crab legs are famous for their sweet, succulent taste and snowy white meat.
Snow crab is a great food to eat as part of a healthy diet because it is low in fat and calories and high in protein. In the kitchen, Snow crab is very versatile. A big crab feast is one of the most common ways to eat snow crab, but it’s also great in soups, salads, omelets, and many other tasty foods. So plan your next dinner and serve up our sweet Snow crab legs that everyone will remember.
Customer Reviews Based on 18 reviews
The legs were full of very tasty meat. The family loved the crab. Simply defrost and you’re good to go. T.
Disappointed in the size of each leg. Quality lacked what I’m use to for the price. T
Nice clusters as always!!! F
Not much quality here for the price. Crab legs were mostly broken up into single legs or smaller. B.
Snow crab clusters were delicious and were exactly what we were expecting! V
Meat was fresh! This product was very good. Excellent quality. Will be ordering again. R
Hardly no meat or none at all inside the clusters L
We ordered this to change up Thanksgiving a bit since were not huge turkey fans. The shipment came quickly and still frozen. However. Some of the legs were broken off and cracked. Maybe it was too close to the dry ice. I cooked them in a crab boil sauce and they were tasty. Just wished all the legs would have been intact.
How to Cook Crab Legs
FAQ
Are snow crab clusters already cooked?
Are snow crab clusters good?
How many clusters are 2 pounds of crab legs?
What is alaskan snow crab clusters?
How do you prepare crab clusters for grilling?
1 Pour equal quantities of water and vinegar in large pot with a raised rack (a minimum of 2 inches high) to just below the level of the rack. Cover. Bring to boil on high heat. 2 Carefully place crabs on rack in single layer. (Clusters should be above the water level.) Sprinkle with OLD BAY. Cover.
What is the difference between a snow crab and a king crab cluster?
Another similarity between King Crabs and 1 cluster of snow crab legs is that snow crabs have extremely long legs. These legs provide a great deal of their meat, which is considered to be more fibrous than the meat of the King Crab.
How long do you steam crab clusters?
Bring to boil on high heat. 2 Carefully place crabs on rack in single layer. (Clusters should be above the water level.) Sprinkle with OLD BAY. Cover. 3 Steam about 8 to 10 minutes or until crabs turn bright orange.
How do you cook snow crab clusters?
Bake the frozen snow crab at 450 for approximately 14 to 16 minutes. Thawed clusters can be baked at 450 degrees for about 8 to 10 minutes. Large amounts of clusters will take longer to heat throughly. Wrap the thawed legs in a damp paper towel and cook on high for about 2 to 3 minutes.