Where To Buy A Whole King Crab – The Ultimate Guide For Seafood Lovers

King crab is one of the most prized seafood delicacies in the world. With its sweet, succulent meat and impressive size, it’s no wonder these giant crustaceans are highly sought after But where can you buy a whole king crab? This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about purchasing a whole king crab

King crab refers to several species of large crab found in cold, deep waters off Alaska, Russia, and the Bering Sea. The two most popular varieties commercially fished and consumed are red king crab and golden king crab (also called brown king crab)

Red king crab have a reddish-brown shell and can weigh up to 15 pounds, with legs spanning 5 feet tip to tip! The meat is snowy white with a sweet, delicate flavor. Golden king crab has a more golden-hued shell and firm, richly flavored meat. Both offer a tender texture and ocean-fresh taste that make them a luxurious delicacy.

Benefits Of Buying A Whole Crab

Opting for a whole crab offers several advantages:

• More meat: A whole crab contains meat from the legs, claws, body, and back fin. This gives you more variety and quantity to enjoy.

• Value: Buying a whole crab is often more economical per pound than buying clusters or legs. You get more for your money.

• Impressive presentation: A whole crab makes a dramatic centerpiece and is perfect for special occasions.

• Full flavor: Since you have all parts of the crab, you can experience the nuances between the milder leg meat and the bolder body and claw meat.

• More recipes: A whole crab allows you to utilize the meat in a wider variety of recipes like stocks, bisques, crab cakes, etc.

So if you want an abundant feast, excellent value, and the full king crab dining experience, a whole crab is the way to go!

Where To Buy A Whole King Crab

You may be wondering—where can I actually find and buy a whole king crab? Here are some of the best options:

Local Seafood Markets

Check with seafood markets or fishmongers in your area. Many will order and stock whole crabs, especially around the holidays when demand is higher. This allows you to inspect the crab for freshness.

Restaurant Suppliers

See if local restaurants will sell you one of their whole crabs. They buy in bulk from reputable suppliers and you know you’ll get a high-quality product.

Online Seafood Retailers

Ordering online opens up many choices beyond your geographical area. The best online seafood companies are:

• Alaskan King Crab Company – Offers wild red king crab straight from Alaska waters. Each crab weighs 3-4 pounds. They flash freeze after catch to maximize freshness.

• Tanner’s Seafood – Known for their Whole Alaskan Golden King Crab during the holidays. Average weight is 5-6 pounds per crab. Wild-caught and limited availability.

• Lobster Anywhere – Provides live Maine lobsters and crabs, including whole cooked red king crab flown in fresh daily.

• Sea to Table – Sustainable American wild-caught seafood, including seasonal options for whole king crab.

The benefit of ordering online is the seafood is shipped overnight direct from the source, so it’s as fresh as possible. Look for retailers that use dry ice and insulated packaging to keep the crab completely frozen in transit.

Fish Markets In Coastal Areas

If you live near crab fishing waters like the Pacific Northwest, specialty fish markets and dockside sellers may have whole cooked dungeness, snow crab, and sometimes king crab available seasonally. Check Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Northern California.

Asian Supermarkets

Some larger Asian food supermarkets have live or frozen whole crab imported from Asia. These are often blue king crab rather than Alaska red or golden king crab, but offer another local shopping option.

What To Look For When Buying A Whole King Crab

To help you select a top-notch whole crab, here are some tips on what to look for:

• Reputable Seller – Buy from a trusted, high-quality source known for fresh seafood. This ensures you get a good product.

• Species – Make sure you’re getting genuine red or golden king crab, not cheaper imitation crab.

• Origin – Alaskan or Bering Sea king crab is considered superior.

• Size – Heavier crabs are fuller of meat. Average whole crabs weigh 3-6 pounds. Some can reach up to 10!

• Appearance – Legs should be intact, not cracked or broken. Shell should appear firm and shiny.

• Packaging – If purchasing frozen, it should be solidly frozen with no signs of thawing and re-freezing. Wet, stained cardboard can indicate this.

• Price – Higher prices often reflect better quality, but compare between sellers. Price per pound is a good measuring gauge.

• Shipping Method – Overnight shipping packed with dry ice ensures the crab stays frozen.

Following these guidelines will help you pick out the very best whole king crab for your budget.

How Much Does A Whole King Crab Cost?

The price of a whole king crab varies depending on a few factors:

• Size – Larger crabs that weigh more will have a higher total cost.

• Species – Red king crab is generally more expensive than golden king crab.

• Supply – Prices fluctuate based on availability each season.

• Seller – Direct-from-Alaska retailers may cost more than random fish markets.

• Shipping – Overnight shipping and dry ice packaging increases the total cost if ordering online.

To give you a ballpark range, expect to spend:

• Smaller red king crab (3-4 lbs): $200 – $300

• Larger golden king crab (5-8 lbs): $350 – $700

• Jumbo red king crab (8-10+ lbs): $500 – $800

While not cheap, keep in mind you’re investing in a wild-caught delicacy you’ll enjoy for multiple meals. The cost per serving is comparable to a nice steak or holiday ham.

How To Prepare A Whole King Crab

One of the best parts about buying a whole cooked king crab is minimal prep work is required. Here is a simple process:

1. Keep the crab frozen until 1-2 days before eating.

2. Thaw in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours.

3. Rinse the crab under cold water.

4. Use kitchen shears or a sharp knife to cut through the shell along the underside and back fin.

5. Crack open the body and separate the meat from the top shell.

6. Snap off legs and claws where they meet the body.

7. Use a mallet or small hammer to crack the legs and claws for easier meat removal.

8. Gently extract the meat with your fingers or a seafood fork.

9. Heat the meat. This can be done by steaming, boiling, baking, or grilling for just 2-3 minutes until warmed through.

10. Enjoy your incredible king crab feast! Dip in melted butter or try our homemade recipes.

With minimal effort, you’ll be indulging in tender, juicy king crab meat. Store any uneaten crab tightly wrapped in the fridge for 2-3 days. The sweet taste and satisfaction can’t be beat!

Amazing Recipes To Try With Whole King Crab

A whole king crab offers endless recipe possibilities. Here are some mouthwatering ways to savor this premium seafood:

• King Crab Legs – Simply steam or grill the legs with drawn butter. Delicious and easy!

• King Crab Dip -Blend crab meat with cream cheese, onions, lemon, and spices. Serve chilled with crackers.

• Crab Cakes – Mix together crab meat, bread crumbs, egg, and seasonings then pan fry into hearty crab cakes.

• King Crab Quiche – Line a baked pie crust with crab meat, egg custard, cheese, and vegetables.

• Crab Louie Salad – Toss crab chunks with lettuce, tomatoes, boiled egg, avocado, and louie dressing.

• Seafood Risotto – Cook arborio rice in crab stock. Fold in crab meat and parmesan cheese just before serving.

• Crab stuffed Salmon– Top salmon fillets with a rich crab stuffing for an elegant duo.

• Crab Bisque – Puree crab meat and shells into a creamy, robust soup. Garnish with fresh crab.

The options are endless when cooking with a whole king crab. Those sweet chunks of meat also make perfect crab salad sandwiches, pasta, chowders, and so