Finding and Enjoying Phillips Crab Meat: A Guide

As a seafood lover, you know that when it comes to exceptional quality crab meat, Phillips Seafood is a name you can trust. Their premium lump and jumbo lump crab meat has been delighting customers for over a century. But where can you actually buy Phillips crab products? This guide will walk you through the best places to find their iconic crab meat and other seafood items.

Why Phillips for Crab Meat?

With their long history originating in Ocean City, Maryland, Phillips Seafood knows great crab. Their processing facilities on Hooper’s Island handle fresh catches daily from the Chesapeake Bay and coastal Atlantic waters. This allows them to hand pick the finest blue crab meat available.

The result is lump crab meat renowned for its sweet flavor generous sizing and delicate texture. Whether enjoying their crab meat chilled in a salad, folded into cakes, or used to stuff shrimp, you simply can’t beat the quality that Phillips delivers.

Where to Buy Retail Phillips Crab Meat

While having fresh Phillips crab cakes at one of their restaurants is always a treat, you can also buy their packaged crab meat at select grocery store locations. Here are some of the top spots to look for Phillips seafood products:

Northeastern United States

In their home region, Phillips lump crab meat can be found at chains like Giant Safeway, Wegmans Harris Teeter, Food Lion, and some Walmart Neighborhood Market stores. Be sure to check the frozen seafood section.

Mid-Atlantic and Southeast US

Head south to find Phillips offerings at Publix, Piggly Wiggly, Lowes Foods, Harris Teeter, and Kroger banners including Pick ‘n Save, Metro Market, and more.

Midwest

Meijer, Hy-Vee, Jewel-Osco, Schnucks, and Kroger-owned chains often carry Phillips crab and seafood products through the Midwest. Distribution is focused on states bordering the Great Lakes.

Texas

H-E-B, Brookshire’s, Randalls, and some Walmart stores are your best bet for Phillips in the Lone Star state. being close to the Gulf Coast means more demand for quality seafood.

West Coast and Rocky Mountains

Being far from their Maryland base of operations, Phillips retail availability is more limited out west. Check specialty grocers like Metropolitan Market in Seattle or Whole Foods.

Online Store

Can’t find Phillips crab meat locally? Their online seafood store ships frozen products direct to your door in 1-3 day ground shipping. Crab meat, crab cakes, soups, and more are available.

Pro tip: If you locate Phillips products at a store near you, call to ask when their delivery days are so you know the freshest stock. Crab meat especially moves quickly!

What to Look for When Buying

Phillips offers several varieties of premium crab meat in both their restaurants and retail lines:

Jumbo Lump Crab Meat – Highest grade, with pieces from 2 to 6 ounces. The signature for salads and stuffing.

Lump Crab Meat – A blend of broken jumbo lump and other body meat. More affordable but still tasty and flaky.

Claw Crab Meat – From the claws and legs. Sweeter flavor and firmer texture.

Backfin Crab Meat – Flaky body and leg meat, styled more shredded than lump. Great value.

Cocktail Claw – An affordable option made from leg, shoulder, and body flakes.

No matter which you choose, you can expect Phillips crab to deliver sweetness and texture not found in competing products. Check labels for 100% authentic blue crab, and look for pull-top lids to ensure freshness.

Handling and Serving Phillips Crab Meat

To enjoy those big lumps and flakes at their absolute best, be sure to handle Phillips crab meat properly:

• Keep frozen until ready to use. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

• Once thawed, use within 3-5 days for peak freshness and flavor.

• Avoid overmixing lumps into dips or cakes. Fold and combine gently.

• Add crab meat at the end to hot dishes. Extended high heat exposure toughens the texture.

• Portion onto serving plates rather than mixing directly into pasta, grains, etc. This retains those lovely big lumps.

• Garnish with fresh herbs, greens, or citrus wedges to complement the sweetness.

• Accompany with lighter flavors and crunch from veggies to highlight the delicate crab flavor.

Favorite Recipes for Phillips Crab Meat

While exquisite on its own, mixing Phillips crab meat into recipes allows you to stretch your dollar while enjoying its premium quality. Some top pairings include:

• Classic crab cakes with remoulade or tartar sauce

• Crab salad stuffed avocados or tomatoes

• Lettuce wraps with crab salad and crunchy vegetables

• Crab quesadillas or empanadas

• Risotto or pasta mixed with lump crab garnish

• Seafood salad with crab over greens

• Cold crab dip with crackers and veggies

• Crab cocktail platters with sauce for dipping

• Creamy crab soups enriched with velvety crab

• Splurge-worthy crab omelets or frittatas

• Baked stuffed crab shells or mushrooms

• Upscale crab Louis salad with greens and veggies

However you choose to use it, Phillips premium crab meat elevates meals into indulgent territory. Spend the extra buck or two per pound to enjoy the best of what the Chesapeake region offers. Just follow our guide to source authentic Phillips brand crab meat locally or online.

Is Phillips Worth the Price?

Given the labor-intensive hand picking required, expect to pay a little more for the Phillips name. Their jumbo lump, in particular, represents the pinnacle of crab meat quality and commands higher prices.

But one taste and you’ll realize it’s worth every penny. The flavor is unmatched – sweet and delicate without any fishiness. Bites of Phillips crab feel like little explosions of ocean brininess across your palate.

Whether enjoying their crab meat as the star of an appetizer or baked into a casserole, Phillips lump crab takes dishes to the next level. Once you try it, you’ll never view canned crab or seafood salad the same way again.

So for your next crab feast, special dinner, or anytime your inner seafood lover beckons, seek out Phillips Seafood market products. Their blue crab stands above the rest. You now know where to buy it and how to savor those gorgeous chunks and flakes at their very best.