There’s a reason why this crab reigns king: from its massive size to its rich flavor and lobster-like texture, wild Alaskan king crab is the mack daddy of all crabs in the sea. They’re also the leggiest crab out there, growing large enough to have 5-foot leg spans.
You can’t mistake an Alaskan king crab for any other species of crustacean. Its long legs are covered in large spikes that protect its tender, delicately textured meat from predators. King crab meat is firm enough to pull from these shells in large, white pieces that are streaked in red; imitation crab sticks are actually modeled after king crab meat for its striking appearance.
But of course, nothing can replicate the flavor of king crab — its meat is mild and sweet, almost buttery, with a hint of brininess; or its toothsome, steaky bite.
Alaskan King Crab Facts
Like snow crabs, king crabs are not “true” crabs. Rather, they’re another type of crustacean that merely resembles a crab. (Crab trivia: Dungeness crabs, however, are actually crabs.) There are several varieties of Alaskan king crab, but the most abundant one — and the largest species — is the red king crab.
Red king crabs are historically one of the most valuable catches in the state, second only to wild sockeye salmon; this is the variety of king crab that Wild Alaskan Company is proud to offer.
Red king crab can be found across the North Pacific, but is most densely populated in Alaskan fisheries. They’re a rather long-lived resident of the ocean floor, with a maximum lifespan of about 20 to 30 years. As opportunistic predators, king crabs subsisting on algae, mollusks, fish, and other crabs.
As a matter of sustainability, only the male is harvested in Alaskan fisheries; they can grow to over twice the size of their female counterparts, weighing in at up to 24 pounds. King crabs can only be harvested seasonally, between October and January.
Red King Crab from Wild Alaskan
Our sustainably harvested Alaskan king crab legs are flash frozen and ready to eat once they’ve been thawed; by offering pre-cooked king crab legs, we’re able to preserve the best textures and flavors that king crabs have to offer.
The red king crab legs we offer are all natural, free of any additives, chemicals or preservatives. Like other varieties of crustaceans in Alaska, king crabs are a low-calorie, low-fat source of clean protein, containing about 350mg of omega-3 fatty acids per each 3-ounce serving.
We offer “select portions” of king crab legs to our members, which are the meatiest, most succulent segment of the leg that is attached to a chunky shoulder. Each package of Wild Alaskan red king crab contains 3 substantial selection portions, as well as 1 claw piece.
When trying to estimate serving sizes, aim to serve about ½ pound of crab in the shell for every person; that means each package of our red king crab legs contain approximately 4 servings’ worth of crab meat.
How to Enjoy Wild Alaskan King Crab
These are pre-cooked, so we recommend boiling them straight from frozen for just a few minutes to bring them up to temp. If you decide to steam, grill or broil them, be sure to puncture the package or remove the packaging entirely, then thaw under refrigeration on a tray/plate. Similar to our other fish! You can enjoy king crab meat hot or cold, on its own with a selection of dips, or integrated into composed dishes.
To prepare, you can:
- Boil, steam or broil for ~4 minutes or bake in a 400°F oven for 4 minutes.
- Boil from frozen.
- If grilling, broiling or steaming, puncture the package or remove the legs and thaw under refrigeration on a tray or plate.
Unlike with Dungeness or snow crabs whose shells are typically scored to help you snap them apart with your bare hands, you can simply use a set of kitchen shears (or whatever crab tools you prefer to use) in order to access king crabs’ meat. Their shells are spiny, but the underside of the leg is soft enough to be snipped lengthwise with scissors, making it easy to pull out a meaty portion of crab.To get started, check out our suggestions for unexpected dips to enjoy with your Alaskan king crab legs.
