Wild Alaskan Company
Get Started Login
Prefer to order by phone? 1-833-328-9453
  • How It Works How it Works
  • Our Story Our Story
  • Recipes Recipes
  • Gift Boxes Gift Boxes
  • Facts and Questions FAQ
  • Blog
  • Help
  • How it Works
  • Our Story
  • Gift Boxes
Login Get Started
Prefer to talk? Call us to order (833) 328-9453
alaskan snow crab legs
Blog Home | School of Fish
alaskan snow crab legs

What Is Alaskan Snow Crab: A Comprehensive Guide

September 24th, 2020

Everything You Need to Know About Snow Crab

Named for the snowy white meat encased in this coveted crab’s long, meaty legs, the snow crab is one of Alaska’s prized crustaceans and a delicate and flaky treat. 

Also called the Opilio crab, this species of crab thrives in the globe’s chilly northern seas, from the North Pacific to the Northwest Atlantic. They burrow and scuttle along sandy or muddy ocean floors, scavenging for bits of shellfish, worms, fish, other crustaceans, and even smaller species members. 

What Does Snow Crab Taste Like?

Wild, sustainably-caught Alaskan snow crab has a delicate sweet flavor that’s mildly oceanic. When prepared properly, the meat is juicy and succulent. The preparation method can influence the taste, whether steamed, boiled, grilled, or incorporated into a complex dish. 

Typically, it’s sold pre-cooked and flash-frozen. This way, the meat retains its texture and flavor so that you can enjoy it year-round. 

snow crab legs

Is Alaskan Snow Crab healthy?

Ready-to-eat snow crab from sustainable sources without additives, chemicals, or preservatives is a delicious and healthy seafood option for shellfish and seafood lovers. You’ll get about ½ of a cup of meat, or two ounces, from every five legs. 

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition per 3-ounce serving: 

  • Calories: 120 calories

  • Fat: 5 gram

  • Protein: 16 grams

  • Vitamin D: 0 micrograms, or 0% RDI

  • Potassium: 261 milligrams, or 6% RDI

Is Alaskan Snow Crab Sustainable?

Snow crab harvest practices in Alaska are sustainable. The fishing method uses mesh-covered steel-frame pots that have minimal impact on the surrounding habitat and result in practically no bycatch. The state of Alaska also monitors crab population numbers closely to ensure that stocks remain healthy and abundant enough to sustain themselves. 

Following a recent population collapse, snow crab fisheries were closed for the 2022-2023 and will remain closed until population numbers can recover. Frozen crab from previous harvest seasons can be enjoyed sustainably.

Are Snow Crab Legs Already Cooked?

Yes, Snap-and-Eat Snow Crab from Wild Alaskan Comapny is pre-cooked for your convenience. Cooking the crab during processing is one way to ensure that you can enjoy the best taste and texture that snow crab has to offer. 

How to Prepare Alaskan Snow Crab

Enjoy snow crab legs chilled or warmed by steaming, boiling, or baking. Just don’t leave them on the heat for too long, as you want the meat to stay moist and tender. Store whatever you don’t use in the refrigerator for three to five days. 

Flash-frozen snow crab legs and claws often come separated into individual segments and pre-scored to make them easy to eat. The easiest way to heat them up is to steam the crab legs for about five minutes or until hot. 

This variety of crab has a clean, sweet flavor that pairs beautifully with seasonings and aromatics such as fragrant and bright citrus, herbaceous wine, and punchy garlic butter. 

Where to Buy Alaskan Snow Crab

Stock your kitchen with sustainably-caught crab by sourcing your seafood online from Wild Alaskan Company. You’ll get high-quality, wild-caught seafood delivered straight to your doorstep. Order your seafood box online today. 

You May Also Like

potato salad with salmon
French Potato Salad with Roasted Sockeye Salmon
pan seared weathervane scallops with compound butter
Pan-Seared Scallops with Lemon-Herb Compound Butter
draft
I’m Taking the Holidays with a Grain of Salt — Literally!
7 New Seafood Salad Ideas that are Anything but Boring
7 New Seafood Salad Ideas that are Anything but Boring
salmon burger sauces
3 Sauces for Sockeye Salmon Burgers
baked pacific halibut with chermoula
Mastering Baked Pacific Halibut
Wild Alaskan Company Logo
Live Wild!

How it Works Pricing Gift Boxes Our Mission Our Story Reviews

FAQ Seafood Recipes Blog Careers Contact

© 2025 Wild Alaskan, Inc.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use