Types of Crab in Alaska

The various types of crab found in Alaska have distinct flavors and textures that you can enjoy in a range of snacks and meals. Knowing a little bit about these crab types can help you decide which one is best for the recipe you have in mind. 

The main crab varieties in Alaska are king crab, snow crab, and Dungeness crab. There are many related species of king and snow crab, but red king crab and opilio snow crab are the most common types. 

Here’s everything you need to know about each of these popular Alaskan crabs: 

Red King Crab

Red king crab, or Paralithodes camtschaticus, is the one you will most likely picture when you think about the wide varieties of crustaceans in Alaska. There's are the most abudant and sought-after types of crab legs in Alaska — a true luxury when you want to treat yourself or your guests to an incredible feast. 

They are named for the royal combination of their size, their decadent, buttery flavor, and meaty texture. Behind sockeye salmon, they’re one of the most valuable catches for Alaskan fishers. 

Taste

King crab meat has a wonderfully rich flavor and dense texture.

• Sweet and buttery, and reminiscent of lobster 

• Rich taste means it’s a great crab for dipping

• Meaty enough to use in recipes like king crab fried rice

Appearance

King crab has a large leg span with thick, spiny legs. It’s large in size with lots of meat in its legs and claws.

• Wide body with bright red hue

• Spiky exterior

• Long legs can give them a 5-foot-wide leg span 

Harvest

Red king crab season is limited to October through January. Fishers can only harvest male crabs. These harvest restrictions align with the Alaskan fishing industry’s sustainable yield principles that ensure bountiful harvests for generations to come.

Dungeness Crab

The Pacific-dweller Dungeness crab (or “Dungies” as locals call them) is a beloved type of crab because of its salty-sweet flavor and meaty texture. They’re scavengers and predators, feeding on smaller species like worms and other crustaceans, and are a vital part of the diets of larger animals like otters and octopuses.

Their name derives from Dungeness Bay, a protected body of water in Washington State where the crabs can be found in abundance. You can find them, though, from the Baja peninsula of Mexico up to the shores of Alaska. They’re a highly-prized type of crustacean along the Pacific coast.

Taste

Dungeness crab has a briny flavor, with meat that's not too firm yet not too delicate.

• Sweet and briny

• Large lumps of crab meat 

• Great for crab cakes and an excellent choice of crab for risotto 

Appearance

Dungeness crab are relatively small. Their legs are short but are thick, chunky, and full of delicious meat.

• Bodies up to 7-inches in width, smaller than other crabs in Alaska 

• Smooth shells that can sometimes appear hairy 

• Chunky, thick claws and big shoulders

Harvest

Depending on the location of the fishery, Dungeness harvest season is open from May through December. Fishers can only harvest male crabs of a certain size to ensure that populations remain robust from year to year. 

Snow Crab (Opilio Crab)

Snow crabs or Chionoecetes opilio (Opilio crabs for short) are named after their distinct snow-white, buttery meat inside their legs. They’re more widely available than bairdi snow crabs, another popular variety.

Opilios have a large legs span but are the lightest crab with the least amount of meat, weighing in on average at 1-4 lbs. They’re scavengers that can be found in seafloor habitats from the North Pacific to the Northwest Atlantic. There, they feed on practically anything they can get their claws on — fish, shellfish, sponges, snails, and algae. 

Taste

Snow crab has a mild yet sweet flavor with light, shreddable meat.

• Sweet and mild taste

• Shreddable texture

• Good for integrating into dishes like or a Mexican-inspired esquites

Appearance

Snow crabs have small claws and long, thin legs.

• Bumpy shell with long, thin legs

• Rounded claws with needle-like pincers

• Can grow to have a 4-foot-wide leg span 

Harvest

Currently, snow crab fisheries in Alaska are closed in response to low population numbers. These fisheries will remain closed by the state until their population numbers return to sustainable levels. Normally, fisheries are open from October through May.

How to Cook Crab Legs

Wild Alaskan Company makes cooking crab legs easy for you because they are pre-cooked before they’re flash-frozen. This way, all you have to do is thaw and heat them. Alternatively, varieties like snow crab or Dungeness crab can be steamed from frozen.

• How to Defrost Crab Legs

• How to Steam Snow Crab

• How to Steam Dungeness Crab

To learn more about the different species of Alaskan crab and what makes each unique, check out this article. Want access to all the various types of Alaskan crab whenever they're available? Become a Wild Alaskan Company member today. Choose your box now.