Crabs are a worldwide craze. More than 400,000 tons of crab were imported into countries all over the world in 2019.
One reason why crabs are so popular is that there are many different types of crabs. Each one has its own traits and benefits, and you should distinguish amongst them.
What is the best crab to serve by itself? What is the best crab to incorporate into recipes? What should you get if you want to eat a few crab legs or claws?
Answer these questions and you can find delicious and filling seafood for yourself and your family today. Here is your quick guide.
- Alaskan King Crab
The Alaskan king crab is perhaps the most popular crab for dinner. As the name suggests, Alaskan king crabs are caught off the coast of Alaska. The crabs are massive with long legs and fat torsos.
The flesh of the king crab is delicate and flaky. This makes it good for crab salad and crab soup. But you can keep the meat frozen for long periods of time, preserving its taste and texture.
You can buy whole crabs, legs, and claws. You can adjust a number of crab recipes to the king crab parts you have on hand.
- Blue Crab
Blue crabs have blue shells and legs. They are large and common throughout the world’s oceans. Many American boats sail off the East Coast, but they can catch blue crabs in the Gulf of Mexico and near Japan.
A blue crab’s body is flat instead of round. This makes the meat firmer and saltier.
The crabs are good for serving as the main course. You can saute or deep-fry them in a light batter. For side dishes, you can serve potatoes or a light salad.
- Dungeness Crab
Dungeness crabs are fat and long crabs. They have a hard shell, which may make them hard to serve the whole body. One crab may provide enough meat for two people.
But they are one of the best crabs to serve. Their meat is sweet and moist, yet they retain a little sea salt.
You can boil or saute Dungeness crabs. They do not need too much sauce because they have plenty of flavor by themselves. But many people like to dunk their legs into melted butter.
If you want to make a recipe out of these crabs, you can make a stew or salad. Mix some crab meat with hard-boiled eggs, lettuce, and other vegetables.
- Jonah Crab
Jonah crabs are found in the Atlantic. They have sweet and flaky meat, and their claws are very meaty themselves. If you have a recipe that calls for crab claws, you should get Jonah crabs.
Many restaurants serve steamed crabs. But it is possible to eat them chilled over ice. This is best if you want a seafood appetizer.
For a full meal, you should take Jonah crabs and turn them into crab cakes. Mix their meat with mayonnaise and bread crumbs.
You can then bake, grill, or fry the patties. Some people like to eat crab cakes in sandwiches, but you can serve them on their own with French fries.
- Snow Crab
Snow crabs are found in both the Atlantic and the Pacific. As you might imagine given their name, they are most often served during the winter.
The key element of snow crabs is their legs. They snap off the body easily and contain plenty of meat on their own. Some retailers of snow crabs include meat from the bodies as well.
You can eat snow crab legs plain or with a mild sauce. Melted butter or a light cream sauce tend to work best. You can try recipes like crab macaroni and cheese as well.
- Spider Crab
Spider crabs resemble spiders. But they contain a lot of meat in their long legs and round bodies. The meat is sweet and white, which makes it good to present to guests.
Spider crabs are most popular in Europe and Japan. Yet you can find them inside the United States, especially in the Southeast.
The meat can be muscly, so you need to cook them well. Steaming them tends to work better than sauteing or grilling them. You can crack open the shell and serve the meat from there, or you can spoon it into a dish.
- Stone Crab
Stone crabs are well-known within the state of Florida. They are in season during the fall and winter, making them expensive.
Stone crab claws are served instead of the body. Fishermen snap off a claw from each crab and then return the crabs to the ocean. This creates a constant supply of meat.
You can eat your crab claws cold or chilled. If you would like to eat the meat hot, you can try steaming the claws.
You can find stone crabs recipe sheets online. You can prepare a mustard sauce or a cream base for your meat. Baked tomatoes and potatoes work as good side dishes.
The Different Types of Crabs
You can figure out what the best types of crabs are. The Alaskan king crab is incredibly popular for its large size and delicious meat. Blue crabs are more modest and saltier.
Dungeness crabs are great to serve by themselves. If you want delicious claws, you can get Jonah crab claws. If you want crab legs, you can get snow crabs.
Spider crabs are a good option for people who prefer steamed crabs. Stone crabs are common in the Southeast and popular in many dishes.
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