King Crab vs. Snow Crab: All You Need to know

Whether King Crab or Snow Crab, crabmeat is a favorite among expert seafood eaters and casual eaters. If you belong to the latter group, then you probably don’t know the difference between King or Snow crab very well, do you?

What everyone, from experts to casual eaters, knows for sure is that they both taste great and their sweet flavor and white meat make every dish delicious. If you want to upgrade your crabmeat expertise and learn a bit more about these creatures, make sure to keep reading ahead to learn all the differences and similarities between King Crab and Snow Crab!

To start with, we should deepen our knowledge in the general info about both types of crabs:

King Crabs have huge legs which have a prickly shell that makes them a bit more difficult to handle. The meat of the King Crab is firm and remains together as a single piece when you remove it from its shell. Also, you should be prepared to use seafood crackers when you delight in these crab legs.

Snow Crab’s legs, on the other hand, are easier to crack and they have a thinner shell which makes it easier to retrieve meat from. The meat of the Snow Crab is sweet and mild. Also, Snow Crabs are more abundant than King Crabs.

Now that you know the general info about these crabs, let’s discuss their similarities:

They both have tender, flavorful meat.
Same preparation options.
Same common culinary uses.
Easy to get at local grocery stores or online markets.

Now, what’s really interesting about these two species are the differences.

These are the main factors that separate King Crabs from Snow Crabs:

SIZE
This is the main difference between these two crabs. King Crabs can weigh up to twenty pounds and measure nearly five feet across. King Crab’s legs can weigh up to six pounds. Meanwhile, Snow Crabs can weigh an average of 2 to 4 pounds. Snow Crabs have longer legs than the King Crabs, but they are skinnier and have less meat.

TEXTURE
King Crab’s legs require more work than the Snow Crab’s. The legs are thicker and have a hard shell, but the effort is worth it. You might need a cracking tool to get to the delicate texture, snowy-white, and red-streaked meat. Snow Crab’s texture is firm and more fibrous. The meat breaks apart effortlessly into long pieces, and the shells of its legs break apart and crack open without needing a tool.

FLAVOR
Although both are unarguably delicious, the flavor is still different. The King Crab has a solid flavor reputation. Its leg meat is sweet and rich, which makes it similar to lobster meat.
The Snow Crab’s meat turns from red to a snowy white when you cook it (hence its name). The flavor of the Snow Crab is deliciously sweet.

AVAILABILITY AND COST
King Crab legs are typically much more expensive than Snow Crab legs. Snow Crab legs have a lower cost due to their longer harvesting season, making them easier to find.
King Crab’s harvest season is more limited, and it tends to start in mid-October and last only until mid-January. They also have a limited cold-water habitat and are mostly in and around the Bering Sea between Alaska and Russia.

To sum up, if you’re looking for ways to impress your friends and relatives with a great meal, it doesn’t matter what crab you choose. Both are delicious options that will instantly give you a great host reputation.
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