Alaskan Crab - King Crab, Snow Crab, and Dungeness Crab
(Latin names in same order as above: paralithodes camtschatica; cancer magister; chionoecetes bairdii, opilio, or tanneri)
There's a good reason that Alaskan crab fishermen risk life and limb in the Bering Sea and other Alaskan waters to harvest crab: nothing tastes better!
The state of Alaska exports three types of crab: Alaskan King Crab, Dungeness Crab, and Snow Crab. The latter is often referred to in the industry as opilio, tanner or bairdii crab. But in restaurants or on Alaska Seafood Direct we just call it Snow Crab.
The next time you're at a seafood restaurant or steakhouse think about trading the traditional lobster tail for a few king crab legs with melted butter on the side. A good Japanese or Chinese restaurant may sell Alaska king crab legs to you accompanied by exquisite dips or with the meat included in various Asian dishes.
King crabs are the largest of all crabs measuring in at 6 to 10 pounds each. Red king crabs are the largest of three types of king crabs. The all-timerecord female and male weighed 10.5 and 24 pounds, respectively. Experts estimated the huge to be 20–30 years old. The male’s leg span was nearly 5 feet across!
It's not easy to harvest king crabs in Alaska (or anywhere else). Fishermen utilize 600-pound steel-framed pots covered with nylon-webbing. The crew bait each pot with chopped herring or other fish byproduct, and then release them into the ocean where they sink to the bottom. Pots are marked with buoys and retrieved one or two days later. Crabbing vessels working in the Bering Sea or Aleutian Islands average over 100 feet in length and work in high seas. Only male crabs can be legally sold.
Dungeness crab are also delicious and not nearly as big as kings. If you like sweet and tender then order some dungeness crab. It's great with drawn butter, cocktail sauce, or nothing at all. Chinese restaurants will frequently serve them steamed in a black bean sauce. Also, dungeness crab is perfectly fine served cold. How about a crab louie? This species of crab is underrated considering the price (one king crab leg or two whole dungeness crabs?) and relative ease of harvest. 600-pound pots? No chance. How about pots with a diameter of 40 inches and height of 14 or 15 inches.
Unlike king crabs which live in relatively deep water and are dangerous to harvest, dungeness crabs are found in shallow (~15 fathoms) bays and estuaries. They like sandy or muddy bottoms.
Finally, there is the Snow Crab, which closely resembles a King Crab -- but smaller. Snow crab legs are frequently found at seafood buffets and the meat is sometimes used in crab cocktails. Like most crab meat this kind is sweet!
Tanner crabs, which is one type of Snow Crab, can live to a ripe old age of 14. Commercially viable males range from 7 to 11 years old and vary in weight from 1 to 2 pounds for opilio and 2 to 4 pounds for bairdi crabs.
Crab fishermen use methods and equipment similar to that used for harvesting king crabs.
Next time you're in the mood for seafood put in an order for fresh Alaska crab.
Learn about: Ocean Fresh Alaskan Whitefish (pollack, sole, cod) >>>
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