Alaskan King Crab
Alaskan waters offer 3 species of commercially available king crab; red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus), blue king crab (P. platypus) and brown king crab (Lithodes aequispinus). The Bering Sea is where the majority of king crab is caught, however it also comes from the Norton Sound and south eastern Alaska.
- Red King Crab - The most sought after crab in the world, Red Kings are caught in Bristol Bay and the Norton Sound. Every year hundreds of boats set out to catch their share of this prized crab during the extremely short harvest season which commonly lasts less than 1 week. During this short time upwards of 10 million pounds are caught to quench the world's appetite for this Alaskan delicacy for another year.
Although they are called red king crab they are actually burgundy when caught. It's only after they are cooked that they take on the bright red color that gives them their name. They have 5 pairs of legs; pincers or claws being the first set, next comes 3 pair of walking legs and the 5th pair are small and usually out of sight because they conceal them under their shell. They also have a distinctive fan shaped tail at the rear of their shell that makes them easy to identify. As far as taste goes red king crab is the holy grail of crab. Their bright white meat with fiery overtones is sweet, succulent and deliciously mild.
- Blue King Crab - This species is known for its giant claws is among the largest in the world. Caught in the waters off St. Matthew Island and the Pribilof Islands, blue king crab are brown with blue overtones when caught. When cooked they turn bright orange and are often sold as red king crab for this reason. Blue king crabs taste very similar to their red cousins and are an absolute delight to enjoy with friends and family.
- Brown King Crab (Sold as Golden King) - The smaller cousins of red and blue king crab, golden kings are caught off the Aleutian chain. Their taste is also very similar to their relatives and not to be overlooked due to their smaller size. Because of their size, brown kings are usually cheaper than red or blue.
Fishermen cook Alaskan king crab and flash freeze it immediately after it is harvested. This makes cooking crab a simple matter of reheating it. Cooked red king crab is solid red with long thin legs while blue king crab leg is larger with a slight orange coloring along with red. Golden king crab legs are of course smaller, spiny and have more of an orange coloring to them. There are many king crab recipes however the traditional way of preparing it is with butter and a pinch of garlic. If you need more information on cooking king crab or a king crab recipe you can find it on Affluent Tastes.
Now that you've got the low down on Alaskan king crab I will leave you with a few points to take into consideration when you buy Alaska king crab online.
Customer Service
It is very important to select a seafood distributor that goes the extra mile to answer all of your crab related questions. If they do not have a "frequently asked questions" section on their site be sure they are available to answer your questions before ordering.
Shipping
Many online seafood suppliers make their money in shipping. Some companies even go so far as to say it's free, however that is not the case at all and will cost you more in the long run. Other companies charge by the pound or actual shipping charges while still others charge a flat fee. The best way to find good shipping rates is to compare crab of the same weight between a few stores. It is also very important to consider the carrier and delivery time. Because crab is perishable it is vital that your crab is shipped to you in the most expedient way possible to avoid spoilage.
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