Alaskan king crabs have an irresistible sweet flavor and buttery texture, making for a rich dining experience. While red and golden king crabs are similar, understanding their differences can help you choose the best option for your next meal. While red king crabs offer the most flavor and meatier portions, golden king crabs offer a milder, sweeter taste. No matter which variation you choose, your taste buds are in for a treat.
What's the Difference Between a Red King Crab and a Golden King Crab?
King crabs are some of the most popular catches in Alaska due to their excellent flavor and meaty texture, and the red and golden are the two most popular king crab varieties. Understanding the main differences between red and golden king crabs can help you choose the best option for your next meal or gathering.
Red King Crabs
Live red king crab shells have a rich burgundy color, and this color changes to a bright red when the crab cooks. They are larger than golden king crabs and feature meat-packed portions. They are well-known for their meaty texture and delicate, buttery flavor, which makes them a highly in-demand crab species in Alaska.
Professional crabbers mainly catch red king crabs in Norton Sound and Bristol Bay waters, but Alaska's primary red king crab harvest takes place in Bristol Bay.
Golden King Crabs
A golden king crab is also known as a brown king crab, and it has a golden-orange color and a slightly smaller size than red king crabs. Golden king crabs are less meaty and have a milder flavor than red king crabs, but they are still a sought-after variation of the king crab.
Many crab lovers appreciate the uniquely sweet flavor of the golden king crab, and chefs around the United States are starting to prepare golden king crab legs more abundantly in their restaurants. You can typically find them at a lower price than red king crabs due to their smaller size.
Another difference between red and golden king crabs is their shells. Golden king crab shells are spikier than red king crab shells, so you will want to ensure you have a good set of seafood shears for the easiest cracking. Crabbers mainly catch golden king crabs around the Aleutian Islands.
Different Parts of the Crab You Can Order
Different parts of a crab contain different amounts of meat and serve different culinary purposes. Consider how you can enjoy the following parts.
Legs
Leg meat is typically easy to separate from the shell once you crack it open. Break the leg joints backward and slide the meat out from the cartilage to enjoy it.
Claws
Crab claws contain the juiciest, tastiest meat because they hold the most muscle. You can crack the claw open using a hard utensil or cracking tool and peel the shell back to extract the delectable meat.
Shells
After enjoying luscious crab meat, consider throwing the shells into a soup pot with cold water. Boiling crab shells for 10 minutes and removing them from the water can help you make a delicious fish stock.
Crab Sizes
When you order Alaskan red or golden crab legs from Maine Lobster Now, you can choose between 4 and 10 pounds for your purchase. Each red king crab leg ships with a minimum of 4 to 5 segments, and each golden king crab leg ships with a minimum of 3 to 5 segments. Your order may include claw and leg pieces, and crab legs come in the following sizes.
Giant Red King Crab Legs
A giant red king crab leg weighs approximately 0.62 pounds. Giant red king crab legs are larger than standard jumbo crab legs but smaller than the colossal and super colossal sizes.
Colossal Alaskan King Crab Legs
Colossal Alaskan king crab legs are slightly larger than the giant king red crab legs, with each leg weighing approximately 0.72 pounds. Maine Lobster Now's colossal Alaskan king crab legs are an excellent choice if you're looking for a little more meat than the red crab legs.
Super Colossal Red King Crab Legs
A super colossal red king crab leg weighs approximately 1 pound. Ordering the super colossal red king crab legs is a fantastic choice if you're looking for the most crab meat, hosting a gathering or planning to cook the crab meat into a soup or special dish.
Jumbo Alaskan Golden King Crab Legs
Each jumbo Alaskan golden king crab leg weighs approximately half a pound. While Maine Lobster Now's jumbo Alaskan golden king crab legs are smaller than the colossal variety, they still offer significant portions for you to enjoy.
Colossal Alaskan Golden King Crab Legs
A colossal Alaskan golden king crab leg weighs approximately 0.75 pounds. Order Maine Lobster Now's colossal Alaskan golden king crab legs to enjoy this coastal favorite.
Cooking Alaskan King Crab Legs
Whether you choose red or golden Alaskan king crab legs, they make a delightful dish. Consider serving them with garlic butter and a lemon wedge to bring out their delectable flavor and impress your guests. You can cook your Alaskan red or golden king crab legs using one of the following methods.
Steaming
To steam your crab legs, boil a pot of water. Place your crab legs in a steamer colander, basket or rack over the pot, and place a lid on top. Cook covered for 6 to 10 minutes or until the crab begins to smell cooked.
Grilling
Grilling is another excellent way to cook your crab legs. Preheat your grill to 300 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and brush the crab legs with olive oil before placing them on the grill. Cook each side for approximately 4 to 5 minutes or until the meat cooks through.
Baking
Preheat your oven to 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and place a single layer of the crab legs on a sheet of foil or inside a shallow baking dish. If you use a shallow baking dish, you can add a shallow layer of hot water to the dish and cover it with foil. Bake the crab legs for approximately 10 to 20 minutes or until the meat is hot.
Order Mouthwatering King Crab Legs From Maine Lobster Now
Alaskan king crabs offer a succulent, melt-in-your-mouth flavor and texture. The Alaskan red king crab is the largest, most flavorful variety, but the golden king crab is another scrumptious option if you're looking for something a bit smaller.
Maine Lobster Now responsibly sources fresh, delicious crabmeat directly from the coast of Alaska. When crabmeat arrives at the docks from the Bering Sea, it is cooked and flash-frozen immediately before it ships directly to us. Order Alaskan king crab legs from Maine Lobster Now to enjoy a delightful dining experience.
