Sam’s Club is a popular warehouse club that offers members low prices on name-brand items in bulk quantities. With a wide selection of frozen seafood available, many shoppers wonder if Sam’s Club sells snow crab clusters. The quick answer is yes, Sam’s Club does carry snow crab clusters, though availability can vary by location and season.
What are snow crab clusters?
Snow crab clusters, also sometimes called snow crab legs, are the large, meaty legs of snow crab. Snow crab is a species of crab that lives in cold, northern waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The crab’s sweet, tender meat is considered a delicacy and snow crab clusters are a popular menu item at seafood restaurants. The clusters are typically sold pre-cooked or raw.
Availability of snow crab clusters at Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club includes snow crab cluster packs in their regular frozen seafood inventory. However, as with any wild-caught seafood, supply can depend on factors like weather conditions, fishing yields, and seasonal lifecycles.
Here are some key points on the availability of snow crab clusters at Sam’s Club:
- Regional and seasonal – Selection may vary across Sam’s Club locations based on regional demand and proximity to major fishing ports.
- Limited season – Snow crab is in peak season generally from winter through early summer when clusters are more abundant.
- While supplies last – Product is not consistently stocked year-round. New inventory comes in sporadically depending on seasonal catches.
- First come, first served – When popular seasonal items come in, they often sell out quickly.
- Call ahead – Members can call their local Sam’s Club ahead to check on current snow crab cluster availability.
- Frozen online – Pre-packed frozen clusters can be ordered online at SamsClub.com and shipped to your door.
Sam’s Club snow crab cluster buying options
When snow crab clusters are in stock at Sam’s Club, there are a few package types to choose from:
Pre-cooked clusters
Sam’s Club sells packs of pre-cooked snow crab clusters that just need to be thawed and warmed before eating. This provides convenience for quick weeknight meals or easy entertaining. Pre-cooked clusters are sold in 1 to 5-pound plastic containers. Brands include Member’s Mark and Kirkland Signature.
Raw clusters
For those who prefer to cook their seafood from a raw state, Sam’s Club also offers raw snow crab cluster packs. These are chilled in sealed plastic bags that should be used immediately after purchasing. Raw clusters require more preparation but some feel they have more flavor and texture when cooked properly at home.
Cluster packs with corn and potatoes
Some Sam’s Club packs include additional sides like corn on the cob and potatoes with the crab clusters, ready to steam and serve as a seafood boil.
Individually Quick Frozen (IQF)
The Individually Quick Frozen or IQF packs contain snow crab clusters frozen individually rather than in a solid block. This makes portioning out just what you need convenient. IQF clusters may be pre-cooked or raw.
Gourmet variety packs
Sam’s Club also sells premium mixed packs that include snow crab clusters along with king crab, Dungeness crab, and other seafood like shrimp and mussels. These provide variety for a custom seafood spread.
Typical cost savings at Sam’s Club
Like with most items, buying snow crab clusters at Sam’s Club offers savings over grocery stores. Here are some typical per-pound prices on snow crab clusters at Sam’s Club versus other retailers:
| Retailer | Typical Price Per Pound |
|---|---|
| Sam’s Club | $8.98 |
| Costco | $9.99 |
| Grocery store | $12.49 |
| Restaurant | $17.99 |
As you can see, buying clusters at Sam’s Club or Costco instead of a traditional grocer or restaurant represents significant per-pound savings. Keep in mind Sam’s Club pack sizes also offer a lower per-pound price than the per-cluster cost at many restaurants.
Pro tips for buying snow crab at Sam’s Club
Here are some handy tips for getting the best deals and freshest snow crab clusters at Sam’s Club:
- Check availability online first – This can avoid a wasted trip to the store.
- Call ahead – Have an employee verify they have stock on hand before going to the store.
- Ask when deliveries arrive – Try to shop on days the store gets new seafood shipments.
- Shop at peak seasons – Target winter through early summer when snow crab is abundant.
- Inspect packs – Make sure clusters look icy, not dried or discolored.
- Use quickly or freeze – Snow crab clusters have a short fresh shelf life. Consume within 3 days or freeze.
- Clip coupons – Look for coupons online and in Sam’s Club monthly savings books.
- Price match – Ask managers to match or beat competitor prices, especially for large events.
Following these tips can help you buy high-quality snow crab at the best possible savings from Sam’s Club.
How to cook snow crab from Sam’s Club
Once you get your haul of snow crab clusters from Sam’s Club home, you’ll need to know how to prepare those succulent legs and claws for your family. Here are some easy cooking methods:
Cooking from frozen
For pre-cooked frozen snow crab clusters from Sam’s Club:
- Thaw packs overnight in the refrigerator or use the defrost setting on your microwave.
- Gently reheat clusters either in a steamer basket, skillet, or by boiling.
- Just heat until warmed through, about 3-5 minutes.
- Avoid overcooking pre-cooked clusters to prevent tough, rubbery meat.
Cooking raw clusters
For raw snow crab clusters from Sam’s Club:
- Rinse well under cold water.
- Boil a large pot of salted water.
- Gently lower clusters into the boiling water and return to a boil.
- Cook 4-5 minutes until the meat is opaque.
- Drain and serve immediately with melted butter or sauce.
Steaming
Steaming is a popular cooking method to retain moisture in the delicate snow crab meat:
- Bring an inch or two of water to a boil in a large pot fitted with a steamer basket.
- Arrange clusters in a single layer in the basket, not overcrowded.
- Steam for 4-8 minutes depending on quantity.
- Check for doneness by looking for opaque white meat.
- Remove immediately and serve.
Tips for cracking and eating
Snow crab legs and claws take some finesse to effectively crack open. Here are some tips for accessing all of that luscious meat inside those hard-shelled clusters:
- Use a mallet or small hammer to crack the shell. Tap firmly but not so hard that you damage the meat.
- Aim for natural seam lines in the shell as you crack.
- For legs, use sturdy kitchen shears to cut lengthwise down the shell in the center.
- With the back of a knife, tap cracked segments to open and release meat.
- Pull out large sections of meat carefully with your fingers.
- Use a seafood fork to pull out smaller pieces left behind.
- Provide small dipping bowls for any juices and meat left in cracked shells.
- Use crab crackers and picks for stubborn hard-to-reach meat.
And that’s it! With these handy tips, you’ll be ready to take advantage of snow crab deals at Sam’s Club and serve up this delicious seafood feast for your family. Just remember to savor the sweet, succulent meat of snow crab fresh or straight from the freezer.
Recipes to try with Sam’s Club snow crab
Snow crab is such a versatile ingredient. The tender meat works in everything from hot appetizers to chilled seafood salads. Here are some great recipes to try with snow crab clusters from Sam’s Club:
Hot crab dip
A creamy, cheesy crab dip is perfect for dipping with bread, crackers, or crunchy vegetables:
- Saut?? minced onion and garlic
- Add cream cheese, mayo, cheddar, seasonings
- Fold in a pound of shredded snow crab
- Bake until bubbly
Chilled crab legs with drawn butter
For simple cold preparation, serve chilled pre-cooked crab with creamy drawn butter for dipping:
- Thaw and chill cooked snow crab clusters
- Whip butter until light and fluffy
- Blend in lemon juice, garlic, parsley
- Chill butter mixture until firm
- Serve butter alongside cold crab clusters
Crab cakes
Bind shredded crab with breadcrumbs, egg, and mayo for crisp pan-fried crab cakes:
- Mix shredded crab with binder ingredients
- Form into round patties
- Pan fry in olive oil and butter until golden brown
- Serve on buns with lemon aioli
Crab salad stuffed avocados
For a light meal, fill cool avocado halves with a fresh snow crab salad:
- Toss crab with diced celery, red onion, parsley, lemon juice
- Season with salt, pepper, Old Bay seasoning
- Scoop salad into pitted avocado halves
Crab cakes Benedict
For an elegant brunch dish, serve snow crab cakes atop English muffins, poached eggs, and hollandaise:
- Toast and top English muffins with crab cakes
- Poach eggs
- Cover each serving with creamy hollandaise sauce
- Garnish with chopped chives
Pairing wines
The sweet, briny flavor of snow crab calls for crisp, vibrant wines. Here are some perfect pairings:
- Dry Riesling – Acidity cuts through rich crab
- Sauvignon Blanc – Herbaceousness complements crab
- Chablis – Minerality matches shellfish
- Sparkling wines – Bubbles refresh palate
- Ros?? Champagne – Elegant fruity flavor
Avoid bigger, oaked wines that may overpower delicate snow crab. Stick with lighter choices that won’t compete for attention.
Conclusion
Snow crab is a luxurious seafood treat. With some effort, you can take advantage of Sam’s Club deals on snow crab cluster packs when they’re in stock. Keep the seasons, buying tips, cooking recommendations, and pairing ideas in mind. With this guide, you’ll be ready to enjoy tender, sweet snow crab from Sam’s Club at its very best.
