King crab legs are a delicious and popular seafood item. Their large size and sweet, delicate flavor make them a real treat. When purchasing king crab legs, it’s useful to know how many legs you can expect per pound. This allows you to estimate how much you need to buy for your desired number of servings.
What is King Crab?
King crab refers to several species of large crab that live in cold, northern waters. The most common types caught for food include:
- Red king crab – Found in Alaska, Russia, and Norway. Red king crab legs are the largest and most popular for eating.
- Blue king crab – Found in Alaska and Russia. Slightly smaller legs than red king crab.
- Golden king crab – Found in Alaska and Russia. The smallest legs of the three.
The king crab’s large legs contain the sweet, tender meat that’s eaten. Their bodies are too small to contain much edible meat. King crab legs are cooked by boiling, steaming, or baking. They have a delicate, slightly sweet flavor and fibrous texture.
How Many Legs in a Pound?
The number of king crab legs per pound depends on:
- Crab species – Red king crab legs are largest.
- Leg size – Larger legs weigh more individually.
- Processing method – Frozen legs contain more water weight.
On average, for raw, thawed king crab legs, you can expect:
- Red king crab: 3-5 legs per pound
- Blue king crab: 5-8 legs per pound
- Golden king crab: 8-10 legs per pound
The smaller the legs, the more will fit per pound. Smaller crab legs are sometimes marketed as “cocktail legs.”
Differences Between Raw and Cooked
Raw crab legs contain about 75% water. When the legs are cooked, much of this water is lost, reducing their overall weight. Cooked king crab legs yield about twice as many portions per pound compared to raw. You can expect approximately:
- Red king crab: 6-10 cooked legs per pound
- Blue king crab: 10-16 cooked legs per pound
- Golden king crab: 16-20 cooked legs per pound
Cooking methods like boiling or steaming remove more moisture than drier cooking methods like baking or grilling. This further reduces the cooked weight compared to raw.
Expected Meat Yield
In addition to considering how many legs are in a pound, it’s also useful to know how much meat you can expect a pound of legs to yield. This depends on the size and species as well.
On average, for raw king crab legs, you can expect the following edible meat yield per pound:
- Red king crab: 1⁄4 to 1⁄3 pound
- Blue king crab: 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 pound
- Golden king crab: 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 pound
So on the low end, 4 pounds of raw red king crab legs yields about 1 pound of meat. On the high end, 1.3 pounds of raw golden king crab legs provides 1 pound of crab meat.
Cost Per Pound
Due to variations in supply and demand, the price per pound of king crab legs can fluctuate. Some general price ranges are:
- Raw, uncooked: $15 to $30 per pound
- Precooked: $30 to $50 per pound
Out of season when crab is less abundant, expect to pay higher per-pound prices for all types of king crab legs. Precooked legs tend to cost more than raw since convenience is factored into the price.
Number of Legs Per Serving
To determine how many legs you need per serving, consider that each person will likely eat 1⁄2 to 1 whole crab leg. Appetizer-sized portions often contain 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 of a leg.
Here are some guidelines for legs per serving based on typical portion sizes:
- Appetizer (1/3 leg): 3-5 legs
- Side dish (1/2 leg): 2-4 legs
- Main course (1 leg): 1-2 legs
For example, if serving king crab as an appetizer for 6 people, you may want to buy 18-30 legs, depending on the size. For a main course for 4, buy 4-8 legs.
Purchasing Tips
Follow these tips when purchasing king crab legs:
- Choose legs that are translucent white and brightly colored on the shell. Avoid yellow or grayish coloring.
- Opt for legs that are cold, moist, and firm to the touch without any odor.
- Inspect legs for breaks, cracks, or leg joints that are separating.
- Purchase raw crab rather than precooked if possible, as this presents the best value.
- Estimate 1-1 1⁄2 pounds per person if legs are the main course item.
Storing King Crab Legs
Raw king crab legs have a refrigerator shelf life of 2-3 days from the purchase date. They can be frozen for 3-6 months for best quality. Store cooked crab legs for no more than 3-4 days refrigerated.
For optimal freshness and flavor, use frozen legs within 3 months. Portion legs into meal-size amounts and wrap tightly in plastic wrap or foil before freezing. This prevents freezer burn.
Cooking Methods
King crab legs require minimal preparation. They can be cooked from either raw or precooked states. Recommended cooking methods include:
- Boiling – Bring water to a boil and add legs. Cook 4-8 minutes until bright orange. Drain and serve with melted butter.
- Steaming – Place legs in a steamer basket. Steam 8-12 minutes until opaque. Serve with lemon wedges.
- Baking – Preheat oven to 375°F. Arrange legs on a baking sheet. Bake 15-20 minutes until heated through. Season with Old Bay seasoning.
- Grilling – Place legs directly on a hot grill. Cook 8-10 minutes, turning once. Brush with garlic-lemon butter.
Check internal temperature to ensure legs reach 140-165°F when cooked. Do not overcook, as the meat can become rubbery. Serve hot with melted butter, lemon, or other dipping sauces.
Common Recipes
Beyond steaming and dipping in butter, consider these tasty recipes using king crab legs:
- King crab cakes – Mix cooked crab meat with bread crumbs, egg, mayo, and seasonings. Form into cakes and pan-fry until golden brown.
- Crab legs with drawn butter – Boil legs in seasoned water. Serve with melted butter, fresh lemon juice, and parsley.
- Baked crab legs – Coat legs in butter and breadcrumbs. Bake until heated through and breadcrumbs are toasted.
- Crab legs cocktail – Chill precooked legs on a bed of shredded lettuce. Serve with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges.
- Crab pasta – Toss cooked linguine with pieces of crab meat, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and Parmesan.
The sweet flavor of king crab pairs well with buttery, lemony sauces. The crab meat also works nicely in pasta, rice, salad, or dip recipes. Be careful not to overcook the delicate meat when reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are king crab legs so expensive?
King crab legs are one of the most expensive seafood items. Reasons for the high prices include:
- Only live in remote, cold-water regions, making them challenging to catch and ship.
- Long growth cycle of about 10 years to reach maturity.
- Strict fishing regulations and quotas to prevent overfishing.
- High demand for legs vs. low supply.
- Difficult to extract and process crab meat.
Are king crab legs healthy?
Yes, king crab legs are a healthy seafood choice. Benefits include:
- High in protein – Over 20g per 3.5-ounce serving.
- Low in fat, calories, carbs, and cholesterol.
- Good source of B vitamins like niacin, riboflavin, and thiamine.
- Provides magnesium, zinc, copper, selenium, and antioxidant carotenoids like astaxanthin.
- Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation and heart disease risk.
The high protein and low calorie content make crab an excellent addition to a healthy diet. It provides important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants as well.
How do you crack king crab legs?
King crab leg shells are quite hard and difficult to break by hand. To crack them:
- Use a mallet or small hammer to hit the shell at the leg joints.
- Crack lengthwise down the center of each side.
- Twist off the cracked shell pieces to access the meat.
- Pull out the meat gently with your fingers in whole chunks if possible.
- Use crab crackers, lobster picks, or small forks to get remaining meat.
Cracking the shell across the leg joints takes advantage of the natural breaking points. Go slowly to avoid shattering the meat itself. Remove any pieces of shell or cartilage.
What are stone crab vs. king crab legs?
Though they share “crab” in the name, there are several key differences:
- Species – King crab are from Alaska, while stone crab live in warmer Atlantic and Gulf waters.
- Leg size – King crab legs are much thicker and larger.
- Shell – Stone crab shells are gray/brown with black tips. King crab are reddish-brown.
- Price – King crab is more expensive per pound.
- Meat – Stone crab meat is flakier in texture.
- Sustainability – Stone crabs are fished more sustainably.
While both make tasty entrees, king crab legs are considered a premium seafood delicacy demanding a higher price tag.
Conclusion
King crab legs offer a sweet, tender treat from the sea. You can expect 3-10 legs per pound depending on the size and species. Raw legs provide a better value than precooked. Plan on purchasing 1-1 1⁄2 pounds of Alaskan king crab legs per person for an appetizing entree. Store and prepare the perishable crab properly to enjoy its delectable flavor.
