Dungeness Crab Clusters boast a tender texture with a mild, sweet flavor. They are fished by small, select crews in the cold waters off the Alaskan coast.
Dungeness Crab Season
Dungeness Crab Season typically kicks off around the end of November and extends into early Spring.
Fishing teams employ baited pots to make their catch, and they typically snag Dungeness Crab between 30-300’ below the surface, roughly half the depth of where King Crab are caught.
Dungeness Crab Clusters
When you order a Whole Dungeness Crab, you get more body meat, including the “Crab Butter,” as well as the legs. With Dungeness Crab Clusters, you get the legs and a small portion of the body meat. The advantage of clusters is the lower price, and that they come prepped for your crab boil.
6 Facts about Dungeness Crab
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Healthy & Delicious. Dungeness Crab is known for its succulent and sweet meat, loaded with Vitamin b-12 and tons of omega-3’s.
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West Coast Classics. Dungeness Crabs inhabit a range of environments, including sandy bottoms, eelgrass beds, and rocky areas along the West Coast, but ours are wild-caught in Alaska!
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Night Life. Dungeness Crabs are primarily nocturnal. At night, they venture out of their homes to search for food, using their powerful claws to catch and eat their prey, including fish, mollusks, and algae.
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Masters of Disguise. Dungeness Crabs are incredibly skilled at blending into their surroundings. They do this with the help of hundreds of fine hairs on their shells, which help them attach debris, algae, and other organisms to their bodies, hiding them from predators.
- Old Souls. Dungeness Crabs have a relatively long lifespan compared to other crab species–typically 8-13 years!
How to Cook Dungeness Crab
When it comes to how you cook Dungeness Crab, there’s no wrong method. Choose what’s best for you, your kitchen, and the occasion.
How to Oven Roast Dungeness Crab
- Preheat your oven to 350°.
- Spread out your crab across a baking sheet.
- Brush your favorite seasoned butter generously over your crab.
- Cook for 15-20 minutes.
- Check the clusters to make sure the meat is warmed to your liking. (Our Dungeness Crab Clusters are pre-cooked, so warm them for as long or as short as you’d like!)
How to Boil Dungeness Crab
- Boil a large pot of water.
- Add a generous amount of salt to the pot, until it tastes briny.
- Slowly, lower your crab into the boil, careful to avoid splashing or overflow.
- Boil your crab for roughly 7 minutes per pound, or until warmed to your liking..
- Use tongs to remove your crab from the boiling water, and drop into ice water; this will stop your crab from overcooking on the inside after the boil.
Dungeness Crab Recipe: Seafood Boil
The seafood boil is an undeniable classic. It’s easy, communal, and unforgettably delicious!
Dungeness Crab Seafood Boil Ingredients
- 6lbs of Dungeness Crab Clusters
- 2lbs of Medium Red Potatoes
- 2lbs of Corn on the Cob
- 1lb of Smoked Sausage
- 3 Lemons
- 1 cup of Old Bay seasoning
- 1 Stick of Butter
- AKC ‘Just Add Butter’ Seafood Seasoning
Dungeness Crab Seafood Boil Instructions
- Dice smoked sausage and half lemons and potatoes.
- Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add the Old Bay seasoning and stir to combine.
- Add the smoked sausage to the pot and let it cook for about 5 minutes.
- Add the corn on the cob to the pot and let it cook for about 5 minutes.
- Add the Dungeness Crab Clusters to the pot and let them cook for about 3 minutes.
- While the Dungeness Crab Clusters are cooking, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the AKC Seafood Seasoning to the pan and stir to combine.
- Once the Dungeness Crab Clusters are warmed through, lift the steam basket from the pot and dump the basket out on a table.
You’re gonna need a bigger pot! Shop Dungeness Crab for your next seafood boil.
Other Dungeness Crab Recipes
Lamb and Dungeness Crab Surf and Turf
Experience a mouthwatering twist on the classic surf and turf with the Lamb and Dungeness Crab Surf and Turf recipe. This delectable dish features marinated Dungeness Crab Clusters and a succulent Rack of Lamb cooked to perfection. Served alongside grilled oranges and homemade chimichurri, this recipe is the epitome of a perfect summer meal. The marinade, made with extra-virgin olive oil, fresh herbs, garlic, lemon, and mustard, infuses both the crab and lamb with incredible flavor. Grill the crab clusters for a charred and smoky touch, while the lamb is cooked until tender and juicy. Serve the sliced lamb chops with the crab clusters, grilled oranges, and a drizzle of chimichurri for a stunning and delicious surf and turf experience.
