Snow Crab: Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know

Snow crab is a favorite among crab lovers, prized for its sweet flavor, delicate texture, and easy-to-crack legs. It’s also one of the easiest types of crab to cook, making it perfect for quick weeknight meals, seafood boils, or impressive dinner spreads without the stress. Whether you steam, boil, bake, or grill them, snow crab cooks fast and soaks up seasonings beautifully, giving you big flavor with minimal effort.

How to Cook Snow Crab

1. Thaw snow crab clusters in the refrigerator overnight or run under cool water for 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Preheat your cooking method of choice (oven, steamer, or boiling pot).
3. Season clusters lightly with salt, lemon, or preferred seasoning if desired.
4. Heat crab for 5 to 7 minutes, just until steaming hot since snow crab is already pre cooked.
5. Serve immediately with melted butter and lemon.

How to Bake Snow Crab 

1. Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C).
2. Place crab clusters on a baking sheet and drizzle with melted butter, garlic, or seasoning.
3. Cover tightly with foil to keep moisture in.
4. Roast for 7 to 10 minutes until heated through and aromatic.
5. Remove foil, brush with more butter, and serve hot.

How to Boil Snow Crab 

1. Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil; add 1 to 2 tablespoons of salt.
2. Add thawed snow crab clusters directly into the boiling water.
3. Boil for 4 to 5 minutes just enough to heat them fully.
4. Use tongs to remove crab and let excess water drain.
5. Serve immediately with butter, lemon, or seasoning.

How to Steam Snow Crab

1. Add 1 to 2 inches of water to a large pot and bring it to a boil.
   
2. Place crab clusters in a steamer basket above the water.
   
3. Cover the pot with a tight lid.
   
4. Steam for 5 to 7 minutes until the crab is hot and fragrant.
   
5. Carefully remove and serve with melted butter and lemon wedges.

Watch how easy it is to steam Snow Crab Clusters here.

Plus, all crabs are fascinating creatures, so it’s nice to know a few fun facts to share at your next crab feast.

Here’s everything you’ve ever wanted to know about snow crab:

Snow crab is often called “queen crab”

Obviously, you already know we love king crab, but snow crab is almost as impressive in size — which explains why it’s often called “queen crab.” While snow crab legs are smaller than king crab legs, they are still impressive. To better understand the size difference between these two types of crab, king crab generally weighs between 12 and 15 pounds when fully developed and snow crab generally only weights 5 to 7 pounds.

Interestingly enough, only male snow crabs can be legally harvested.

While male snow crabs can grow to be 6 inches long in shell-width, female snow crabs are generally smaller than 3 inches in shell-width. Because of this size discrepancy, only male crabs of a certain size can be legally harvested — and no crabbing at all is allowed during mating and molting season. These measures are designed to prevent overfishing and encourage sustainability, allowing snow crabs to continue reproducing. There are also harvest limits set every year — and all crabbing stops once the limits are reached. 

Like king crabs, snow crabs have a long lifespan

When not harvested, snow crabs can live for an estimated 20 years.

There are three general areas to source snow crabs:

Alaska, the coast of Japan, and Canada down to the coast of Maine. We’re obviously partial to Alaskan snow crabs, and those typically come from three seas: the Bering, Beaufort and Chukchi.

Snow crabs grow by molting

In order to grow to their full size, snow crabs shed their old shell and grow another. In between this growth process, the exterior of the snow crab remains soft, increasing the vulnerability of the crab. That’s why harvesting is prohibited during molting season.

Snow crab shells are easier to crack than king crab shells

Since their shells are thinner than king crabs, snow crabs are often easier to eat and enjoy. However, like we always say, with the right tools, any crab leg is crack-able.

Snow crab meat tends to be slightly more fibrous

While king crab meat is delicate, snow crab meat is more fibrous and easily broken apart. For this reason, snow crab makes fantastic crab cakes, but it’s also delicious picked right out of the shell.

If you’re a lover of king crab and have never tried snow crab legs, now is a great time to compare the two and discover your preference. Just don’t forget to tell us what you think!

Try our Super Jumbo Alaskan Snow Crab Clusters.