How Many Carbs Are in Crab Legs and Butter? A Detailed Look

Crab legs and butter are delicious, but how many carbs are actually in this popular dish? As a low-carb dieter, this is an important question to answer. In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at the carb counts for crab legs and butter so you can make informed decisions.

The Many Benefits of Crab Legs

Crab legs offer many nutritional benefits. The protein in crab provides essential amino acids for building and repairing muscles. Crab also contains vitamins and minerals like zinc, copper, selenium, and B vitamins. Additionally, crab legs are low in saturated fat and high in omega-3s. No wonder they are such a prized seafood!

The tasty crustacean’s lean protein and lack of carbs make crab legs a excellent option for low-carb, Paleo, and keto diets. Crab legs can be prepared many ways too – boiled, grilled baked etc. Their versatility makes them perfect for various recipes and meal plans.

Total Carbs in Crab Legs

So how many total carbs are actually in crab legs? Here is a breakdown:

• 4 ounces of crab legs contains around 0-1 grams of carbohydrates
• This carb count is quite low, making crab legs a fantastic low-carb food
• The small amount of carbs in crab legs comes from residual glycogen stores in the meat
• Any crab shells or cartilage is carbohydrate-free

As you can see, crab legs themselves are very low in carbs But what happens when butter gets added to the equation?

The Role of Butter

Butter is commonly paired with crab legs to enhance their rich, delicious flavor Melted butter also makes it easier to extract the sweet crab meat But how does adding butter impact the carb count?

Here’s what you need to know:

• Butter is 100% fat, containing no carbs or protein
• 1 tablespoon of butter has 0 grams of carbohydrates
• Therefore, adding butter does not alter the low carb counts of crab legs
• Opt for high-quality, grass-fed butter for maximum nutrition

This means you can generously dip your crab legs in butter without worrying about carbs! Just be mindful of your total fat intake for the day.

Best Options for Low-Carb Dining

When dining out and wanting to stick to a low-carb diet, what are your best options for preparing crab legs? Here are some tips:

• Order crab legs steamed or grilled – no breading
• Request real melted butter for dipping
• Avoid crab cakes (filled with binders) or crabs drenched in sugary sauce
• Say no to rice, pasta, or bread on the side
• Ask for extra lemon wedges and cocktail sauce for more flavor

With some simple modifications, you can enjoy properly steamed snow crab, king crab, or Dungeness crab legs with butter while still maintaining a low-carb lifestyle.

Sample Low-Carb Crab Leg Meals

To give you some inspiration, here are a few delicious low-carb meals featuring crab legs:

• Crab legs with melted garlic lemon butter and a side salad
• Baked crab legs with parsley and parmesan, with roasted asparagus
• Crab legs alongside grilled chicken and zucchini noodles
• Crab leg omelet made with eggs, spinach, and cheese
• Crab legs on top of cauliflower rice stir fry

As you can see, there are so many tasty ways to work crab legs into a low-carb diet. Get creative with seasonings and veggie sides!

Crab Legs and Butter Can Fit Your Low-Carb Lifestyle

A serving of 1 pound of snow crab legs with butter contains approximately 530 calories.