Crab legs are a delicious seafood treat that many people love to eat. But have you ever wondered just how many crab legs are in a pound? And how many total crab legs would that work out to be? In this article, we’ll break down the math behind how many legs are in a pound of crab legs.
What Makes Up a Crab Leg
First, let’s look at what exactly makes up a crab leg. The legs of a crab are fairly long and thin, with a hard outer shell. The edible meat is contained within this shell. Crabs have 10 legs – 5 pairs. These include:
- 2 large front claws (chelipeds)
- 4 walking legs (pereiopods)
- 4 smaller rear legs (pleopods)
The front claws are usually the largest legs and have the most meat The back 4 walking legs are smaller but still have a good amount of meat The tiny rear legs don’t contain much edible crab meat at all.
So when we are talking about crab legs, we are generally referring to the front claws and 4 walking legs. The little rear legs are usually discarded.
How Many Legs in a Pound
Now let’s look at how many crab legs are typically in a pound. This can vary a bit depending on the size and type of crab. But here is a general estimate:
- 3-5 front claws (1/2 pound each)
- 8-12 walking legs (2-3 ounces each)
So if we take the midpoint of those ranges, in one pound we have:
- 4 front claws
- 10 walking legs
That’s approximately 14 crab legs per pound.
With each crab having 10 legs total, that means one pound of crab legs comes from about 1 and a half crabs (4 front claws + 10 walking legs / 10 legs per crab = 1.4 crabs)
Of course, if the claws are particularly large or the walking legs are petite, the counts could shift in either direction a bit. But on average, expect around 14 legs per pound.
Total Number of Legs
Figuring out the total number of individual crab legs that a pound represents is a bit trickier
We estimated above that 1 pound contains 14 crab legs. But each of those legs is connected to a body, which also has additional legs attached.
So to get the total leg count, let’s break it down:
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4 front claws
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Each claw is connected to a body with 8 additional legs
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So those 4 claws represent 4 * 9 = 36 total legs
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10 walking legs
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Each walking leg is connected to a body with 7 other legs
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So those 10 legs represent 10 * 8 = 80 additional legs
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Total legs = 36 + 80 = 116 legs
So when you eat a pound of delicious crab legs, you are consuming approximately 116 individual crab legs! That’s a whole lot of crunchy, seafood goodness.
Variability in Counts
It’s worth noting that these numbers are approximations and averages. The actual counts can vary quite a bit based on:
- Crab size – The larger the crab, the fewer legs per pound
- Leg size – Some legs may be thicker or thinner
- Species – Different crab species have slightly different leg sizes
- Processing – Broken legs may be counted differently
So you may get a few more or a few less in any given pound. But at least this gives you a ballpark figure to understand just how many legs make up a pound of crab legs.
Crab Leg Nutrition
Crab legs aren’t just delicious – they are also nutritious. Here is the nutrition information per 6-8 ounce serving of Alaska king crab legs:
- 140-170 calories
- 1-2 grams fat
- 500-620mg sodium
- 30-40 grams protein
- High in selenium, zinc, copper, magnesium, vitamin B12
So crab legs make a great lean protein addition to your diet.
Time to Feast on Crab Legs!
Hopefully this article gave you a better sense of just how many crab legs are in pound. The next time you enjoy these tasty crustacean appendages, you’ll know you are biting into well over 100 legs! Dip them in melted butter and enjoy this sweet, seafood delicacy.
What Parts of the Crab Are Edible?
Here are some of the most delicious parts of a crab and how to enjoy them:
- Claws: A crabs claws contain the largest amount of muscle and, therefore, the juiciest meat. They are typically tastier and easier to eat than other parts.
- Legs: The leg meat tends to separate easily from the shell. You can extract it by breaking the joints backward and sliding the meat out.
- Body: Crabs with wider bodies, like Dungeness and blue crabs, offer more meat in their bodies than smaller crabs. For smaller crabs, using the bodies for stocks and sauces may be more worthwhile.
- Shells: Crab shells are great for making a flavorful fish stock. Boil them for about 10 minutes, then strain out the shells.
- Back fins: This part of the crab is especially tasty. Simply cut the crab in half to reveal the back fin and remove the flesh.
- Mustard: Also known as the green gland or tomalley, this edible part filters blood impurities. It has a pungent taste that only some people enjoy.
The Anatomy of a King Crab
The king crab is one of the largest edible crabs, and its anatomy is similar to that of other crabs, except that it has six walking legs instead of eight. Its claws are also distinct in shape: the larger claw is used for crushing prey, while the smaller claw handles food delicately. You can also easily distinguish male and female king crabs by their abdomen flaps — a male has a narrow flap, while a female has a wider one.
There are three main types of king crab available on the market, each distinct in its appearance:
- Red king crab: This popular crab has a reddish-brown shell and is highly sought after worldwide. Red king crabs are found in British Columbia, Japan, and Alaska, especially in Bristol Bay and the Kodiak Archipelago. They live from the intertidal zone to depths of 100 fathoms or more, and can grow up to 24 pounds with a leg span of up to 5 feet.
- Blue king crab: This crabs shell has a blue hue, and its legs are more slender and oval-shaped than those of the red king crab.
- Golden king crab: The smallest of the three varieties, this crab has less meat, weighing between 5 and 8 pounds with a golden-orange shell.
- Jonah crab: This oval-shaped crab has a red top and a yellowish underside, sometimes with mottling of yellow and red on its legs. Jonah crabs are typically found along the Atlantic Coast from Newfoundland to Florida.
How To Get Meat Out of Snow Crab Legs – Easy and Fast
FAQ
How many crab legs are in 1 pound?
A pound of snow crab legs typically contains 2 to 3 clusters, which translates to about 8 to 12 legs.
How many people will 1lb of crab legs feed?
1-1½ pounds of crab legs per person for an entrée portion. 3-4 whole crabs per person for an entrée portion. 4-6oz of crab meat per person for an entrée portion. 2-3oz of crab meat per person for a starter portion.
How many crabs make 1 pound?
A single #1-sized blue crab will contain 1 to 2 ounces of blue crab meat when cleaned by an experienced crab picker. This means you will need at least 16 blue crabs for a single pound of crab meat, but expect to need more blue crabs.