Crab clusters are a delicious and unique way to enjoy everyone’s favorite crustacean. But what exactly are crab clusters, and what makes them so special?
A Quick Overview of Crab Clusters
Crab clusters refer to a section of legs and claws still attached to a portion of the crab’s body. Rather than individual legs, clusters provide an intact crab section perfect for sharing The two most popular cluster varieties are king crab (10) and snow crab (11).
King crab legs (10) are the long, thick legs of Alaskan red and blue king crab. Snow crab clusters (11) feature the shorter legs and claws of snow crab from Alaska, Canada, or Russia. Clusters contain more meat and flavorful crab body compared to individual legs.
Benefits of Crab Clusters
There are many advantages to preparing and eating crab in cluster form:
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More economical – Buying clusters in bulk allows for volume savings vs. individual legs. Per pound, clusters are often cheaper.
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Simpler preparation – No need to break down legs before cooking. Cook straight from freezer.
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Retain moisture – Keeping legs clustered helps preserve moisture and prevent drying out.
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Full crab flavor – Extra body meat provides rich, decadent crab taste.
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Impressive presentation – Serving a whole cluster makes for an exciting dinner centerpiece.
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Easier eating – Legs remain segmented in clusters, making meat access simpler.
How to Cook Crab Clusters Perfectly
Follow these steps for delicious crab cluster results every time:
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Choose fresh, cold, heavy clusters with no odors. Vibrant color and firm, intact legs also indicate freshness.
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Assemble equipment like a pot, steamer basket, tongs, and shell cracking tool before cooking.
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Fill pot with 2 inches water and bring to a boil. Place clusters in steamer basket, cover, and steam 12-15 minutes until bright red. Consider adding crab boil seasonings to the water for extra flavor.
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Let cool slightly before carefully cracking open shells with shears or cracker. Watch for sharp points to avoid injury.
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Use a small fork to extract meat, discarding any stray cartilage or shell bits. Enjoy on its own or in recipes.
Tantalizing Recipes with Crab Clusters
Beyond steaming, clusters can be used in endless appetizing dishes like:
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Crab cakes – Mix shredded crab with breadcrumbs, egg, and seasonings then pan fry.
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Crab salad – Gently fold crab into fresh salad with veggies, lemon juice, and dressing.
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Crab dip – Bake a cheesy blend of crab, cream cheese, and sour cream until bubbly.
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Crab stuffed mushrooms – Fill mushroom caps with a luscious crab and cheese mixture then bake.
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Crab linguine – Toss tender linguine with a garlic white wine sauce, crab, tomatoes, and parsley.
Get creative with crab cluster recipes for special seafood meals and feasts!
The Delights of Dungeness Crab Clusters
Dungeness crab (5) from the Pacific Northwest is another popular variety sold in clusters. Compared to king or snow crab, Dungeness has shorter, stouter legs and a sweet, delicate, nutty flavor. The tender white meat is ideal for dipping in melted butter.
When cooked, Dungeness turns bright reddish-orange. It can be steamed, boiled, or baked. Beyond enjoying plain, Dungeness crab meat excels in pastas, risottos, sandwiches, salads, and more. Dungeness clusters are perfect for memorable seafood dinners.
Crab clusters provide a unique way to enjoy king, snow, or Dungeness crab. Keeping the legs and body together retains maximum flavor and moisture for better results. Follow proper cooking methods to serve restaurant-quality crab at home. With endless recipe options, crab clusters are sure to become a new favorite for special meals and lavish seafood spreads. Indulge in these oceanic delicacies on your table!
What are Snow Crabs
Snow crabs are a species of crab that are named for the color of their meat. Fun fact, when Snow crabs are cooked, their bright red crab meat is transformed from red to snowy white, hence the name snow crab. They are also often referred to as the “queen crab” because of their long legs, similar to king crabs. These are typically the most common type of crab or crab legs that you will find in your local supermarket or fish market. The snow crab legs are typically sold in pre-packed clusters.
What do King Crabs taste like?
King crabs are incredibly delectable, and are often compared to lobster, they are THAT juicy, succulent, and tender. Their meat tends to break off in larger pieces and isn’t as easily shredded. It’s most often described as having a mild flavor with subtle sweetness (aka perfect to eat with some melted butter and lemon). The meat of a king crab is white with some red streaking.
How to Cook Crab Legs
FAQ
What is considered a crab cluster?
Bought straight from the processors that everyone’s favorite Alaskan Crab fishermen deliver to, these clusters include all the legs, the claw, and a substantial portion of the body! These giant Alaska Snow crab legs are well known for their sweet succulent flavor and snowy white meat.
Are snow crab clusters already cooked?
Yes, snow crab clusters are typically sold fully cooked. They are usually pre-cooked before freezing, so when you buy them, they are ready to be reheated or eaten cold. You can thaw them in the refrigerator and then reheat them by steaming, grilling, baking, or boiling.
What is the difference between a cluster crab and a whole crab?
Clusters are the frozen sections that have been cooked and cleaned with the carapace taken off and split in half. It’s a good compromise to still having the fun of breaking down a crab without a lot of the mess.
How much crab meat is in one cluster?
On average, a snow crab yields about 50% meat to 50% shell. So each Bairdi crab leg cluster provides 6-7 oz. of meat, more than the recommended serving size of 5 oz.
How do you prepare crab clusters for grilling?
1 Pour equal quantities of water and vinegar in large pot with a raised rack (a minimum of 2 inches high) to just below the level of the rack. Cover. Bring to boil on high heat. 2 Carefully place crabs on rack in single layer. (Clusters should be above the water level.) Sprinkle with OLD BAY. Cover.
What is the difference between a snow crab and a king crab cluster?
Another similarity between King Crabs and 1 cluster of snow crab legs is that snow crabs have extremely long legs. These legs provide a great deal of their meat, which is considered to be more fibrous than the meat of the King Crab.
How long do you steam crab clusters?
Bring to boil on high heat. 2 Carefully place crabs on rack in single layer. (Clusters should be above the water level.) Sprinkle with OLD BAY. Cover. 3 Steam about 8 to 10 minutes or until crabs turn bright orange.
How do you cook snow crab clusters?
Bake the frozen snow crab at 450 for approximately 14 to 16 minutes. Thawed clusters can be baked at 450 degrees for about 8 to 10 minutes. Large amounts of clusters will take longer to heat throughly. Wrap the thawed legs in a damp paper towel and cook on high for about 2 to 3 minutes.