Stone crab claws are a prized seafood delicacy, famed for their sweet, succulent meat. Their availability is limited due to a short harvesting season and high demand, making them a special treat. If you’re wondering where you can buy stone crab claws, this guide will walk you through the best places to purchase high-quality claws.
What Are Stone Crab Claws?
Stone crabs are a species of crab that inhabits the western Atlantic Ocean They are found along the southeast coast of the United States, ranging from North Carolina to Belize The stone crab gets its name from its rock-hard claws, which can exert a force of over 19,000 pounds per square inch. This makes the claws perfect for crushing and eating hard-shelled prey like clams, oysters, and other crustaceans.
Only one claw of a stone crab is harvested, allowing the crab to regrow the lost limb and survive. Fishermen will take either the crusher claw or pincer claw depending on size and quality. The claws are removed carefully to minimize damage to the animal.
Stone crab meat is treasured for its sweet, briny flavor and delicate texture. The claws contain lumps of tender white meat, considered a gourmet delicacy. They are often served chilled with tangy mustard sauce for dipping.
Stone Crab Harvesting Season
The Florida stone crab season is closely regulated, allowing the population to regenerate and thrive. The season runs from October 15 to May 15 each year. During this time, fresh claws are delivered daily to retailers and restaurants.
Outside of season, previously frozen claws can sometimes be found, but fresh claws are preferable. The freezing process can damage the texture of the delicate meat. For peak flavor and texture, try to buy claws within fresh season.
Where to Buy Fresh Stone Crab Claws
Here are some of the best places to buy fresh, high-quality stone crab claws:
Local Seafood Markets
Check with seafood markets in your area to see if they carry stone crab claws in season. Reputable fishmongers and seafood shops pride themselves on providing fresh catches. Choose a market with high turnover to ensure the freshest claws. Ask when their latest shipment arrived.
Seafood markets like Captain’s Catch Seafood in Florida get regular deliveries of claws straight from the docks during season. You may even find specialty mega colossal claws exceeding 2 pounds. Markets are great for buying claws to prepare at home.
Direct from a Fishery
Several fisheries in Florida ship stone crab claws overnight nationwide when in season. Buying directly from the source means your claws were captured and processed within hours, ensuring absolute freshness.
The fishery Key Largo Fisheries offers claws in a range of sizes like jumbo and colossal. You can order claws wild-caught that morning and have them delivered the next day. Their claws even come with complimentary mustard sauce and tools for cracking.
Online Seafood Retailers
For convenient online ordering, websites like Stone Crab Wholesale offer overnight delivery of fresh claws nationwide. They provide claws of all sizes from medium to mega colossal. You can select the exact number of claws desired.
The claws are carefully packaged with dry ice or gel packs to ensure they arrive chilled and optimally fresh. Online retailers offer great variety and selections perfect for large gatherings.
High-End Restaurants
Upscale seafood restaurants often feature stone crab claws when in season, sometimes as all-you-can-eat specials. The claws are prepared by expert chefs who know how to cook them perfectly to highlight their natural sweetness.
Restaurants like Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami Beach have been serving stone crabs for over a century. You can enjoy an unforgettable fine dining experience featuring stone crab claws as the star. Just expect to pay premium prices for the privilege.
All-You-Can-Eat Stone Crab Buffets
For endless stone crab indulgence, some restaurants offer all-you-can-eat stone crab buffets. These are especially popular in Florida coastal cities during peak season.
Casual seafood restaurants like The Crab House offer ally-you-can-eat legs and claws on certain nights. You can sample stone crab until your heart’s content, along with sides and sauces. Just come hungry!
What to Look for When Buying Claws
To end up with the best tasting claws, keep these tips in mind when buying:
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Look for claws that smell fresh and feel firm, not mushy. Discoloration is a sign of freezer burn.
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Bigger claws tend to have more meat, but medium claws offer great value. Jumbo and colossal claws are considered a premium.
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Ensure claws are chilled at 38 °F or less for optimal freshness and texture.
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Pre-cracked or scored claws dry out quickly. Buy claws un-cracked.
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Local claws don’t require as much shipping time, which reduces quality loss.
Storing Claws After Purchase
Handle claws with care once purchased:
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Keep claws chilled below 40 °F. Store in a cooler if transporting.
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Place claws in a single layer in the coldest part of your fridge, not the door.
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Don’t store in sealed plastic bags, which promotes bacteria. Use a paper bag instead.
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Eat claws within 2 days of delivery for best quality. Discard any discolored meat.
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Frozen claws can be stored for up to 3 months if carefully vacuum sealed.
Serving Suggestions and Recipes
Stone crab claws should be the shining star of any recipe. Some tasty ways to serve them:
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Chilled with mustard sauce and lemon wedges for dipping
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Warm with drawn garlic butter
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In salads, pasta, risotto, and seafood stews
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Baked in a stone crab casserole
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As fried crab cakes or tacos
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Over grits or baked potato
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In bisques, chowders, and crab-stuffed fish
A search for stone crab recipes will provide you with endless inspired ways to prepare these crab claws.
Indulge in This Rare Delicacy
Stone crab claws are a quintessential Florida delicacy that every seafood lover should try. Follow this guide to source authentic, fresh claws and prepare them to perfection. Their sublime sweetness paired with tangy mustard sauce is an incredible culinary experience. Though availability is limited, seeking out stone crab claws is one seafood splurge worth the effort. Let your taste buds delight in this rare, exquisite treat.
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The succulent, flavorful, and supremely decadent Florida stone crabs are fresh seafoods creme de la creme. Whether youre looking to cater a party at home for friends and family or planning on treating yourself to a luxurious feast, ordering stone crab is a way to enjoy this fabulous menu item with ease. Billys Stone Crab, a top seafood restaurant in Hollywood, Florida, offers stone crab for sale. Discover how to eat stone crab, how long to boil stone crab claws, and discover just how easy it is to order online with us.
Stone crabs are common in the North Atlantic, from Florida to Colombia. They are known for their sweet meat, which can be found by cracking the cooked shell. At Billys Stone Crab, we source our crab from the Gulf of Mexico, in the Florida Keys, and all along the West Coast of Florida. We proudly use safe, sustainable shipping practices so you can feel confident that you are ordering the best.
Types of Stone Crabs
There are many different varieties of crab. The Florida stone crab is one variety, along with snow crab, king crab, Dungeness crab, and blue crab. While seafood lovers appreciate most types of crab for various reasons, stone crab is highly prized due to its sweet meat and light flavor. Even those who dont normally like shellfish taste will reach for stone crab, making it an excellent choice for your dinner party or special event.
Florida Stone Crab is one of our specialties at Billys Stone Crab. We offer the best stone crab price and value around. Humanely harvested and shipped nationwide, our stone crab claws are perfect for your next special event. We offer claw sizes from medium to colossal. Our medium stone crab claws are priced at $35 per pound and feature about 7 or 8 claws per pound, while our Select crab claws are $41 per pound and include about 6 or 7 claws per pound.
The Large stone crab claws are $47 per pound. You can expect to receive about 4 to 5 claws per pound with this selection. The Jumbo crab claws are priced at $65 per pound and include 3 to 4 claws per pound. The Collosal crab claws, great for large appetites, are $65 per pound and include about 2 claws per pound. You cant go wrong with whatever option you choose!
Is Joe’s Stone Crab Worth The Price?
FAQ
How much is 1 lb of stone crab claws?
The Large stone crab claws are $47 per pound.
Are stone crab claws worth it?
Stone crab is absolutely amazing. I would say it’s not quite as rich and tasty as king crab, but it’s much, much more efficient to crack and eat, so it’s a good tradeoff.
What is the season for stone crab claws?
The season for harvesting stone crab claws in Florida, which is where the majority of the commercial stone crab harvest takes place, is October 15th to May 1st.
Where can I buy stone crab claws?
Look no further than Captain Stone Crab, your one-stop shop for premium quality stone crab claws delivered straight to your door. Our stone crab claws are caught fresh from the coast of the Florida Bay and brought immediately to our dock once declawed.
Where do stone crab claws come from?
Our stone crab claws are caught fresh from the coast of the Florida Bay and brought immediately to our dock once declawed. All of our stone crab claws are properly measured by our team to ensure you’re getting the right stone crabs in your online stone crab order. Ordering with Captain Stone Crab is easy and convenient.
Where can I find the best stone crab claws in Florida?
At Key Largo Fisheries, we take pride in offering the freshest and finest quality Florida stone crab claws available. Our stone crabs are sustainably harvested from the pristine waters of Florida, ensuring that you get the best tasting stone crab claws every time you order. Why Choose Our Florida Stone Crab Claws?
Do stone crab claws have a 3lb minimum?
Please note that all of our stone crab claws have a 3lb minimum on all orders. If ordering our stone crab claws online by the pound, we offer the following options: Once you’ve selected the amount you’d like, simply add to your cart and complete the checkout process—you’re done!
Where can I buy stone crab?
Whether you’re looking to cater a party at home for friends and family or planning on treating yourself to a luxurious feast, ordering stone crab is a way to enjoy this fabulous menu item with ease. Billy’s Stone Crab, a top seafood restaurant in Hollywood, Florida, offers stone crab for sale.
Where do you ship stone crab claws?
Mostly in the gulf of Mexico, In the Florida Keys, and up the West Coast of Florida. Where do you ship your stone crabs from? Billy’s Stone Crab is located in Hollywood, Florida, right of A1A. Are the stone crab claws cooked?