What is the Difference Between Snow Crab and King Crab?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main differences between snow crab and king crab are their size, legs, flavor, and habitat. Here are the key distinctions:
- Size: Snow crabs typically weigh between 2 and 4 pounds, while king crabs average about 6 pounds. King crabs can be much larger, with some reaching 20 pounds and measuring 5 feet across.
- Legs: King crab legs are shorter and thicker than snow crab legs, which are extraordinarily long and have thinner shells.
- Flavor: Snow crab meat is sweeter and has a softer texture, while king crab meat is more savory and has a firmer texture. King crab meat tends to be sweeter and tastes more like lobster, while snow crab meat tastes saltier.
- Habitat: Both snow crab and king crab are harvested near Alaska from the Bering Sea. Snow crab is also sourced from waters near Maine, Canada, and Norway.
- Season and Sourcing: Snow crab is available fresh nearly year-round, with the Alaskan harvesting season from January to April and Canadian season from April to August. King crab, however, has a much shorter harvest season, with availability from October to January only. Both varieties are available frozen year-round.
- Price: Due to its sought-after taste and juicy pieces of meat, king crab is generally more expensive than snow crab.
Both snow crab and king crab make for an excellent pairing with clarified butter and lemon, but their unique characteristics make them suitable for different cooking preferences and occasions.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Snow Crab and King Crab? Comparative Table: Snow Crab vs King Crab
Comparative Table: Snow Crab vs King Crab
Based on the search results, the main differences between snow crab and king crab are:
Feature | Snow Crab | King Crab |
---|---|---|
Size | Snow crabs range between 2 and 4 pounds. | King crabs average about 6 pounds, with some outliers weighing in at as much as 20 pounds. |
Texture | Snow crab meat is comparatively more tender. | King crab meat is firmer and stringier. |
Taste | Snow crab has a milder, sweeter flavor. | King crab has a slightly more rich and pronounced flavor. |
Price | Snow crab legs are generally more affordable. | King crab legs are more expensive. |
Habitat | Snow crabs are harvested from the Bering Sea, near Maine, Canada, and Norway. | King crabs are also harvested from the Bering Sea, but they have a more limited habitat compared to snow crabs. |
Both snow crab and king crab are well-known for their tender, flavorful meat and share common culinary uses. They can be prepared using the same cooking methods, such as boiling, steaming, or broiling.
Read more:
- Lobster vs Crab
- Blue Crab vs Red Crab
- Lobster vs Crayfish
- Crayfish vs Crawfish
- Lobster vs Shrimp
- Shellfish vs Crustaceans
- Prawn vs Lobster
- Male vs Female Crabs
- Lice vs Crabs
- Prawns vs Shrimps
- Arachnids vs Crustaceans
- Crustaceans vs Molluscs (Mollusks)
- Snow vs Ice
- Coral vs King Snake
- Male vs Female Crayfish
- Clams vs Oysters
- King Penguins vs Emperor Penguins
- King Cobra vs Cobra
- Sleet vs Snow