Snow Crab Claws

Snow crab claws are a delicious and delicate seafood, offering sweet, tender meat. Unlike the larger King Crab, snow crab claws are smaller and more delicate, making them perfect for dishes that highlight the subtleness of their flavor. Snow crabs are often caught in colder waters like the Bering Sea and North Atlantic, and their claws are a popular choice for seafood lovers due to their rich taste and ease of eating.

Here’s everything you need to know about snow crab claws:

What Are Snow Crab Claws?

• Snow crabs have long, thin legs and smaller claws compared to King Crab. The meat inside is sweet, firm, and flaky, making it a favorite in a variety of recipes.

• Snow crabs are often sold in clusters (with multiple legs and claws together) or as individual claws.

• Snow crab claws are usually pre-cooked (especially if frozen), which makes them incredibly easy to prepare once they’re thawed.

How to Prepare Snow Crab Claws:

Since most snow crab claws are already cooked when you buy them (especially if they’re frozen), preparation is mostly about reheating and serving them in a delicious way.

1. Thawing Frozen Snow Crab Claws:

To get the best flavor and texture, it’s important to thaw them properly. Here’s how you can do it:

• In the Refrigerator (Recommended Method):

  • Place the frozen snow crab claws in the fridge overnight to thaw. This will ensure they defrost slowly, preserving their texture and flavor.

  • If you need to speed up the process, you can leave them in the refrigerator for 4-6 hours.

• Quick Thawing Method (Cold Water):

  • Put the frozen snow crab claws in a sealed bag (to prevent water from getting in).

  • Submerge the bag in a bowl of cold water for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

  • This method is faster but may not preserve the texture quite as well as thawing in the fridge.

2. Reheating Snow Crab Claws (If Pre-Cooked):

Once thawed, you can reheat the snow crab claws using several methods. Here are a few popular ones:

• Boiling:

  • Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add a pinch of salt for flavor.

  • Gently lower the snow crab claws into the boiling water.

  • Boil them for 4-6 minutes (just long enough to heat them through).

  • Remove them from the water, and they’re ready to serve.

• Steaming:

  • Set up a steamer pot (or a regular pot with a steamer basket) over boiling water.

  • Place the thawed snow crab claws in the steamer basket and cover with a lid.

  • Steam for about 5-7 minutes until they’re heated through.

  • This method helps preserve moisture and tenderness.

• Grilling:

  • Preheat your grill to medium heat.

  • Brush the snow crab claws lightly with olive oil and garlic (optional).

  • Place the claws on the grill and cook for about 3-4 minutes per side, just to heat them up and get a slight char.

  • Grilling can add a nice smoky flavor to the delicate meat.

• Baking:

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

  • Arrange the thawed snow crab claws on a baking sheet.

  • Cover with foil to keep the moisture in and bake for about 5-8 minutes.

  • For extra flavor, you can brush them with melted butter or garlic butter before baking.

3. Eating Snow Crab Claws:

Eating snow crab claws can be a bit tricky, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a fun and rewarding experience.

• Cracking the Claws: Use a crab cracker or a nutcracker to crack the shell of the claws. You can also use a small mallet to gently tap them.

• Pulling the Meat Out: After cracking the shell, use a seafood fork or small fork to pull out the sweet meat. Be sure to remove the cartilage (if present) and enjoy the tender, succulent crab meat.

• Dipping Sauces: Snow crab claws are often served with melted butter, sometimes with garlic, or lemon wedges for extra zest. Other options include cocktail sauce, spicy aioli, or a mustard-based sauce.

Snow Crab Claws Recipes:

Here are a couple of ideas for dishes that use snow crab claws:

1. Snow Crab Claws with Garlic Butter:

• Ingredients: Snow crab claws, butter, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, salt, and pepper.

• Instructions:

  • Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.

  • Add lemon juice and chopped parsley and stir to combine.

  • Gently place the thawed snow crab claws in the pan and heat them through, spooning the garlic butter over the meat.

  • Serve with extra melted butter and a wedge of lemon.

2. Snow Crab Claw Salad:

• Ingredients: Snow crab claws, mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

• Instructions:

  • Gently remove the meat from the claws.

  • Toss the crab meat with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and avocado.

  • Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper.

  • Serve chilled as a light and refreshing appetizer or main course.

3. Crab Claw Pasta:

• Ingredients: Snow crab claws, pasta (linguine or spaghetti), garlic, butter, white wine, chili flakes, lemon, and parsley.

• Instructions:

  • Boil your pasta according to package instructions. Reserve some of the pasta water.

  • In a large pan, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.

  • Add the crab meat from the snow crab claws and sauté for a couple of minutes.

  • Deglaze with a splash of white wine and add a squeeze of lemon juice and chili flakes.

  • Toss the cooked pasta into the pan, adding some pasta water to bring the sauce together.

  • Top with fresh parsley and a bit of grated Parmesan cheese.