Crab meat is a delicious, sweet treat that comes from various crab species. The sweetness of crab meat can vary greatly depending on the type of crab it comes from. Some crab meat is sweeter due to the crab’s diet and environment. When looking for the sweetest tasting crab meat, there are a few key types of crab to know about.
Blue Crab
Blue crab is one of the most popular and commercially available types of crab. It offers delicate, sweet flavored meat. Blue crab is found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. The sweetness of blue crab meat comes from the crab’s diet rich in plant matter like marsh grasses. While the blue crab flavor is sweet, it is milder compared to some other crab species.
Dungeness Crab
Dungeness crab is found along the west coast of the United States and Canada. Their range stretches from Alaska down to California. Dungeness crab lives in the cold, nutrient rich waters of the Pacific Ocean. The abundance of plankton and algae in this environment give Dungeness crab a naturally sweeter taste. The meat is delicate, moist, and slightly briny with a hint of sweetness. Many crab aficionados consider Dungeness to be among the sweetest tasting crab varieties.
Jonah Crab
The Jonah crab is a species found along the northeast coast of the United States and Canada’s Atlantic provinces. Jonah crab has firm, moist meat that is considered to be very sweet, even sweeter than the popular blue crab. The claws of Jonah crab tend to contain the sweetest meat. Jonah crab claws are often preferred for picking crab meat. While the crabs are smaller than blue crab, their delicious, sought after flavor rewards the extra picking effort.
King Crab
King crab refers to a group of large crab species found in cold, deep waters. The most common commercially fished king crabs are red king crab and blue king crab. King crab legs are prized for their thick, meaty texture and ultra sweet flavor. The cold water helps king crab develop high glycogen levels in their meat, increasing the sweetness. The large size of king crab legs also allows the sweet flavor to really come through compared to smaller crab species.
Snow Crab
Snow crab is found in the icy, cold waters of the northwest Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea, and the Chukchi Sea near Alaska. Snow crab has a delicate, slightly briny sweetness. The long, thin snow crab legs offer flaky, moist meat with a sweeter taste near the body and leg joints. Like king crab, snow crab’s cold water environment contributes to excellent sweetness.
Stone Crab
Stone crab claws are a sweet, sought after seafood delicacy harvested off the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Only the claws are legal to harvest, so stone crab meat comes entirely from the extremely meaty, flavorful claws. The claws are pleasantly firm while still retaining a delicate texture. The meat ranges from mild to an intense, buttery sweetness depending on how the crab is cooked and served.
Factors Contributing to Sweet Crab Flavor
There are a few key factors that contribute to sweet tasting crab meat:
| Water Temperature | Colder water temperatures increase glycogen levels in crabs, boosting sweetness. |
| Diet | Crabs that eat more plant matter and algae tend to be sweeter. |
| Size | Larger crabs concentrate flavors in more ample meat. |
| Cooking Method | Gentle cooking like steaming or boiling brings out natural crab sweetness. |
The cold water crabs like king, snow, and Dungeness crab owe much of their treasured sweet flavor to the frigid waters they live in. Glycogen, a complex carbohydrate similar to starch, accumulates in the meat of cold water crabs. Cooking breaks down this glycogen into simple sugars, amplifying the sweet taste of the meat. Crabs that get more nutrition from plants and algae also tend to have sweeter meat, like blue crabs and Dungeness crabs that thrive on marsh grass and Pacific plankton respectively. Large crab species allow the sweet flavors to concentrate in the plentiful meat like in king crab legs. Gentle steaming or boiling brings out the natural sweetness of crab without aggressive flavors from grilling or heavy seasoning.
Grading Crab Meat for Quality and Sweetness
When buying fresh crab, it helps to know how the meat is graded so you can select the sweetest crab available. Crab meat is sorted into grades based on presentation including color, broken pieces, moisture content, and flavor.
| Grade | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Jumbo Lump | Large, intact lumps of white meat from the swimming legs. Very sweet flavor. |
| Lump or Backfin | Smaller broken lumps. Slightly less sweet but still delicious. |
| Special | Shredded flakes of white meat. More affordable but retains sweetness. |
| Claw | Sturdy meat from claws. Sweetness varies. |
Jumbo lump crab will provide the largest, most succulent chunks of sweet crab meat. For budget friendly options, claw meat and special grade offer lower cost crab with very good flavor. When in doubt, ask to sample a small piece of crab meat to get a taste for the sweetness.
Preparing and Serving Crab to Highlight Sweet Flavor
These tips will help you cook, season, and serve crab meat in ways that highlight its natural sweetness:
– Gently cook crab using steaming, boiling, or very light sautéing. Aggressive cooking can make the meat dry and tough.
– Season crab delicately with light flavor accents like lemon, parsley, dill, or chives. Draw out the natural sweetness.
– Chill cooked crab before serving. Chilling firms up the texture and concentrates the sweet taste.
– Softly fold crab meat into salads, pasta, chowder, or stuffing rather than heavily mixing to retain lumps.
– Pair crab with sweet flavors including tropical fruits, melon, corn, coconut, or cream sauce. Complementary sweetness.
– Salt brings out flavors. Lightly salt crab before or after cooking to amplify sweetness.
With some care taken to handle the crab gently, add delicate seasoning, and serve chilled or with sweet flavors, you can really highlight that sought after sweet crab meat flavor.
Conclusion
When it comes to sweet, delicious crab meat, cold water species like snow crab, king crab, and Dungeness lead the pack thanks to their chilly habitat. Their diet, larger size, and gentle cooking methods also boost the natural sweetness of the meat. For a crab feast, splurge on chilled Jumbo Lump to experience the sublime sweetness prized by crab lovers everywhere. With smart preparation, seasoning, and pairing, you can make the most of crab’s treasured sweet flavor.