Among the many types of crab worldwide, Dungeness has a special place in the hearts of seafood lovers. What is Dungeness Crab? It is one of the most recognized types of crab by name and is enjoyed across the US, both fresh and frozen, for its tender texture and mildly sweet, not fishy, flavor.
Before trying your first Dungeness crab meal, it helps to know what it should taste like, how it compares to other crab, and the best way to prepare it.
Crab Flavor Profiles
Different crabs have different textures and flavors based on where they come from and their species classification. We’ll dive into what Dungeness crab meat tastes like soon, but first, let’s see what else is in the sea:
- King crab (from the North Pacific Ocean) has a mild, slightly sweet flavor. Its flaky meat is nice and tender like lobster.
- Snow Crab (from the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans) has a saltier taste to it. Still, it has hints of sweetness. The flaky meat is similar to King Crab.
- Blue Crab (from the Western Atlantic Ocean) has a distinct sweet flavor with bold oceanic notes.
- Stone Crab (from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic coast) has firm meat that tastes a bit sweet with a mild flavor, almost like shrimp.
What Does Dungeness Crab TasteLike?
Dungeness crab has a flavor that’s bolder than most other crabs, and its high protein content of 19g per 3oz portion is only outshone by its flavor. So what do Dungeness crab legs taste like?
Dungeness crab meat is said to have a sweet, nutty flavor. It offers both tender, body meat and firmer crab leg meat. This makes it suitable for many different recipes, and the flavor complements many dishes well.
When considering what crab meat tastes like, it’s important to remember that each type of crab will offer a slightly different taste. When trying a few different types of crabs, you are sure to find your favorite
What Makes Dungeness Crab Different?
Found along the western coast of North America, Dungeness crab meat is very popular throughout the Pacific Northwest and has been used by the top chefs in America. It grows up to two pounds and can be over 10 inches long. As with many seafood choices, it is best when fresh and can be held in tanks until needed.
Fun Fact: Dungeness crab is only available fresh along the west coast from certain months, depending on the weather that year. That’s why it’s known as a premium seafood option because many will never have the opportunity to try it while it’s fresh.
Dungeness crab is largely made up of usable crab meat, meaning much of its weight is in the body and the claws, with little meat found in the shell and non-edible parts. With such a large ratio of crab meat compared to what other crabs have, it takes the cake amongst both suppliers and restaurants. And the taste alone does it for most seafood enthusiasts!
Where Does Dungeness Crab Come From?
For those who are environmentally focused, Dungeness crab meat is preferred for its sustainability.
With such an abundant population, they can be harvested without fear of depleting the species. When gathered, they are either picked up along the beach by hand or baited into humane traps and then transported to holding tanks. Such methods allow them to be brought in without harm to the crabs themselves or the environment around them.
Fun Fact: Some people mistakenly think it’s called ‘dungeons’ crab because of the traps used to catch them. The Dungeness crab name actually comes from its shallow sandy habitat inside Dungeness Spit near Sequim, WA.
Price of Dungeness Crab Meat
Crab prices fluctuate based on many factors, including the year’s yield, weather-related shortages, and shipping or transportation costs. Because they carry more meat for their weight than other crabs, they are more expensive than other varieties. Still, they are not the most expensive crab type. This makes them more accessible to a wider audience.
Popular Dungeness Crab Meat Dishes
The availability of this crab, as well as its pleasant taste, makes it a key ingredient in many seafood dishes. People often ask, what are Dungeness crab legs, how to eat the Dungeness crab body, or what does crab cake taste like. While crab legs will almost certainly remain one of the most popular ways to consume Dungeness crab, several recipes have become wildly popular:
In the Shell
Dungeness crab meat is prepared in the shell and presented with side dishes to make a complete meal. They are often served as part of a platter or as an appetizer at a high-end restaurant. This is a common way for people to be introduced to the experience, and it offers the full natural flavor without distraction from other ingredients.
Crab Chowder
Others prefer their crab to be in a crab chowder. This dish includes vegetables, cream, and clam juice to complement the crab meat. It is frequently made with the meat from the body of the crab and is pureed or blended until the preferred consistency is reached.
Crab Cake
While crab cakes are commonly made with lump crab meat from blue crabs, you can get creative and use meat from all kinds of crabs, including Dungeness! You just mix the meat with breadcrumbs, seasonings, and mayonnaise, then pan-fry it until it’s golden brown. It’s so filling!
Crab Tortellini
Crab tortellini offers pasta lovers a way to taste Dungeness crab without straying far from their favorite meal. Crab meat is wrapped in either fresh pasta cut to the desired shape or in wonton wrappers for added variety. It can be enjoyed alone or with a few fresh vegetables. Served with sauce and ideal for either appetizer or main course, this dish is sure to satisfy!
Grilled Crab
Folks who love barbecue will often cook their crab legs on the grill. They are wrapped in foil with butter and grilled to perfection. When cooked this way, Dungeness crab meat is best topped with a butter garlic sauce; however, a coconut sauce may be used for a different flavor.
Crab Boil
Perhaps one of the most popular ways to cook crab is in a crab boil. Crab boils bring people together and can be cooked from anywhere, from the best stocked commercial kitchen to a backyard BBQ over a fire pit or on the grill.
No matter where Dungeness crab meat is being prepared, the crab legs are added to a big pot filled with a seafood broth, fresh vegetables, and may include variations of sausage for added texture and taste. When it’s cooked all in one pot like that, the flavors come together beautifully for a well-rounded meal.
Crab Salad
For those who prefer a lighter approach, crab salad features crab meat with tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, asparagus, and other fresh ingredients. It’s generally served cold or chilled, making it a go-to dish for spring and summertime.
Fun Fact: In San Francisco, the famous Dungeness crab meat salad is known as Crab Louie. This salad is served with onions, carrots, egg, lettuce, and Thousand Island dressing.
Experience Dungeness Crab in San Francisco
You’ll find Dungeness crab in many restaurants across the Pacific Northwest due to its availability and versatility. The Dungeness crab complements any meal, allowing other ingredients to share the spotlight, or it can stand alone as the star of the dish. Because it can be prepared in so many ways, the sheer enjoyment of this crab is limitless.
Crab House at Pier 39 specializes in Dungeness crab, serving it in ways that highlight its naturally sweet, bold flavor. We roast Dungeness crab meat in garlic sauce made with olive oil, shallots, garlic, rosemary, thyme, peppercorns, garlic salt, white wine, garlic chips, and a secret ingredient!
You can order it on a hot iron skillet, served with crackers, sourdough rolls, or add our popular shrimp and mussels. It’s an iconic dish you’ll see coined as the famous Killer Crab®.
So whether you are itching to know what crab cake tastes like or how big Dungeness crab is, our menu has everything you need to explore popular seafood dishes from the coast!