kuhdo wrote:I thought all king crab was frozen very shortly after being caught.

Not all of it. Every once in a while, Dirk's gets in a shipment of fresh, never frozen crab legs. They are excellent, but you pay dearly for the privilege of buying them.

stevez wrote:

kuhdo wrote:I thought all king crab was frozen very shortly after being caught.

Not all of it. Every once in a while, Dirk's gets in a shipment of fresh, never frozen crab legs. They are excellent, but you pay dearly for the privilege of buying them.

Right you are. I find at least one internet source offering the same. Didn't know this was available.

Dominick's was having a sale on crab so we made a point to take a look. At only $6.99/lb (for 16/20 count) we were planning on grabbing some for part of our dinner yesterday. Unfortunately the crab I saw wasn't that exciting looking, but the 6/9 count legs in the display case won me over. We grabbed 3 legs at about a pound each for $12.99 a pound.

We employed the microwave method of cooking and I must say it was some of the best seafood I have ever had from Dominick's. They were par frozen when broken down, and were microwaved for 2 minutes, at which point they were "steaming" hot. They produced meat pieces the size of hot dogs

Jamie

Jamieson22 wrote:They produced meat pieces the size of hot dogs

Jamie

I'm sorry if my comment about king crab legs being frozen when caught threw people off. As others have noted, most king crab legs are frozen when caught, but on some rare occasions, you can find fresh, never-frozen king crab legs. I had some not too long ago in Indianapolis at the Oceanaire, an excellent seafood restaurant, and they were absolutely wonderful, albeit very expensive. (But they don't usually have them either, only occasionally.)

Hi,

These never frozen King Crab legs, are they still cooked upon being caught?

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

These never frozen King Crab legs, are they still cooked upon being caught?

Regards,

Usually those are live King crabs. Bob Chinn's occasionally has one in his tank, but I'm not sure how much it goes for because you have to buy the entire thing!

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

These never frozen King Crab legs, are they still cooked upon being caught?

Regards,

Yes. The ones at Dirk's are cooked, but never frozen. Occasionally, you might see live ones at Bob Chinns as fujisnan pointed out.

LTH,

Never been so stopped for a look-around when I was in the area, Supreme Lobster had large tasty looking King Crab legs for $14.99 lb. Bags of broken, by which I mean large pieces, were $9.99. No cooler, and it was relatively warm that day, so I did not purchase anything, but the King Crab struck me as being particularly nice for the price.

Also stopped at Schweppe, a restaurant supply store with an amazing array of items on offer, everything from 8-burner stoves to teaspoons and all in between. Put me in mind of the old Don outlet on Elston, though Schweppe is 5-times as large.

Enjoy,
Gary

Supreme Lobster & Seafood Inc
220 E North Ave
Villa Park, IL 60181-1207
630-834-3474
http://www.supremelobster.com

Schweppe Inc
376 W North Av
Lombard, IL 60148
630-812-0148
http://www.schweppeinc.com/

G Wiv wrote:
Supreme Lobster & Seafood Inc
220 E North Ave
Villa Park, IL 60181-1207
630-834-3474
http://www.supremelobster.com

Schweppe Inc
376 W North Av
Lombard, IL 60148
630-812-0148
http://www.schweppeinc.com/

you hit 2 of my favorite suburban suppliers Gary, I really like Schweppes, and I have bought from Supreme lobster for years, as far back to the time where I bought from them for Hyatt.

On Sunday, saw that Whole Foods (I was at the big one on Kingsbury in Lincoln Park) was advertising "Wild Caught King Crab Leg Clusters" for $9.99/lb. I saw them in the cooler, though they didn't look particularly huge, they were tempting.

I eat alot of crab, and have been pleased with the prices this year(snow crab as low as $4.99/lb), & $9.99/lb for king crab is a pretty common price and makes me happy. However these are typically the smaller king crab legs, Supreme typically has the monster legs, worth the $14.99/lb.

Brookhaven Market has king crab legs for $6.99/lb right now. If I wasnt doing snow crab legs, and either live blue crab, live dungeness crab, or live lobster for tomorrow night Id get some.

jimswside wrote:Supreme typically has the monster legs, worth the $14.99/lb.

This was the case yesterday. They were larger than the ones being offered at everyplace else I looked. The Costco legs were the best priced at $10.95/lb, but they weren't nearly as large and satisfying looking as the ones I bought at Supreme.

stevez wrote:

jimswside wrote:Supreme typically has the monster legs, worth the $14.99/lb.

This was the case yesterday. They were larger than the ones being offered at everyplace else I looked. The Costco legs were the best priced at $10.95/lb, but they weren't nearly as large and satisfying looking as the ones I bought at Supreme.

Sounds like a good haul Steve, I have had good luck wih crab legs and other seafood @ Costco back when I had a membership, but Supreme typically had the best around imho.

I am hoping to get my shelfish(blue crabs, live dungeness, or live lobster), and clams @ Super H Mart Naperville tomorrow, if not Ill be heading up to Supreme to get a few things.

I was at Super H Mart today in Niles and they had King Crab legs @ $7.99 a pound. We picked up 2 nice-sized 3-legged segments and 4 legs with large claws.

G Wiv wrote:Also stopped at Schweppe, a restaurant supply store with an amazing array of items on offer, everything from 8-burner stoves to teaspoons and all in between. Put me in mind of the old Don outlet on Elston, though Schweppe is 5-times as large.
Schweppe Inc

376 W North Av
Lombard, IL 60148
630-812-0148
http://www.schweppeinc.com/

This cannot be overstated. I've never been to Edward Don (referenced above), but Schweppe is the best (only true?) restaurant supply store I've found in the area. Nothing else is close.

Back to your regularly scheduled discussion of crab.

just a heads up for those last minute shoppers like myself. Supreme is open til 4:00 this afternoon(their website say 5:00 but I just called & was told 4:00). Also there is a 10% off coupon for purchases over $50 on their website.


http://www.supremelobster.com

It looks like fresh king crab is available again. Dirks had some last week for 38 dollars a lb. He is getting some more in this week at the 38 dollar price point, but anymore he is getting after this week is going to be a whooping 45 dollars a lb!

I also got an email that Bob Chinn's is serving fresh king as well, but not sure how much they are charging. Anyone know an economical place to purchase fresh, never frozen king crab? I'm willing to pay a premium for king, but just not sure of 2-3x the market price.

Anyone know of any reasonablly priced seafood purveyors in Lake County, Illinois that sell to the public at wholesale or retail if the prices are better than most? Looking for jumbo King Crabs legs for the Holidays. Sometimes Dominck's in Gurnee has decent kings but their supply and prices are hit and miss. How do you plan a great meal like that? Plus, do you ever really know how long that stuff has been frozen? Ever chow down on some "Jurrasic Rex Crab legs"? OMG, what a treat that is with the family and friends at the table at $20-27 bucks a pop per pound!

Why do we put up with this! Shouldn't we all rise up and demand quality at a fair price? Where's Sara Palin when you really need some fresh seafood, I'll tell you!, SHE"S EATINGF IT IN HER BACK YARD, you "JACKWAGON"S!

I'm mad as hell and I'm just not going to take it any longer. I will take 5-6 pounds of quaklity king crab legs for about $10-$12 a pound though, got any a dem?

Shouldn't seafood be required and regulated to be sold frozen by a certain date, especially seafood? Their supposed to do it on meat! And you still see places that play games with that too. Who can you trust these for quality, resonablly priced seafood? I know, a good resturant, WHY? Why can't the buyers at local places get the same deal, or better than resturants? They surely sell tons more of the garbage they do get for us!

Or does I got to make that drive to Supreme Lobster? Ober by dare in Emlhurst/Lombard!

Is anyone out there? " Moe, Larry", Cheese! HELP!

Check Costco. They usually have them on weekends especialy around the holidays.

I spotted king crab at H-Mart in Niles at $9.99/lb last Friday. This was frozen flats of about 1.5 lbs ea. They may have the boxes available on request.

Fresh King Crab season again! Although this year, the quota for red King Crab being caught this year has been cut in half...which means higher prices all around

It looks like Dirk's has some on sale for 60 dollars a lb. Anyone know of anyplace cheaper?

Be aware that King Crab comes in different sizes. The stuff usually at the lowest price point is the smallest legs. Larger legs can be procured sawed in half. These are cooked and frozen but are of excellent quality from a reputable purveyor. From time to time Mitsuwa has whole King Crab from Hokkaido, medium size, cooked and frozen but pricy!
I have in the past purchased whole live King Crab in Chinatown. Bring cash and lots of it because they don't take Credit/Debit! A large cooler and ice is also required until you get the thing home and into a large pot! This is the best way to have King Crab!
Picked King Crab generally trades at around $60/# these days and is my least preferred form. Mitsuwa does use it in rolls made during special events, their regular rolls have Surimi. -Dick

Budrichard,
What time of year can you get the live King Crab in Chinatown?

Elfin wrote:Budrichard,
What time of year can you get the live King Crab in Chinatown?

Sometimes during the winter months, it's really hit or miss. The place is on Wentworth and has large tanks. You just have to keep looking when in Chinatown. China Market does not have them but it does have other nice crabs and BIG lobsters hidden away and you have to ask for them.-Dick

This guy has some efficient methods for eating crab: