Wild Alaska Golden King Crab

The Alaska Golden King story begins in the far northern reaches of the Pacific Ocean. Here, on the steep and rocky underwater slopes of the Aleutian Islands, Golden King crab can be found at depths that can reach 2,000 feet below sea level. The great depths and remote location make Goldens difficult to catch but the effort does not go unrewarded as their wild and pristine habitat give Golden King crab both outstanding taste and unmatched sustainability.

Wildly Delicious

Named for their golden-colored shells, Golden King crab are often hailed as the best tasting variety of King crab. The unique combination of pressure from the great depth of their habitat combined with clean, pure feed results in a sweeter taste profile and lighter texture than that of its better-known cousin, Red King crab.

From the Ends of the Earth

Golden King crab comes from the Aleutian Trench, a deep-sea trench that runs along the coastline of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. This island chain of 40 active volcanoes forms a porous boundary between the North Pacific and the Bering Sea. The powerful currents of the Alaska Stream carry fresh water from the greater Pacific Ocean through the passes of the Aleutian Islands and into the Bering Sea. This regular infusion of swift-moving, nutrient-packed water means that Alaska Golden King crab enjoy the purest possible feed.

The World’s Most Sustainable King Crab

Close collaboration between fishermen, native groups, biologists, and state agencies ensures that the population of Alaska Golden King crab remain at a healthy and thriving level. A data-rich approach allows for continual review that provides protection from overfishing for years to come.

How to Prepare
Golden King Crab Legs

Alaska Golden King crab legs are pre-cooked and flash frozen to preserve their wild-caught taste.

Thawing Golden King Crab

If frozen, we recommend thawing Golden King crab legs in the refrigerator. Place legs on a rimmed tray, cover with plastic wrap, and allow to thaw 8–12 hours (or overnight) in the refrigerator.

We suggest using Golden King crab legs as soon as they have been defrosted but they may also be kept for a day or two in the refrigerator.

Ready to Eat!

Once thawed and rinsed, Golden King crab legs can be eaten cold from the refrigerator. Our Captains tell us this is their favorite way to eat Golden King crab!

Heating Golden King Crab

If you prefer to serve your crab warm, you need only gently reheat the thawed Golden King crab. Since the crab is already cooked, it is especially important to heat gently to avoid overcooking the crab meat. Grilling, steaming, and roasting are all good options but be sure to only heat for 2–4 minutes to avoid overcooking.

Serving King Crab

Use kitchen shears to cut open the underside of the crab legs (the white smooth part), cracking open the shell with your fingers. Pull out the crab meat, dip into melted butter and enjoy!

Preparing Alaska Golden King crab with Captain Anna

How-to-Prepare PDF

Meet the Crew

Catching the elusive Alaska Golden King Crab takes specialized expertise and only five fishing vessels in Alaska are equipped as Golden King crab boats. Visit F/V Patricia Lee for photos of the crew and dispatches from Captain Rip!