How Much Crab Should I Order ?
Never worry about under-ordering your seafood again!
We know a thing or two about hosting a festive crab feast and, thanks to our many years of experience (35 years+), we’ve mapped out serving suggestions for any size group, large or small. From whole blue crabs to crab legs, we’ve provided our serving size suggestions to help you party plan or, simply, to help manage weekly meal prep.
Maryland Blue Crabs
Blue crabs, and their respective serving sizes, rank top on our FAQ list… How many blue crabs should I order?… When shopping for these crave-worthy crustaceans, your first order of business is to decide on the size of the crab you wish to feature at your fête. Here at Cameron’s, we offer 3 crab sizes; colossal, large, and standard.
Colossal Jumbo Crabs – As their name suggests, theses are some big crabs! Our colossals are the largest blue crabs on offer, averaging 6 1/4+ inches (from tip to tip on the top shell) in size. If you’re hosting a more intimate gathering, or a very special occasion with a few guests (less than 12), these are the blue crabs we recommend. We average 3-4 colossal blue crabs per person, if you plan on serving additional menu items or heavy appetizers. Or, 5-6 colossals per person if crabs are the only main item on the menu.
Premium Large Crabs – These tasty blue crabs are just slightly smaller than the colossals, averaging 5 1/2-inches to 6 1/4-inches (from tip to tip). These are our go-to party crabs. Impressive in size and an excellent option for a group of about 12-24 people. Average about 4-6 large premium crabs per person. Lean towards the ‘4 crabs’ per person serving size if there are other munchies on the menu, increase that to the 5-6 per person allotment if crabs will be the featured fare.
Standard Crabs – These small to medium crabs are our favorites when hosting a big bash (24+ people). Ranging in size from 5-inches to 5 1/2 inches, these small (but mighty) blue crabs are still mega meaty and we recommend averaging 6 crabs per person, with additional menu items, and about 8 crabs per person without additional menu items.
A note on kiddos and blue crabs… We find that those novice to the blue crab picking experience are still eager to join in. If you have a few party guests, under the age of 10, average about 1-2 crabs per kiddo. Novice preteens or teenagers, average about 2-4. If you happen to have experienced crab pickers amongst the younger ranks of your guest list, treat their serving sizes as you would an adult, just edge toward the lower end of the range (i.e. we recommend 4-6 crabs per adult, average 4 crabs for the experienced young person).
Soft Shell Crabs
Soft shell crabs are a delightful treat for any party. If you plan on serving softies as the main dish, average 2 soft shell crabs per person. If soft shell crabs are going to be served as an appetizer, plan on 1 soft shell crab per person. As a bonus, Cameron’s soft shell crabs come raw, pre-cleaned, and un-breaded, all ready to cook (with some preparations instructions if you would like some inspiration).
Snow Crab Legs
Unlike our whole blue crabs, crab legs present a different configuration for party planning. Snow crab legs come in clusters and are sold by the pound/lb, this weight also includes the shell. Individual snow crab clusters range in weight from 3/4lb.(12oz) -1lb. We like to average 1 1/2lbs of snow crabs per person. With this in mind, we package our crab legs in 3lb portions, perfect for 2 people. Planning a dinner party for 4? Order 6lbs. Planning a party for 6-8 people? Order 9lbs-12lbs, etc…
Colossal King Crab Legs
These humungous Alaskan king crab legs are a stunning option for your party. King crab legs, like snow crab legs are served by the pound/lb. Unlike snow crabs, king crab legs are portioned by ‘the leg’ (yes, they are that big!). We average about 2 legs per person, which come out to about 1 1/2lbs per serving. We package our king crab legs in 3lb increments, ideal for 2 people, and increasing from there. 6lbs of king crab legs for 4, 9lbs for 6, 12lbs for 8, etc… We know 1 1/2 lbs. per person may sound like a lot of food, just remember that some of that weight includes the shell as well.
Dungeness Crab Legs
Dungeness crabs are another delicious option for a crab-themed event. Dungeness crabs have a slightly sweeter flavor than snow or king crab legs and tend to be smaller (we like to say ‘more easily managed’) than the larger clusters and legs of our other crabs on offer. Clusters of Dungeness crabs legs range in weight from 1/2lb (8oz) to 3/4lb (12oz), and we suggest averaging 2-3 cluster per person, approximately (like our other crab legs) 1 1/2lbs. These clusters are packaged in increments of 3lbs. 3lbs of Dungeness crab legs are perfect for 2 people, and increasing from there. 6lbs of crab legs for 4, 9lbs for 6, 12lbs for 8, etc…
Have Crabby Leftovers? Here are some of our favorite recipes…
If you happen to have leftover blue crabs, soft shell crabs, or crab legs -fear not! We have oodles of recipes available on our blog, making good use of those few remaining crabbies. Here are just a smattering of our favorite recipes when we find ourselves with a little bit of excess.
Grilled Blue Crabs with Garlicky Mop
Crab Broth & Spicy Crab and Noodle Soup
Need to Feed a Crowd?
Choose Cameron’s Seafood for your bulk orders! All of our blue crabs, soft shell crabs, and crab legs are carefully packed the same day your order ships. Delivered right to your door, fast & fresh, so you can spend less time shopping and more time party planning and celebrating. It doesn’t get much more convenient than that! Stop by our online store to check out more!
About the author
Patterson Watkins is a professional chef with over 17 years of experience. With a robust career in restaurants, contract dining and catering (including 4 Summer Olympic posts preparing food for the athletes!) Patterson joined the Cameron’s Seafood team at the end of 2018 to concoct some delicious recipes with our premium seafood items as the centerpiece.
