When ordering stone crab claws for your next dinner party, it's important to know how many to buy. Stone crab claws are sold by the pound, and you will want to make sure you purchase enough for everyone to leave satisfied, but not too many that you have a lot left over. Let's look at how many stone crab claws you should buy per person, so you can be certain that you're prepared to feed everyone at the table without overspending on excess stone crabs.
Stone Crab Sizes
Stone crab claws come in various sizes, including medium, large, jumbo, and colossal. Each size is sold by the pound at a different price point, and typically, the larger the stone crabs, the more you pay per pound. Here is a breakdown of how many stone crab claws, on average, you can expect to get per pound.
- Medium: 6 to 7 stone crabs
- Large: 4 to 5 stone crabs
- Jumbo: about three stone crabs
- Colossal: 1 stone crab
How To Estimate the Number of Stone Crab Claws You Need. How Many Should Crabs Per Person?
To estimate the number of stone crab claws you need per person. It is important to know how many stone crabs are in a pound. Around two and a half pounds of stone crab claws produce around one pound of meat. Plan on serving each guest at least one pound of meat each, but some stone crab enthusiasts may be able to eat as many as three pounds of crab meat, so it is best to be prepared.
At Billy's Stone Crab, we have fish houses in Marathon, Florida, and Summerland Key. Our 40 boats are sent out daily to catch and supply our fish houses with stone crabs and other seafood. That way, we can control every seafood item from catch to final sale, ensuring that our seafood is high quality and fresh. These seafood delights can be purchased at our online store or beautifully plated in our restaurant.
Stone Crab FAQs
So, now you know how many stone crab claws to buy per person, but you still have questions. We're self-proclaimed experts on these luxuriously delicious crustaceans, and we're happy to answer them all.
When is Stone Crab Season?
Stone crab season in Florida is from October to May every year. They can only legally be harvested from October 15th to May 1st. Fishers who want to harvest stone crabs must first register with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.
What to Serve with Stone Crab
Stone crab is typically served cold and should be allowed to shine on its own — perhaps with a nice mustard sauce. Don't overthink the sides. Serve your stone crab with a crisp salad, warm, crusty bread, or roasted potatoes. Pair your meal with a nice bottle of champagne or wine, and finish it with one of Billy's Stone Crab's Key Lime Pies.
When setting the table, don't forget to provide each guest with a pair of crab crackers, an empty bowl for the shells, and some heavy-duty napkins for cleaning up.
How to Cook Stone Crab Claws
Don't cook them! Stone crabs are steamed soon after they're harvested, so you don't have to cook them unless you have harvested the claws from the ocean yourself. Stone crabs are best served cold, so all you need to do is pre-crack them a few hours before dinner begins.
To pre-crack them, use a pair of lobster or crab crackers or a mallet to crack the shells. Alternatively, you can also use the back of a knife to hit each shell carefully. Try to crack about 75% of the way through the shell and return your stone claw crabs to the refrigerator. That way, the excess water can drain off, leaving less mess when it's time to eat.
Billy's Stone Crab for the Freshest Seafood in Southern Florida!
Knowing how many stone crab claws to purchase per person is important — especially if you're trying to avoid leftovers. At Billy's Stone Crab, we sell stone crab claws and other seafood like grouper filets, lobster, snapper filets, mahi filets, oysters, clams, and steaks. Shop online to order seafood for your next celebratory dinner or family meal.
At Billy's Stone Crab Restaurant, we offer the best stone crab in Florida, served in a laid-back atmosphere with friendly service and delicious co*cktails. Please make a reservation today and contact us with any questions! We look forward to seeing you at Billy's Stone Crab Restaurant.
FAQs
How many stone crab claws per person can vary. Generally, one claw per person is a good rule. If you order them for a party, you may want to order 2 or 3 pounds per person; if you're having an appetizer, count 2/3 of a pound of claws per person.
How many stone crabs per person? ›
An average individual can eat about 1 pound. However, if you have a crab lover at the dinner table, they might easily be able to put away at least 2 lbs-3 lbs. It's a fact and this is something you need to keep in mind when you're serving stone crabs.
How many crabs can one person eat? ›
Most people can eat 4–6 crabs.
How many stone crab claws in 1 lb? ›
So, to answer the question of how many stone crab claws in a pound (lb) they can vary from two to four depending on the size of the claws. Small claws usually come out to four or more per pound, while larger claws may only be two or three stone crab claws per pound.
Are stone crabs good for you? ›
Source of Protein
People have stone crab claws delivered for their meat, and just like most other meats, they provide a great amount of protein. This nutrient is very useful for your health, as it helps the body repair its cells. Without a good amount of protein, the human body cannot function.
How many stone crabs do I need for 2 people? ›
Medium Stone Crab
For the “medium”, for a serving size of two, you get 6-7 claws to the order (per person), and they feature plenty of meat for almost anyone. This is a great option for an appetizer.
How much crab is enough for 1 person? ›
How Many Per Person ??? As a rule of thumb, if you have crab lovers we recommend about 1 1/2 pounds per person. If you have some big eaters you might want to go with 2 pounds per person.
How many pounds of stone crabs do I need for 4 people? ›
As a rule of your serving thumb, you should plan about 1lb per person as an appetizer for all claw sizes… Remember the larger the size, the smaller the amount of claws…but the more meat which is why you should reserve collosals for dinner meals and order about 1 1/2 lbs per person for all sizes…
Is it OK to eat a lot of crab? ›
Just like most other foods, eating too much crab can have some negative side effects. Some of the nutrients found in crab—such as copper and zinc—can be harmful if you consume excessive amounts. But side effects rarely occur, and unless you have a seafood allergy, crab is a very healthy food to eat in moderation.
What size stone crabs are the tastiest? ›
So what size stone crab claws are the best? Well, if you happen to a big eater, and are willing to be adventurous, then Mega Colossal seems to be the best stone crab size. They obviously pack the most meat and will for sure appease your craving and hunger for a quality seafood meal.
Catching stone crabs is a labor-intensive process. Harvesting the crabs requires skilled fishermen to set and retrieve traps, then carefully remove the claws without harming the crab. This process is time-consuming, and the cost of labor is factored into the final price of the crab claws.
What do you eat stone crabs with? ›
Dipping Delights
While homemade mustard sauce is a classic choice, don't hesitate to explore other dipping options. Consider pairing your stone crab claws with melted butter, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, or a zesty lemon juice-based dip. These accompaniments can elevate the flavors and add variety to your meal.
Are stone crab claws worth it? ›
The short answer is: delicious! While stone crabs are not the only crabs available on the market, they are versatile, meaty, and tasty to many consumers. Stone crabs are crustaceans, meaning they contain no cartilage or bones. The flesh and the claws are really where their sweetness comes from.
Why can't you keep a whole stone crab? ›
The stone crab's ability to regenerate lost limbs makes it possible to harvest the meaty claws without killing the crab. Florida law forbids the harvesting of whole stone crabs. Instead, fishermen remove one or both claws and return the live crab to the water, where it can regenerate its lost limbs in about 18 months.
How many pounds of stone crabs per person? ›
Plan on serving each guest at least one pound of meat each, but some stone crab enthusiasts may be able to eat as many as three pounds of crab meat, so it is best to be prepared. At Billy's Stone Crab, we have fish houses in Marathon, Florida, and Summerland Key.
How many crabs do I need for 4 adults? ›
Make sure you have enough crab legs
One pound per person should suffice if you have guests with mild appetites and you serving sides with your crab legs. If you don't plan on serving sides (hint: you should, but more on that next), then you may want to order as many as two pounds per person.
How many crabs should I get for 4 people? ›
If you are serving other food, we recommend about a 1/2 dozen crabs per person. A bushel of large crabs will feed 8-10 people.
How many crabs do I need for 8 adults? ›
Depending on how experienced, hungry and other food being served, we normally say plan for 6-8 crabs per person on average and more for heavy eaters.
