How to Get Stone Crab Claws

There are only three species of stone crab, which are harvested in Florida. Unlike other types of crab, only stone crab claws can be taken from the animal, which is then returned to the ocean to regrow its claws. If you are looking for stone crab claws, you will only find fully cooked, fresh or frozen claws, because the claws are cooked as soon as they are harvested.

Things You'll Need

• Local seafood store
• Internet

Instructions

1. Look for stone crab claws at your local seafood provider. This could be the seafood counter at your grocery store, or it might be a specialty shop. Ask the merchant for stone crab claws.

2. Choose stone crab claws that are at least 2 3/4 inches in length. Plan to purchase three claws per person.

3. Look on the Internet if you cannot find fresh or frozen stone crab claws locally. There are several outlets that sell stone crab claws, and these can easily be found with a simple search on the Internet.

4. Look for stone crab claws from an Internet store with high traffic and a real-world address. When purchasing seafood online, you should also factor in the additional costs of shipping and handling and plan accordingly.

5. Prepare space in your freezer for the stone crab claws to keep them for up to 6 months if you will not be using them immediately. Fresh crab claws need to be eaten within 3 to 4 days of purchase.

References

• Food Reference - Florida Stone Crab
• FL Stone Crab Brochure: Dept. of Agriculture