National Crab Meat Day – Mar. 9, 2027

National Crab Meat Day
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Every March 9
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National Crab Meat Day arrives every March 9, inviting seafood lovers to indulge in the sweet, delicate flavor of crab. From rich crab cakes to spicy boils, there are countless ways to enjoy this versatile ingredient. Gather your friends, explore new recipes, and make it a crab-tastic celebration!

Want to sponsor National Crab Meat Day? Learn how

Expected National Crab Meat Day Deals

While we await official 2027 promotions, history shows that National Crab Meat Day often brings delightful deals from seafood restaurants and grocery stores. Look for special offers on crab legs, crab cakes, and crab dip at chains like Red Lobster, Joe’s Crab Shack, and Legal Sea Foods. Grocery retailers such as Whole Foods Market, Kroger, and Publix may feature discounts on fresh or frozen crab meat, as well as imitation crab products. Specialty seafood markets might also offer promotions on premium lump crab. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as March 9 approaches.

Platform Guide for National Crab Meat Day

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalCrabMeatDay. Share mouth-watering photos of your crab dishes, from crab boils to creamy dips.

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalCrabMeatDay. Film a quick recipe tutorial for a crab dish or showcase your favorite crab-eating hack.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalCrabMeatDay. Share your family’s favorite crab recipes or local seafood restaurant recommendations.

Social Media Tips for National Crab Meat Day

Individuals

Treat yourself to a crab feast at home or visit your favorite seafood restaurant. Experiment with a new crab recipe, like a Maryland crab soup or a simple crab salad.

Creators

Create engaging content around unique crab recipes, sustainable sourcing tips, or a 'crab tasting' video comparing different types of crab meat.

Brands

Seafood restaurants can offer limited-time crab specials. Grocery stores can promote discounts on crab meat. Food brands can share recipe ideas using their products.

Top Brands for National Crab Meat Day

  1. Red Lobster

    Founded in 1968 in Lakeland, Florida, Red Lobster is one of America's most popular casual dining seafood restaurant chains. They are known for their Cheddar Bay Biscuits and a wide array of crab dishes, including crab legs and crab linguini.

  2. Joe's Crab Shack

    Established in Houston, Texas, in 1991, Joe's Crab Shack is a chain of casual seafood restaurants. They are famous for their festive, beach-themed atmosphere and their signature crab buckets, offering various types of crab in flavorful seasonings.

  3. Legal Sea Foods

    Originating in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1950, Legal Sea Foods began as a fish market and grew into a renowned restaurant chain. They are celebrated for their commitment to fresh, high-quality seafood, including premium crab meat served in many forms.

  4. Phillips Foods

    A family-owned company founded in 1914 in Maryland, Phillips Foods is a leading producer of crab meat and seafood products. They are particularly known for their pasteurized crab meat, crab cakes, and frozen seafood appetizers, available in grocery stores nationwide.

  5. King & Prince Seafood

    With a history dating back to 1924, King & Prince Seafood is a major supplier of high-quality seafood to the foodservice industry. They offer a diverse range of shrimp, fish, and crab products, including crab cakes and crab blends.

  6. Trader Joe's

    Founded in 1967 in Pasadena, California, Trader Joe's is a popular grocery chain known for its unique and affordable food products. They often carry a selection of fresh and frozen crab meat, as well as crab-based appetizers and specialty items.

  7. Blue Apron

    Launched in 2012, Blue Apron is a meal kit delivery service that provides fresh ingredients and recipes directly to customers' homes. They occasionally feature crab-centric recipes in their weekly menus, allowing home cooks to easily prepare gourmet seafood dishes.

National Crab Meat Day Hero

Clarence Birdseye

Clarence Birdseye (1886-1956) was an American inventor, entrepreneur, and naturalist who is considered the founder of the modern frozen food industry. His innovations in flash-freezing technology revolutionized how seafood, including crab, could be preserved and distributed globally, making it accessible to a wider audience year-round.

History of National Crab Meat Day

National Crab Meat Day pays homage to the deliciousness of crab meat and its popularity across the country. People across the world love seafood especially crabs. People, on the other hand, appear to be more concerned with the flavor of crabs and how delicious they are rather than the health benefits they give. Crabs, according to the study, are abundant in protein and contain high quantities of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B12, and selenium. Omega-3 and protein supplements are in high demand around the world because they play such an important part in keeping people healthy and fit. But the truth is that none of these supplements can compare to the real nutrition you’ll get from eating a crab.

Crabs are crustaceans found in all the oceans of the world. They are covered with a hard shell, known as an exoskeleton, and usually have two claws known as pincers. One of these pincers is usually larger than the other. The claws also have meat and are one of the most flavorful and meatiest parts of the crab. 

Crabs were first consumed in ancient Rome by persons who lived near the sea or frequently went by sea. These individuals introduced the dishes to Britain and the trend of consuming lobster, crab, shellfish, etc. began to spread. In the mid-fifteenth century, crabs were boiled and eaten cold with vinegar. But it wasn’t until  Victorian times that different dressings for crabs were created by cooks. Archeologists have also discovered that blue crabs were a vital source of food for Native Americans, Euro-American colonists, and African Americans. Crab remnants dating back to the 17th century were unearthed in Maryland, revealing this.

Some species of soft-shell crabs are eaten whole, including the shell, while with others only the legs and claws are edible. The roe or crab eggs are also a delicacy across the world, particularly in Southeast Asia. In America, Chesapeake Bay is the area where crab roe is primarily consumed. 

Crab meat is known for its delicate, sweet flavor. So while there are recipes, particularly in Asia, where the meat is used in recipes that use a lot of spice, most American recipes for crab rely on the flavor of the meat itself. Alaskan crab, for instance, is cooked by boiling it with garlic and butter and not much else. 

Crab is also a popular ingredient in American sushi, but because of the expense, most restaurants prefer to use imitation crab rather than actual crab since the flavor isn’t central to the experience in these recipes. When it comes to fishing and fisheries, crabs account for 20% of all the crustaceans caught, farmed, or consumed. They are eaten all over the world in many different preparations, recipes, and methods.

Crabs are so popular amongst health experts because they can help reduce blood clotting, prevent anemia by producing red blood cells, and most importantly, the delicacy can decrease the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Of course, the benefits of crab were not so well-known till much later. In fact, crabs took a while to reach the U.S. food market.

 

National Crab Meat Day timeline

1891
The Creation

Thomas J. Murrey's book ”Cookery with a Chafing Dish” mentions a crab cake recipe.

1910
Singing Along

A 1910 poem, named “Summertown,” appreciates crab cakes.

1930s
Crab Fisheries Develop in Alaska

Japanese fishermen develop crab fisheries in Alaska and start bringing in small catches.

1939
Cooking It Up

Crosby Gaige makes the term popular in the New York World’s Fair Cookbook.

1950s
Crab Fisheries Become More Established

Having started in Alaska, the fisheries are now monitored and the catches are recorded in a more formal way.

1980s
A Decline in Crab Fisheries

Over time, the catches slow down, crab populations decline, and fisheries begin to shut down.

2000s
Crab Populations Recover

Although the populations can never go back to the same levels, crab populations in Alaska recover enough to allow for small fisheries.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Crab Meat Day

Local seafood restaurants and markets can celebrate National Crab Meat Day by offering special discounts on crab dishes, featuring a ‘crab of the day,’ or hosting a crab-themed tasting menu. Grocery stores can create eye-catching displays of fresh and frozen crab meat, alongside recipe cards and pairing suggestions. Cooking schools might offer workshops on preparing various crab dishes, from classic crab cakes to innovative crab salads, encouraging community engagement and culinary exploration.

National Crab Meat Day FAQs

When is National Crab Meat Day?

In 2027, National Crab Meat Day is observed on Tuesday, March 9. This mid-week celebration offers another great opportunity to enjoy your favorite crab dishes.

How much crab meat is consumed annually in the US?

In 2027, the demand for crab meat in the U.S. is expected to remain robust, driven by its versatility and popularity in various cuisines. The industry continues to supply a steady stream of this beloved shellfish to tables nationwide.

What are the most popular types of crab meat?

Looking ahead to 2027, blue crab from the Chesapeake Bay, Alaskan king crab, and Pacific Dungeness crab are anticipated to remain top choices for consumers. These varieties are highly prized for their sweet, tender meat and culinary versatility.

Is imitation crab meat real crab?

By 2027, imitation crab will continue to serve as a popular, affordable alternative to real crab, especially in dishes like sushi rolls and seafood salads. While it offers a similar texture, its flavor profile is distinctly different from genuine crab meat.

National Crab Meat Day Activities

  1. Cook some crab cakes

    Nothing embodies America’s love for crab meat as much as crab cakes, so get your ingredients together and make some.

  2. Eat crab at a local seafood restaurant

    Head over to a seafood place known for their fresh catch and get yourself some delicious Alaskan crab served with the simplest ingredients.

  3. Go crab fishing

    Catching crabs in a pot is a time-honored way of fishing for them, so head over to Florida or Alaska and catch yourself some crabs.

5 Incredible Facts About Crabs

  1. There are different grades of crab meat

    In the U.S., the grades of crab meat depend on the size of the crab, and the location where the crab comes from.

  2. Imitation crab was invented by the Japanese

    Almost 800 years ago, the Japanese invented the technique of mincing fish, which is used to make imitation crab meat today.

  3. Crab exports are a big deal

    The total value of crab exports from America comes to over 250 million U.S. dollars.

  4. Some fisheries declaw crabs

    This controversial practice involves declawing crabs and putting them back in the water, and is justified because some species of crab can regrow their claws.

  5. Crab meat is very healthy

    Crab meat is low in fat and high in folate, niacin, and zinc, which are all necessary nutrients for the human body.

Why We Love National Crab Meat Day

  1. We love crab meat

    We love to eat crab meat because it is sweet and delicious. This day is a great excuse to eat all the crab we can.

  2. It talks about the importance of consuming crabs

    The day focuses on why crabs are so important to consume and the myriad health advantages they provide. Crabs are high in protein and have a high nutritional value.

  3. Introduces different crab specialties

    On this day, several crab specialties are brought to the forefront so that crab lovers have a variety of options.

National Crab Meat Day dates

Year Date Day
2027 March 9 Tuesday
2028 March 9 Thursday
2029 March 9 Friday
2030 March 9 Saturday
2031 March 9 Sunday