To choose crab that takes less effort to shell, it helps to look at three things: the form (pre-cut legs and claws, or portions of leg meat), the amount and servings guideline, and how to store and thaw it. If you can’t decide, pick the one of the 3 products below that is closest to what you need. The candidates come from the 4 single-product articles Ochinity has published, and what each product page states about contents, storage, thawing, and noshi (gift wrapping label) and packaging is rearranged onto the same yardsticks. However, these are products in a form that takes less effort to shell; they do not guarantee that there is no shell at all.
The overall guide “16 Recommended Crabs to Order Online — Choosing for Shabu-Shabu, Boiled, and Gifts” compares crab broadly by how you will eat it, including raw, boiled, shell-on legs, and hot pot sets. This article narrows the range to pre-cut crab, portions, and leg meat, and lines up the differences by form, amounts, storage and thawing, and gift-giving. For shell-on legs, boiled crab, or hot pot sets, please see that guide.
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The order is not a ranking. Whether a commission is paid has no effect on how candidates were chosen or ordered.
If You Can’t Decide, Start with These 3
For a small group, pre-cut legs, claws, and shoulder meat
Masuyone Original Pre-Cut Raw Snow Crab 600g
★4.04 (3,154 reviews on Rakuten)Keep frozen600g (gross weight 800g)2–3 servings
The text in the image is a label the shop added to the photo.
A set of pre-cut legs, claws, claw bases, and shoulder meat, 600g in total (gross weight 800g). The product page states “2–3 servings.”
Good to know: Keep frozen (−18°C or below). The best-before date is stated as within 1 month frozen (within 1 week recommended) and the same day after thawing. A noshi option is shown, but if you order with Asu-raku (Rakuten’s next-day delivery), the noshi setting cannot be used.
For about 4 people: leg meat and claws in a gift box
Kouragumi Cut Raw Snow Crab 1kg (no shoulder meat)
★4.57 (1,700 reviews on Rakuten)Keep frozen1kg (gross weight 1.3kg)About 4 servings
The text in the image is a label the shop added to the photo.
Leg meat and claws without shoulder meat, 1kg (gross weight 1.3kg). The product description states “about 4 servings,” and a gift-only box and an instruction sheet on how to eat it are said to be included.
Good to know: The 1.3kg gross weight includes a film of ice; the crab itself is 1kg. It is stated as 2 years from the manufacturing date frozen, while use within 1 month is recommended in a home freezer; after thawing, keep it refrigerated and eat it the same day. The type of inscription on the noshi cannot be confirmed.
500g of portions in a gift box with an instruction sheet
Echizen Takaraya Raw Snow Crab Portions 500g
★4.39 (158 reviews on Rakuten)Keep frozen500g (about 12–17 pieces)Gift box included
The text in the image is a label the shop added to the photo.
500g of raw snow crab portions, about 12–17 pieces. The seller says thawing takes about 5 minutes with no knife needed, and an instruction sheet on how to eat it is included.
Good to know: Keep frozen (−18°C or below). The best-before date is 6 months frozen, and the same day if refrigerated. Because it has to be eaten the same day once thawed, check that the recipient can eat it right after it arrives. The gift field shows noshi support, wrapping, and message card options. The country of origin of the raw material is stated as Canada and Russia.
*The Amazon link goes to the same store’s item in different specifications (Amazon: a set of 500g raw portions plus a 500g whole boiled crab). The amount and contents in this article are based on the Rakuten Ichiba item. Please check the details on the Amazon product page before purchasing.
★ shows the rating and number of reviews in Rakuten’s customer reviews (as of each single-product article’s viewing date).
After thawingMost pre-cut crab and portions keep only a short time after thawing. Even products that keep for a long time frozen are stated to be eaten the same day once thawed. Count back from the day you will eat it and choose only the amount you need.
Quick Comparison
Shaded rows are the 3 products in “If You Can’t Decide, Start with These 3.” Ratings and review details are in the single-product article linked from each product name.
| Product | Amount / servings | What’s different |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-cut and portions (sets of parts or pieces) | ||
| Masuyone Original Pre-Cut Raw Snow Crab 600g | Total 600g, gross weight 800g (2–3 servings). Legs, claws, claw bases, and shoulder meat are pre-cut | Keep frozen. Frozen: within 1 month (within 1 week recommended); after thawing, the same day. Frozen delivery |
| Echizen Takaraya Raw Snow Crab Portions 500g | 500g (about 12–17 pieces). No number of servings is stated | Seller says thawing takes 5 minutes and no knife is needed. Frozen: 6 months; refrigerated: the same day. Gift box included, instruction sheet enclosed. Country of origin of the raw material: Canada and Russia |
| Kobe CRAB Raw Snow Crab Half Portions | Choose from 400g, 500g, 700g, or 700g without shoulder meat. No number of servings is stated | Keep frozen (−18°C or below). Frozen: about 3 months. Yamato Transport’s Cool TA-Q-BIN (frozen). Country of origin of the raw material: Russia, Canada, or the United States (“Kobe CRAB” is the shop name and does not indicate the origin) |
| Leg meat (no shoulder meat; mainly leg meat and claws) | ||
| Kouragumi Cut Raw Snow Crab 1kg (no shoulder meat) | 1kg (gross weight 1.3kg), about 4 servings. About 12 legs, about 4 claws, and about 4 claw bases; shoulder meat is not included | Gift box and an instruction sheet on how to eat it are enclosed. Frozen: 2 years from the manufacturing date (use within 1 month is recommended in a home freezer). Frozen delivery. A delivery date 4 or more days after ordering can be specified |
Information in the single-product articles as of: September 10 – October 2, 2026.
How to Choose Without Regrets
1. Look at the form: pre-cut with all the parts, or leg meat
Masuyone Original Pre-Cut Raw Snow Crab 600g is pre-cut into legs, claws, claw bases, and shoulder meat, so it includes the parts across the board.Kouragumi Cut Raw Snow Crab 1kg (no shoulder meat) has no shoulder meat and is mainly leg meat and claws.Echizen Takaraya Raw Snow Crab Portions 500g is portions of about 12–17 pieces, and Kobe CRAB Raw Snow Crab Half Portions also lets you choose 700g without shoulder meat on the purchase screen. All of these are forms that take less effort to shell, but they do not necessarily have no shell at all. The country of origin of the raw material is stated as Canada and Russia for Echizen Takaraya, and Russia, Canada, or the United States for Kobe CRAB (“Kobe CRAB” is the shop name and does not indicate the origin).Source: the “contents” and “country of origin” rows of each single-product article and the product images
2. Look at the amount and servings guideline
A servings guideline is written on the product page for Masuyone Original Pre-Cut Raw Snow Crab 600g (2–3 servings for 600g) and Kouragumi Cut Raw Snow Crab 1kg (no shoulder meat) (about 4 servings for 1kg) (as of each single-product article’s viewing date). Echizen Takaraya Raw Snow Crab Portions 500g and Kobe CRAB Raw Snow Crab Half Portions have no servings guideline stated. Also note that the gross weight and the weight of the crab itself (net weight) differ. Masuyone Original Pre-Cut Raw Snow Crab 600g is 600g in total with a gross weight of 800g, and Kouragumi Cut Raw Snow Crab 1kg (no shoulder meat) is 1kg with a gross weight of 1.3kg (including a film of ice). For how many servings, go by the net weight.Source: the “contents” row of each single-product article
3. Look at how to store and thaw it
- Masuyone Original Pre-Cut Raw Snow Crab 600g: Keep frozen (−18°C or below). Frozen: within 1 month (within 1 week recommended); after thawing, the same day
- Echizen Takaraya Raw Snow Crab Portions 500g: Keep frozen (−18°C or below). Frozen: 6 months; refrigerated: the same day. Thawing takes 5 minutes according to the seller
- Kobe CRAB Raw Snow Crab Half Portions: Store at −18°C or below. Frozen: about 3 months. The product page warns that storing it at room temperature or in a refrigerator can cause the surface to discolor (“black discoloration”)
- Kouragumi Cut Raw Snow Crab 1kg (no shoulder meat): Frozen at −18°C or below: 2 years from the manufacturing date. Use within 1 month is recommended in a home freezer; after thawing, refrigerated, the same day. The product description says to thaw it under running water just before eating
How long it keeps frozen and how long it keeps after thawing are separate things. Since many products keep only a short time after thawing, choosing an amount that matches the number of people eating helps avoid waste. Whether cooking is needed and how to eat it differ by product, so check the “basic information” of each single-product article and the seller’s instructions.Source: the “storage method,” “best-before date,” and “thawing” rows of each single-product article
4. For gifts, check the noshi, the box, and delivery
Kouragumi Cut Raw Snow Crab 1kg (no shoulder meat) comes with a gift-only box and an instruction sheet on how to eat it, and a noshi option is shown, but the type of inscription cannot be confirmed.Echizen Takaraya Raw Snow Crab Portions 500g comes in a gift box, and the gift field shows noshi support, wrapping, and message card options.Masuyone Original Pre-Cut Raw Snow Crab 600g shows a noshi option, but if you order with Asu-raku next-day delivery, the noshi setting cannot be used.Kobe CRAB Raw Snow Crab Half Portions shows only a noshi option; the inscription and the gift box could not be confirmed. Before ordering, check when the recipient can receive it and whether their freezer has room, which helps avoid mix-ups. Masuyone Original Pre-Cut Raw Snow Crab 600g, Kouragumi Cut Raw Snow Crab 1kg (no shoulder meat), and Kobe CRAB Raw Snow Crab Half Portions are stated to arrive by frozen delivery. Allergen labeling is not included in this article’s table. Crab is a specified raw material that must be declared under Japan’s Food Labeling Act, so after reading each single-product article, please check with the seller before purchase or check the label on the delivered product without fail. Reference: Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan, “About Allergen Labeling” (viewed October 15, 2026). Prices and shipping fees change by product and season, so this article does not list amounts. Check the final total on the purchase screen.
FAQ
- What kinds of products take less effort to shell?
- This article covers portions with the legs and claws pre-cut (Masuyone Original Pre-Cut Raw Snow Crab 600g, Echizen Takaraya Raw Snow Crab Portions 500g, and Kobe CRAB Raw Snow Crab Half Portions) and a product centered on leg meat (Kouragumi Cut Raw Snow Crab 1kg (no shoulder meat)). However, they do not necessarily have no shell at all.
- How many servings should I buy?
- A servings guideline is on the product page for Masuyone Original Pre-Cut Raw Snow Crab 600g (2–3 servings for 600g) and Kouragumi Cut Raw Snow Crab 1kg (no shoulder meat) (about 4 servings for 1kg). The other 2 products state no servings guideline, so use the net weight as a guide.
- How long does it keep after thawing?
- Masuyone Original Pre-Cut Raw Snow Crab 600g, Echizen Takaraya Raw Snow Crab Portions 500g, and Kouragumi Cut Raw Snow Crab 1kg (no shoulder meat) are stated to be eaten the same day after thawing (refrigerated). Kobe CRAB Raw Snow Crab Half Portions does not state a period after thawing on its product page, so please check the single-product article.
- Which ones can have a noshi or a gift box?
- A gift box is mentioned for Kouragumi Cut Raw Snow Crab 1kg (no shoulder meat) and Echizen Takaraya Raw Snow Crab Portions 500g. A noshi option is shown for Masuyone Original Pre-Cut Raw Snow Crab 600g, Kouragumi Cut Raw Snow Crab 1kg (no shoulder meat), Echizen Takaraya Raw Snow Crab Portions 500g, and Kobe CRAB Raw Snow Crab Half Portions, but what could be confirmed about the type of inscription and the packaging differs by product.
- What if I also want to compare shell-on legs, boiled crab, and hot pot sets?
- There is a guide that compares 16 products by how you will eat them, from raw and boiled to shell-on legs and hot pot sets: 16 Recommended Crabs to Order Online — Choosing for Shabu-Shabu, Boiled, and Gifts.
Summary: Which One Fits You?
About 4 people, with leg meat and claws in a gift box
Kouragumi Cut Raw Snow Crab 1kg (no shoulder meat)
View This Product500g of portions, in a gift box with an instruction sheet
Echizen Takaraya Raw Snow Crab Portions 500g
View This Product*The Amazon link goes to the same store’s item in different specifications (Amazon: a set of 500g raw portions plus a 500g whole boiled crab). The amount and contents in this article are based on the Rakuten Ichiba item. Please check the details on the Amazon product page before purchasing.
Country of origin of the raw material: Canada and Russia (Echizen Takaraya)
Prices and stock change. Please check the latest price at each button’s link.
What We Checked and What We Could Not Confirm
- What we checked: all 4 products have published single-product articles, and we transcribed what each article states about contents, storage, thawing, and noshi and packaging (prices and shipping fees are not listed).
- What we could not confirm: the number of servings for Takaraya and Kobe CRAB, the noshi inscription and gift box for Kobe CRAB, how long Kobe CRAB keeps after thawing, and the breakdown of each product as delivered and how much shell remains.
- Prices, stock, shipping fees, and noshi options change, so please check each shop before buying.
This article organizes information published on various retail sites and the contents of the single-product articles published on Ochinity. Product details such as contents, storage method, ingredients, and shipping fees are subject to change. Please check the seller’s listing for the latest information.
The order does not indicate any ranking. This article contains affiliate links (advertising). Our approach to writing articles is described in our Editorial Policy.
Information as of: stated in each single-product article / Sources: 4 single-product articles on Ochinity, Rakuten Ichiba product pages, Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan, “About Allergen Labeling”
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