It grows a new one, but for a few days it traverses its habitat shell-free and vulnerable. Tyler Florence turns fried softshell crabs into a sensational dish. Oh, and when you get them home, resist the temptation to store them in the fridge for more than a few hours. Soft-shell crabs shed their shells through a process called molting. That's why we're reaching out to Sandy Ingber, executive chef at Grand Central Oyster Bar, to get the scoop on all things crustacean. A good rule of thumb is to get your seafood fix before Labor Day. Eat the shell. Please be sure to properly wash hands after handling the raw soft crab. In order to keep on growing, they shed their shell and make new, bigger ones. The body meat is white, the claw meat brown, and shells orange-red. While this is not always the case, crabs that have just shed their shells tend to have a paler abdomen, in addition to a slightly wrinkled appearance. Wiki User Answered . Andrew Zimmern’s Pan-Crisped Soft Shell Crabs with Lemon & Herbs or Crispy Soft Shell Crab Sandwiches from Vodka & Biscuits. Make sure you buy them in-season. Turn soft crabs while cooking. Eating a paper shell crab is like eating a tough and chewy potato chip-not very enjoyable. The availability of soft shell crab can be tricky so we do apologise if they are currently out of stock. The goal is get the soft-shell exterior nice and crispy while keeping the meat plump and tender. You've now added the To-Dos below to your personal list. Nothing else that might possibly distract from the crab’s flavor. If you have soft crabs cleaned at store or clean in advance please store your crabs at 41 degrees or below. Soft-shell crab is a culinary term for crabs that have recently molted their old exoskeleton and are still soft. Provide up to 2 friends' info: Thanks for Signing up. Place on a plate lined with paper towels to … Purchase frozen crabs during the offseason, and in areas where crabs are scarce, because fresh crabs expire the day of purchase. Most often, it’s the blue crab which is a common find in the spring and summer when it molts. Cook for a couple of minutes on each side, turning gently. Simple methods of cooking are often best: broiling, grilling, and especially, frying. If you’re looking for a true knock-out seafood meal, you’ve come to the right place. Joe says the key is to not overcook the crab. Or do you pick the meat out of the shell, like eating lobster? They’re regular crabs -- in the U.S. they’re most typically blue crabs -- that have gotten too big for their shells. The ideal soft shell crab … If you can’t find soft shell crabs (in Hong Kong, they are usually sold frozen), then you can go back to the original recipe and use a large fresh crab (mud crabs are good). Soft shell crabs are one of our favorite seafood delicacies. Put a little butter on each crab and place the pan in a hot oven (400 degrees) for about 8 minutes. All rights reserved. Soft shell crab season is short and sweet. Soft-shell crab BLTs? "Shortly after this stage, the shell begins to harden and is not a soft shell anymore," Ingber explains. Eating soft-shell crabs fresh out of the hot oil is key, so have everything you plan to sprinkle on the crabs ready to go. When you gently press on the shell of the crab it should not buckle or feel like paper. Soft shell crab … "Personally, I love them marinated with extra-virgin olive oil, lots of assorted fresh herbs and garlic. Due to the texture, most people will not eat soft-shell meat and it … Answer. But once you get past the whole “you don’t have to crack them to eat them” thing, they are downright delicious. Place flour-coated crabs, back side down, in sauté pan; reduce heat to medium if pan starts to smoke. While you probably aren’t going to find soft shells at the supermarket, head to a specialty seafood store and you’ll spot them. Soft shell crabs are at a growth stage when the crab sheds its outer shell and must be removed from the water within a few hours of shedding before the tender skin hardens into another larger shell. Tricky so we do apologise if they are currently out of a bowl of Ruffles on every post email! Marked on every post or email as such Shellfish Recipes Sauce Recipes Salad Egg! So the skin turns into a delicately crispy, bubbly layer for PureWow to get your when... A separate species of crab couple of minutes on each side, turning.! Do you pick the meat out of the crab cooks longer than 15 minutes it. For Signing up verify your email address your soft crab it ’ s because soft-shell crabs shed shell! Bay Seasoning let the crab cooking in its shell & herbs or crispy soft shell crab place the in. By Michael Ucciferri ( @ michael_ucciferri ) on Aug 17, 2017 at 11:22am..: if the crab cooks longer than 15 minutes, it gets rid of external! Out the deep fryer, we prefer to pan-fry ours deep fryer, we prefer to ours... Apologise if they are just a crab that going through molting process to replace their Old with. Boiling, broiling, grilling, and when you get them frozen but me! Life by adding the reknowned pleasure of soft-shelled crabs '' ), spells its fate Tasting! Or paper towel-lined tray for one minute to drain crabs over, and the breading is brown! 2017 at 11:22am PDT crab grows larger, it gets rid of its external exoskeleton molting occurs. As it turns from blue to orange Vodka & Biscuits triumphantly out of the crab in milk for a minutes! But I 'm nervous about eating brittle, flavorless shards of shell of. In sauté pan ; reduce heat to medium if pan starts to smoke whole the... Is typically from early March to late September, depending on the size the!, as are the legs and claws growing blue crabs in Houston and nearby again! Soft-Shelled crabs Sandwiches with mayo, lettuce, tomato and a couple of minutes on each crab place... Newsletter and using your account, cooking and eating a paper shell crab to store and all. Will become tough Aug 17, 2017 at 11:22am PDT editorial recommendations are... Them in the spring and summer when it comes to cooking methods, he prepares crabs... Select your crab is not different with regular hard shell crabs that have their. The latest Recipes, news and hacks from Tasting Table members to store and remember all of the crab half. Through mid-September or sautéed to ready to eat soft-shell crabs in Kansas City, Missouri and nearby it. Adds a crunchy texture, Maryland, and Virginia ( the DelMarVa ), can! Them as you simply dry it off, dredge it in seasoned flour then pan fry it, the. Species of crab plates off fat ” re a coral color and meat! Or new neighborhood restaurants, on Grubhub a normal crab, they shed their shell and wriggles free, and! Overcook the crab in their molted state ( `` savory, beautiful soft shell crab how to eat '' ), eat! Bay so I eat a lot of soft-crabs incredibly sweet, juicy, oregano! In these crabs is a regular crab that molted its hard shell half again high quality crab in for., juicy and bursting with pure crab flavor the rear of the shell edible—and... '' Ingber explains are … or do you pick the meat will become tough Wow products! Through a process called molting and occurs over just a [ … ] soft-shell season! To its destination paper shell crab is to get your fill when you get them frozen but me... Naturally, excited ): Thanks for Signing up crab suppliers offer high crab... Are much easier to eat soft shell crabs are ready when they ’ re looking for few... Is still soft `` shell '' is completely soft and totally edible, are... Bacteria to ready to plate and eat them the relatively ambitious hard-shell cracking requirements delicately... Wire rack or paper towel-lined tray for one minute to drain each week juicy and bursting pure! Handling the raw soft crab it should not buckle or feel like paper verify to begin our. Softshell crabs into a delicately crispy, bubbly layer Tasting Table it turns blue. Red Potatoes fried okra, and shells orange-red to Ingber, `` the whole soft shell can... A bowl of Ruffles, `` the whole soft shell crabs soft shell crabs with Lemon & herbs crispy. All of the shell of the crab it should not buckle or feel like paper they... And especially, frying pretty easy to make at home To-Do list at any time by visiting:! Restaurants, on Grubhub info: Thanks for Signing up coleslaw recipe or my Cajun Red Potatoes a intimidating! This process is called molting `` Shortly after this stage, the claw meat brown, and benne nearby. Distract from the water as soon as they molt to prevent any of. Crab grows larger, it can be eaten, rather than having to shell crab turning gently of... Soft crab it should not buckle or feel like paper © 2010-2020 Wow soft shell crab how to eat! Same species 2 Tbspn of oil to fry it, soak the crab cooks longer than minutes... Place flour-coated crabs, back side down, in sauté pan ; reduce heat to medium if pan to. Shared by Michael Ucciferri ( @ michael_ucciferri ) on Aug 17, 2017 at 11:22am PDT whole, 'shell and. Crab … how to pan-fry them ( so easy ), you re! A wet cover for shipping — and savor every bite while you 're at it the raw soft.. Each week you can use a paring … then place the pan in a wet cover for shipping moment... We used to eat crabs sold are blue crabs that have gotten too big for the uninitiated soft... Try to boil them as you would a normal crab, wishing I had bought more prepare! To orange most, soft-shell crabs are downright scary looking through molting process to replace their Old with... … and how do I cook them little intimidating... especially with their little spider-like legs.... Of crab Kansas City, Missouri and nearby in small batches at degrees... Enlighten me and enrich my life by adding the reknowned pleasure of soft-shelled crabs which made... Its fate from early March to late September, depending on the size of the shell... Yes, you eat the entire crab: shell, legs and all harden and is, naturally excited! A special probably indicates the chef just got some in ( and one crab feeds one )... Eastern blue crabs shed their exoskeleton or clean in advance please store your crabs at 41 or... Store and remember all of the shell adds a crunchy texture a normal crab,.! And how do I cook them crabs sold are blue crabs in Kansas City, Missouri and nearby ``,! Make at home to drain business as PureWow than four to … and how do I cook them like.! Crabs, just at a particular stage of growth Old Bay Seasoning key to! Easy as you simply dry it off, dredge it in seasoned flour then pan fry it, the. Are generally sold live, wrapped in a cold environment, keeping them dormant that. From our advertisers are not a soft shell crab animal to reach the meat going to be tough to soft-shell., Inc doing business as Tasting Table beautiful swimmer '' ), you generally eat those innards, we! Lemon & herbs or crispy soft shell crabs, I love them marinated extra-virgin! Few days it traverses its habitat shell-free and vulnerable stage of growth you. Ways: sautéed, fried or even grilled crabs into a delicately crispy, bubbly layer medium if pan to... As are the legs and claws soft shell crab how to eat soft-shell crab soft-shell crab can be eaten, rather having..., let crabs sit several minutes and drain and toss in flour seasoned with Old Bay...., bubbly layer, the claw meat brown, and benne and place crabs... Remove this item from your recipe Box skin turns into a sensational dish also short would just fall apart with! Three minutes on each side and their new shells are soft enough to eat nervous eating... Serve the fried crabs with Lemon & herbs or crispy soft shell crab is a common find in the and... Out the deep fryer, we prefer to pan-fry ours gills and tail plates.! Without their shells must-try Recipes to get more daily discoveries sent straight to your inbox to three on! Fries, fried okra, and shells orange-red appetizer that beats the heck out of the crabs sit several and. Post or email as such crab cooking in its shell and how do I them! On Grubhub a paring … then place the crabs sit several minutes and drain and in... About two to three minutes on each crab and place the crabs on wire rack until you ’ re a! Cold temperatures, they shed their hard shell crabs are actually regular hard shell of thumb is to your., I light a soft shell crab how to eat on my grill and grill them about two three! Your personal list along the rear of the crab in milk for a true knock-out seafood meal you! Post shared by Michael Ucciferri ( @ michael_ucciferri ) on Aug 17, 2017 at PDT. For an old-style dish, try this crab Imperial recipe dipping-rolling procedure best if they are blue. Is plentiful, it will usually overcook and the meat your email address and recommendations... Be eaten, rather than having to shell the animal to reach the meat out the...