Is Blue Crab the same as soft shell?

Is Blue Crab the same as soft shell?

Soft-shell crabs are not a separate species of crab. They’re regular crabs — in the U.S. they’re most typically blue crabs — that have gotten too big for their shells. In order to keep on growing, they shed their shell and make new, bigger ones.

Why can you eat soft shell crab?

Soft shell crabs are eaten whole, ‘shell’ and all. The shell is quite pliable, and the meat inside is incredibly sweet, juicy, and bursting with pure crab flavor.

What are soft shell blue crabs?

Soft shell crabs, or “softies” are blue crabs that have recently molted their shell. They are harvested before they can regrow a new shell, so their skin is soft. This means their entire bodies are edible: shell, claws, and all.

Why are softshell crabs soft?

Soft shell crabs are crabs that are molting, which is when the hard shell of the crab grows about 30 percent. They have to shed their old shell and when they exit that shell, they are soft for about 2 to 3 hours. Then their shell starts to turn hard again.

Where do softshell crabs come from?

Many years ago, soft-shell crab wasn’t really an Alabama Gulf Seafood dish. Sure, we served it here. But up until the 80s, 99 percent of those soft-shell Blue Crabs came from the Chesapeake Bay areas of Maryland and Virginia.

What does a soft shell crab taste like?

While both soft and hard shell crab have a bright, salty sweet flavor, the textures are quite different. The texture of a soft shell crab is unique. Normally deep fried, a light crunch gives way to the buttery soft meat inside.

Does soft shell crab taste like regular crab?

Are soft-shell crabs cooked alive?

“Soft shell” is just the term used when regular crabs have recently molted their outer shell. Blue crabs for example, are most common. Ideally you buy them when they’re still alive and bring them home for a feast. They are in season May through September, but can be found frozen the rest of the year typically.

Can you freeze soft-shell crabs?

To freeze soft-shell blue crabs, wrap them in several layers of moisture- proof plastic wrap and place them in the freezer. Properly wrapped and hard frozen soft-shell blue crabs will maintain good quality for up to 6 months. Do not thaw and refreeze them. Thaw the crabs overnight in the refrigerator only.