This article was co-authored by Chef Jeff Woodward and by How.com.vn staff writer, Dan Hickey. Jeff Woodward is a Private Chef and the Owner of The Rogue Chef based in Branson, Missouri. With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, he has cooked for esteemed clients including The Harlem Globetrotters, Peyton Manning, Mark Wahlberg, and Justin Timberlake. Chef Jeff won the Branson Tri-Lakes News Reader's Choice Award 2023 for Best Catering. He has been the Featured Chef Demonstrator for 2 years in a row for The Women's Show in Springfield, MO. The Rogue Chef has been the Hollister Chamber of Commerce Spotlight Chef, an award published in Tri-Lakes News. Chef Jeff's food has been featured on KY3 Television. He publishes a recipe weekly in the Branson Globe newspaper and monthly in Lost on the Lake Magazine. He published a feature article for Chef Talks in Discover Home and Style Magazine. He has an associate’s degree from Southwestern Illinois College and a Culinary Arts degree with a Certification in Baking from Ozark Technical College.
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You’re craving crab and notice special deals popping up in restaurants and seafood markets all over town advertising “fresh soft shell crab.” When you order one, though, you’re not sure what to do with it—all the legs are still on, and is that a deep fried shell? Are you supposed to eat the whole thing? If you’ve never experienced a soft shell crab before, you’re in for a delicious ocean treat. In this article, we’ll show you which parts to eat, how to buy, clean, and cook them yourself, and more fascinating facts about this scuttling sea creature. Let’s dig in!
Things You Should Know
- Eat the entire soft shell crab if it’s “dressed” (cleaned with the inedible parts removed) and cooked! Every bit of it, including the shell and claws, is then edible.
- Soft shell crabs are most commonly deep fried or pan-seared. Eat them by themselves, on a sandwich, or cut up into strips (or any way you prefer).
- Cook soft shells the same day you purchase. Avoid crabs that smell rancid, have gone soft, or that have meat that’s any other color than white.
Steps
Expert Q&A
- QuestionCan you recommend a sandwich recipe with soft-shell crabs?Chef Jeff WoodwardJeff Woodward is a Private Chef and the Owner of The Rogue Chef based in Branson, Missouri. With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, he has cooked for esteemed clients including The Harlem Globetrotters, Peyton Manning, Mark Wahlberg, and Justin Timberlake. Chef Jeff won the Branson Tri-Lakes News Reader's Choice Award 2023 for Best Catering. He has been the Featured Chef Demonstrator for 2 years in a row for The Women's Show in Springfield, MO. The Rogue Chef has been the Hollister Chamber of Commerce Spotlight Chef, an award published in Tri-Lakes News. Chef Jeff's food has been featured on KY3 Television. He publishes a recipe weekly in the Branson Globe newspaper and monthly in Lost on the Lake Magazine. He published a feature article for Chef Talks in Discover Home and Style Magazine. He has an associate’s degree from Southwestern Illinois College and a Culinary Arts degree with a Certification in Baking from Ozark Technical College.
Private ChefTo make a sandwich featuring soft-shell crabs, start by cutting a soft hoagie roll in half. Clean the soft-shell crabs thoroughly before frying. For assembly, layer shredded lettuce and tomato on the hoagie rolls. Add a dollop of mayonnaise infused with lemon for extra zest. Keep the preparation simple yet delicious for the best outcome.
Tips
Warnings
- Eating raw, undercooked, or spoiled seafood can result in serious illness or food poisoning.[18]Thanks
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about cooking, check out our in-depth interview with Chef Jeff Woodward.
References
- ↑ https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2013-06-04-bs-fo-crab-soft-shell-0605-20130604-story.html
- ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-clean-soft-shell-crabs
- ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-clean-soft-shell-crabs
- ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-clean-soft-shell-crabs
- ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/73867/fried-soft-shell-crab/
- ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/anne-burrell/pan-seared-soft-shell-crab-with-pickled-onions-and-garlic-aioli-recipe-1921674
- ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/selecting-and-serving-fresh-and-frozen-seafood-safely
- ↑ https://americasrestaurant.com/soft-shell-crab-sides/
- ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-clean-soft-shell-crabs
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/food/seafood/crab/howto-clean-soft-shell-crab
- ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/selecting-and-serving-fresh-and-frozen-seafood-safely
- ↑ https://medmunch.com/how-to-tell-if-crab-meat-is-bad/
- ↑ https://americasrestaurant.com/soft-shell-crab-taste/
- ↑ https://greatdaysoutdoors.com/soft-shell-blue-crab-harvesting-guide/
- ↑ https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2013-06-04-bs-fo-crab-soft-shell-0605-20130604-story.html
- ↑ https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2022.772441
- ↑ https://www.nutritionix.com/food/soft-shell-crab
- ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/selecting-and-serving-fresh-and-frozen-seafood-safely
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