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How To Buy, Clean, And Eat Soft-Shell Crabs

Summer, sun, and soft-shell crabs — few combinations are as simple and memorable. Over the years, cooking and eating crabs has hit an all-time high and regulations are tightening to rebalance the natural supply, like in the case of the Alaskan Snow Crab. But soft-shell crabs remain an accessible love letter to a toasty summer afternoon or a balmy evening meal surrounded by friends and family. Here's everything you need to know about them before your next summer party. 

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Barrett Washburne

What are soft-shell crabs?

Let's start with debunking a few soft-shell crab myths. Soft-shell crabs are not a separate crab species, but rather a growth stage in every crab's life cycle. When a crab begins to outgrow its shell, there is a brief window between moving day and closing day on a hard new shell when it sports a much softer exterior — hence the name. At some point, all crabs enter the soft-shell stage, meaning that while the Atlantic (or Maryland blue crab as its known regionally) is the most common "softie" you'll see on a menu in America, people in other countries enjoy feasting on soft-shell mangrove crabs, horseshoe crabs, Mediterranean crabs, and others.

When is soft-shell crab season? 

Soft-shell blue crabs are a seasonal delight. Poetic legends say the season begins with the first full moon in May. In reality, the true seasonality of these crabs is a bit nebulous. In certain parts of the Gulf Coast, soft-shell blue crabs start hitting the markets in early April. On the East Coast, the season tends to last a bit longer. A general good rule of thumb is that they are in season from late spring through summer, with the season's peak during early summer (more discerning crabbing experts claim that during peak season there is a noticeable quality difference between a June soft-shell and one caught in July).  

How to clean soft-shell crabs

You can find soft-shell crabs at your local reputable seafood market or specialty grocer. While plenty of online retailers such as White Stone Oysters or Fulton Fish Market will ship fully cleaned, fresh soft-shell crabs right to your door, there is something special about a live crab that is purchased and eaten on the same day. Most fishmongers will clean your crab for you, but with such a pliable shell, they are simple to do yourself, as long as you have a good pair of kitchen shears. It's always a wise idea to first give your crabs a quick rinse at home under cold water to remove any residual grime. Start by cutting across the front of the crab to remove its face. Next, lift up a corner of the top shell and remove the gills. Finally, turn the crab onto its underside and pull off the apron (that little triangle-shaped part). Et voila! A cleaned crab ready for cooking. 

How to cook soft-shell crabs 

Now that we've covered what soft-shell crabs are and their seasonality, we can talk through the big question: How do you cook and eat soft-shell crabs? Luckily, there are a variety of ways to enjoy these crabs and you don't have to painstakingly pick through parts to enjoy them. In fact, the entire shell of a soft-shell crab is completely edible. You get the same buttery crab meat, but with a slight crunch in every bite. Frying soft-shell crabs is one of the most popular ways to cook them. We love Andrew Zimmern's Crispy Soft-Shell Crabs with Bangalore-Style Dipping Sauce and Charlie Palmer's funky riff on a traditional flour dredge with his Oatmeal-Crusted Soft-Shell Crabs with Brown Butter. On a hot summer day, there's nothing quite like taking a big bite of a soft-shell crab sandwich. Recipes like these show off the sweet, easy perfection of turning these crabs into a summer meal. 

Carpe Crab: Where To Grab Soft Shell Dishes Right Now

The No. 1 rule of soft shell crab season is that soft shell crab season is fleeting. A restaurant may post a special dish at 5 p.M. And run out of the good stuff by 6 p.M. There are no guarantees in crab life, folks — that's part of the fun! 

Here are just some of the area restaurants serving up the seasonal delicacy. 

Keep in mind that some dish preparations may have changed in recent days and some supplies may simply have run out. Your best bet is to head to a restaurant's social media to see what their softie updates are — and then race to your favorite spots for the short-lived dish.

Fleet Landing

What better place to enjoy a soft shell crab than with a view of Charleston Harbor? Fleet Landing serves a crispy soft shell crab with fried green tomato, grits and bacon jam (add an extra crab if you're feeling feisty). Guests can also order a fried green tomato BLT with soft shell crab, applewood-smoked bacon, smoked gouda and red pepper remoulade. 

Gabrielle's soft shell crab salad. Credit: Provided

Gabrielle at Hotel Bennett

Chef Edgar Kano is whipping up a lunch and dinner special with this year's soft shell crabs. For lunch grab a po boy made with grilled tomato, Bibb lettuce, fennel slaw and Cajun remoulade on a ciabatta roll. Head back for dinner for a crisp South Carolina soft shell crab salad served with arugula, fennel, basil, sweet peppers, radish and grilled lemon vinaigrette. 

The Darling

Executive sous chef Monique Mickle is serving an "elevated spin" on the dish this year with soft shell crab atop a smoky soubise with cherry heirloom tomatoes, spinach, oyster mushrooms and micro thyme. 

The Grocery

Head to The Grocery for soft shell crab offered three ways: "Old South, Old School, Old World." 

Pink Bellies

Pink Bellies has been showing off its crispy soft shell crab sandwiches on Instagram this week. Grab some while they're hot. 

82 Queen

You'll find a variety of soft shell specials at 82 Queen this season. A recent iteration featured a crispy soft shell served with vegetable pilaf, shaved brussels, peppers, red onions and a green garlic aioli. 

Prohibition's soft shell crab lettuce wraps Credit: Provided.

Prohibition

Sourcing from Tarvin's seafood, Prohibition is serving soft shell crabs two ways right now. Dig into a soft shell crab rangoon club sandwich with sweet chili sauce, whipped cream cheese, bacon and bibb lettuce or order the lettuce wraps, made with Thai peanut sauce, mint, shredded carrot and cabbage. 

The Select

This Meeting Street brasserie is serving flash-fried, beer-battered local soft shell crabs with papaya salad, umami sauce and Calabrese pepper jelly. Make it a double order if you're really crabby.

Brasserie la Banque

This Broad Street French restaurant is serving soft shells pan roasted with butter beans, citrus and sauce gribiche. 

Indaco

Try fried soft shells three ways at Indaco. Order the crab on top of spaghetti with tomato, calabrian chili, lemon butter and herbs; on bagna cauda and arugula and atop butterbeans, celery, radish and mizuna with an herb vinaigrette.

Herd Provisions

Enjoy a fried soft shell crab ramen at Herd Provisions this softie season. The dish is made with alkaline noodles, duck and lobster broth, seasonal vegetables and chili oil. 

Jackrabbit Filly

Be sure to check Jackrabbit's social media for the most recent iterations of their softie specials. Recent dishes included a tempura soft shell sandwich with black vinegar slaw, pickled daikon and a side of chips as well as honey soy garlic softies.

King BBQ

Jackrabbit's sister restaurant, King BBQ, is slinging soft shell specials, too. A recent rendition was a big ol' sandwich made with krab rangoon spread, dilly pickles, crispy fried soft shell crab, hot mustard barbecue sauce, hot honey and an herby salad. 

The James

Grab a za'atar spiced tempura fried soft shell crab with couscous salad and zhoug puree at The James.

The Kingstide

If you're seeking a softie on Daniel Island look no further than The Kingstide where you can grab a deep-fried one served with street corn salad, tarragon aioli and chervil. 

Home Team BBQ

Like most restaurants on this list, Home Team is serving up fresh softie specials daily, so be sure to check their Instagram stories for the most recent offerings. You might find something like a recent sando on Sullivan's Island, served with Lusty Monk mayo, greens and tomato on a brioche bun.

Beautiful South is serving up salt and pepper softies with fermented chilies; be prepared for a slight kick! Sister restaurant Kwei Fei has you covered with its Chongqing-style softie, wok-fried with a blend of Sichuan peppercorns, dried chilies and spices for a balance of that heat and numbing spice Kwei Fei is known for.

Félix Cocktails et Cuisine makes your lunch plans easy with its soft shell BLT. Enjoy a softly fried crab with smoked bacon, garlic lemon aioli, bibb lettuce and tomatoes on local sourdough bread. 

Chef Ray England is serving two soft shell crab dishes at Husk this season. On the patio you'll find a soft shell crab sandwich served with pickled green tomato, shredded lettuce and a creole aioli. In the main dining room the feature will vary day-to-day but a recent iteration included two soft shell crabs atop Carolina Gold rice served with a New Orleans-inspired barbecue shrimp butter sauce and shaved asparagus salad. 

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It's Soft-shell Crab Season In Charleston. Here's Where To Go First.

404 King St., downtown Charleston

Crisp South Carolina soft shell crab salad with arugula, fennel, basil, sweet peppers, radish and a grilled lemon vinaigrette. 

Hotel Bennett/Provided

Head on over to Gabrielle for lunch and enjoy a local soft-shell crab po' boy with grilled tomato, Bibb lettuce, a fennel slaw and Cajun remoulade on a ciabatta roll. During dinner, patrons can order a soft-shell crab salad with arugula, fennel, basil, sweet peppers, radish and a grilled lemon vinaigrette.

Marina Variety Store Restaurant

9 Lockwood Drive, downtown Charleston

Chow down on a tasty local favorite, the soft-shell crab BLT, by the water at the Marina Variety Store in Charleston.

Sorelle

88 Broad St., downtown Charleston

Sorelle is offering Carolina soft-shell crabs, served Piccata-style with brown butter, lemon and Sicilian caper.

Brasserie la Banque will be serving an elegant dish of pan-roasted soft-shell with butterbeans, citrus and sauce gribiche

Brasserie la Banque/Provided Brasserie La Banque

1 Broad St., downtown Charleston

French restaurant Brasserie La Banque is bringing together an elegant dish of pan-roasted soft-shell crab with butterbeans, citrus and sauce gribiche. 

The Select

465 Meeting St., Suite 120, downtown Charleston

The Select is serving beer battered, flash fried soft-shell crab drizzled with an umami sauce, available as a single or double serving. The dish is accompanied by a vibrant green papaya salad and complemented by Calabrese pepper jelly.

Fried local soft-shell crab with Thai peanut sauce, mint, shredded carrot and cabbage.

Prohibition/Provided Prohibition

547 King St., downtown Charleston

The modern American restaurant is offering soft-shell crab two ways. Enjoy the crab rangoon club sandwich with a sweet chili sauce, whipped cream cheese, bibb lettuce and bacon, or order try softies in a lettuce wrap for a change. Order soft-shell crab enveloped a fresh lettuce with Thai peanut sauce, mint, and shredded carrot and cabbage.

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