What are soft shell crabs?
Soft shell crabs are crabs (typically blue crabs) that do not have their hard outer shell. Soft shell crabs lose their shell when they molt during certain months of the year, usually from early May to late July, and are left with only a very thin layer covering their insides. Soft shell crabs are considered a delicacy because they must be caught and eaten (unless killed and frozen) within four days of molting. Just about the entire body of the crab can be eaten whole, and unlike hard shell crabs, you don’t have to hassle with picking out the meat.
