How to Prepare Soft-Shell Blue Crab

Soft-shell crabs are just blue crabs that have shed their shells and haven't grown new ones yet. Although they don't need to be cracked, soft-shell crabs do need to be prepared for cooking.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Soft-shell Blue Crabs
• Kitchen Shears

1. Use kitchen shears to cut off crab's face, slicing about 1/4 inch behind the eyes.

2. Pull up one side of the soft upper shell, leaving it intact, and remove the spongy gills underneath.

3. Do the same on the crab's other side.

4. Turn over and pull off belly flap, or "apron," which is triangle-shaped.

5. Rinse crab with cold water.

6. Pat dry.

7. Cook crab as desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Prepare crabs while they're still alive.
• Soft-shell crabs can be eaten whole, so you don't need to remove their shells after cooking.
• Watch out for the pincers of live crabs.

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