Crabs produce a scent that permeates the whole home as they are being cooked, which is a good indicator that the dinner will be a lot of fun.
But what about the ones with a soft shell? They are similar to one another yet distinct in several ways, and both play important roles in Thai cuisine.
So, how does one describe the flavor of soft shell crab, and how does it compare to the flavor of ordinary crab meat? Consuming these crabs entails more than simply eating their flesh; in addition, the crabs’ soft shells may be quite tasty.
How exactly should they be purchased and then prepared in order to bring out their full flavor? Let’s find out.
Contents
What is Soft Shell Crab?
The soft shell crab is exactly what its name implies: it is a crab, but it has a soft shell instead of a hard one.
Crabs, like many other Ecdysozoa, periodically shed their outer shell, leaving them with a temporarily porous and susceptible skeleton.
These are known as soft-shell crabs and are often captured for use in the food industry.
Crabs may be captured either just before or immediately after the season when they molt.
In the event that you manage to capture them before they have shed their exoskeleton, you will need to keep them in an appropriate location until they do so.
If the shell is soft, you may reason that it is unnecessary to throw it away, and you would be correct in that assumption.
You can put practically every portion of a soft-shell crab in your mouth to eat it.
Nevertheless, their mouths, gills, and abdomen covers are thrown away during the cleaning process.
They are abundantly found in the United States from April through September and produce outstanding meals that can be paired with any kind of cuisine or drink.
In addition, unlike the ones with hard shells, you do not need to spend any time taking the shells off.
What Does Soft Shell Crab Taste Like?
If you are familiar with the flavor of conventional crabs with hard shells, you are already familiar with the flavor of soft-shelled crabs to a certain extent.
Because their shells are so flexible, they are often referred to as “softies.” Their whole bodies may be consumed, and it will be much simpler for you to take a bite off of one of them.
The flesh of these softies has an off-white tint, much like the meat of any other kind of crab.
The flavor profile of these crabs is straightforward: the flesh of soft-shelled crabs is subtly sweet and buttery, and it has a faint aroma of the ocean that lends a sour undertone to the overall flavor.
However, the taste might change based on the spices that are used and the method that is used to make them.
In the meanwhile, its consistency may be described as soft, flaky, and juicy, with a satisfyingly mild crunch coming from the shell.
After you’ve had some, you’ll notice that the flavor of soft-shell crab is rather comparable to that of lobster.
Crabs, in contrast to lobster, have a more pleasant sweetness and a more flaky texture in their meat.
The texture of fried soft-shell crab is drier and crunchier than that of raw soft-shell crab, yet it retains its delicious taste.
If you boil them with gravy or broth, the taste of the crab will infuse every item with its richness, giving you a dinner that is filling and satisfying.
The flavor alone is not sufficient to classify these carbohydrates, which is one of the things that makes them so intriguing.
Because their nutritional advantages are so outstanding, it is difficult to choose a reason why one would wish to try them.
In addition to being high in protein and several minerals, they are low in fat and calories, making them an attractive option for dieters.
In addition to this, they are a far more nutritious alternative to other types of meat.
How to Cook Soft Shell Crab?
When preparing crab flesh, you don’t need to overcomplicate things by using a lot of different cooking techniques and flavors.
Because they already possess a robust taste, there is a possibility that the natural flavors will be lost in the process of experimenting with more complex approaches.
- Deep-fried and served with vinaigrette: This is a time-honored method for preparing crabs; most people are familiar with it, but nothing can compare to the crisp, delicate, and savory harmony of the crabs prepared in this manner.
- Sushi: A restaurant’s menu is immediately elevated to a higher level when it features a variety of ethnic foods. And if you’re going to be dealing with fish, you really must have some authentic Japanese sushi. You simply need to give the crab a good cleaning and then season it with salt, soy sauce, or anything else that will enhance the flavor of the crab.
- Spicy stew: If you have any fresh veggies laying around in your cupboard, you may use soft-shell crab to convert it into a tasty stew. The stew may accommodate a wide variety of vegetables, including but not limited to mushrooms, radishes, and spring onions. Simply adding some chili paste will help provide a fiery element to the dish as a whole.
- Carb sandwich: You don’t have to save all of your soft-shell crabs for supper; you may set aside a couple for an afternoon meal instead. After the crabs have been seasoned, breaded, and deep-fried, place them in a sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayonnaise. It is simple, and the results will leave everyone in awe.
How to Buy Soft Shell Crab?
Are you having trouble deciding which soft-shell crab to buy for the first time? The following is a collection of suggestions that will make things simpler for you.
- Look for them when in season: It will be much simpler to be ready if you are aware of when the season for soft-shelled crabs will begin. This is true whether you are purchasing soft-shell crabs from a seafood store or ordering them at a restaurant to be grilled.
- Buy live crabs: The taste of crabs that have passed away cannot compare to that of living crabs, which is a drawback of using dead crabs. As soon as you start cooking it, even its consistency will begin to change drastically. Check to check whether the crabs are moving, and even try handling one of them to make sure it has all of its legs and claws.
- Try a smell test: If the crabs haven’t been dead for an excessive amount of time, you may be able to get away with purchasing them, but you should always sniff them first. When you sniff it, there shouldn’t be an overwhelming amount of odor, the kind that immediately fills your nasal passages with a powerful and disagreeable scent.
- Check the softness of their shells: The term “soft-shell crab” does not refer to any old crab that only seems to have a softer shell. Examine it by touching it with your hands to see whether or not it is flexible. If they are, you should purchase them. To add insult to injury, if they have even the slightest hint of a papery texture, they are already well on their way to developing a hard shell.
FAQs
Is soft shell crab easy to eat?
Because whether they are sautéed in butter or deep-fried, soft-shell crabs are everything: crisp, delicate, and they finish with a delicious kiss of sea mist. You may consume every part of these crustaceans, with the exception of the face and a few other less appetizing portions, including the body, the claws, and the shell. These crabs are considered to be one of nature’s all-you-can-eat treats.
What does soft shell crab taste like in sushi?
There is a significant contrast in texture between soft shell crab and hard shell crab, despite the fact that both types of crab have a taste that is briny and sweet. The flesh of a soft-shell crab has a one-of-a-kind consistency.
What is the best tasting crab?
Many people believe that the flesh of the blue crab has the finest flavor and sweetness of all of the many types of crabs. Blue crabs that have lost their older shells in order to develop a new one are known as soft-shell crabs. Only for a brief period of time throughout this process do the crabs lack their tough outer coating, and even then, their shells are only completely soft for a few hours at a time.
Do soft-shell crabs have parasites?
There is evidence that Vibrio parahemolyticus has caused outbreaks in shedding facilities for soft-shell crab, which is concerning since this pathogen may be a substantial cause of death.
Is it healthy to eat soft shell crab?
For anybody who is trying to reduce weight while following a diet, softies are an excellent option to consider. This is mostly due to the fact that soft crabs have a very low calorie count and essentially no saturated fat content at all. This shellfish is a more nutritious alternative than other kinds of meat. Even if you are following a diet, you still have the option of selecting soft crabs as your meal.
Why is soft shell crab so good?
Blue crabs that have just undergone the process of molting, in which they lose their tough shells to expose a paper-thin exoskeleton that hardens in a matter of hours, are known as soft crabs. When soft crabs are cooked during that short and valuable period, they are eaten whole (with the exception of the lungs and eyes), and they are appreciated by certain people due to the delicate texture of their flesh and the sweetness of their flavor.
Do soft-shell crabs taste like crab legs?
Due to the fact that you consume both the meat and the shell of soft shell crab, the experience is unlike that of eating Dungeness crab or any other kind of crab. Because you are consuming the whole crab, including the shell as well as the flesh, the flavor of the crab is more subdued than if you were to merely consume the meat of another kind of crab.
Final Thought
The consumption of crabs in the form of soft-shell crabs is an intriguing experience.
You save time by not having to remove the shells, which results in a bigger amount of food being available for consumption.
The only thing you need to watch out for is the timing of your discovery of them.
They are at their most useful just after a recent molt, when their exoskeletons are still soft and fragile.
You may chow down on them in conjunction with the meat.
Check the crabs well before purchasing them; ideally, they should be alive and smell like they were just caught.
If you combine them with a mouthwatering dish, you will be able to prepare the most memorable seafood meal of your whole life.
