A signature dish around Chesapeake Bay and parts of the Atlantic coast, they are usually held in tanks just before molting, with just a matter of days before they set a new, hard shell. Turn the crabs over and add the almonds. Place breaded crabs in a frying pan and fry in oil heated to 375-degrees F. Be careful since the crabs may pop and spatter the oil while cooking. They are in season May through September, but can be found frozen the rest of the year typically. Ideally you buy them when they’re still alive and bring them home for a feast. Emeril Lagasse cleans soft shell crabs and discusses why it is important to remove unnecessary filler. Fry soft crabs until golden brown and crispy. Dredge crabs in flour; dip in milk mixture, and dredge in flour again. Dredge soft crabs in the flour mixture. Blue crabs for example, are most common. After the crab has been frying for 3-5 minutes, you can remove the screen and take out the crab using a pair of tongs. The crab should be firm, but still squish a little bit when you squeeze it with the tongs. Cook for an additional three minutes, or until the crabs are cooked. He creates and stuffs them with a mayonnaise base filler and deep fries them to a golden brown. Place soft crabs on wire rack or paper towel-lined tray for one minute to drain. Cooking times will vary depending on the size of the crabs. The butter will now be starting to brown. Drain on a wire rack over paper towels. Soft-shell crabs are Eastern blue crabs caught right before they molt in May. Soft shell is the name given to crabs that have recently molted or shed their exoskeleton and are still soft. 4. Sprinkle crabs with seasoned salt. But wait. Sprinkle with … Soft shell crabs are in season! Turn soft crabs while cooking. Coat well with the flour mixture. Place dressed soft-shell crabs in a seasoned flour mixture (you can season it with salt, pepper, Old Bay seasoning, or you can purchase a box of mix from your local seafood shop) to bread. “Soft shell” is just the term used when regular crabs have recently molted their outer shell. Rest the soft shell crab on a plate with a paper towel to catch … Place soft crab in deep fryer at 375°F for 3 minutes. Soft shell crabs, which are perfect for a savory seafood dinner, are actually normal crabs that have molted their tough outer shell. Fry crabs, in batches, in hot oil 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. While crab claws and crab cakes are perennial favorites, be adventurous and try something new this crab season–deep fried soft shell crabs. How to Prepare Soft Shell Crabs. A soft-shell crab is a regular crab that molted its hard shell. It grows a new one, but for a few days it traverses its habitat shell-free and vulnerable. First, a note on acquiring soft-shell crabs that will bum out ethical vegetarians and the squeamish. Rinse crabs, and pat dry. The peak season for purchasing soft-shell crabs is from April through mid-September.