Definition

Noun: 1. An edible crab that has recently molted and has not yet formed its new, hard shell: This term refers specifically to a crab in a temporary biological state where its new exoskeleton is still soft, flexible, and edible in its entirety. 2. The culinary dish made from such a crab: The term also refers to the crab in this state when it is prepared and served as food, often by frying or sautéing.

Usage Examples

• As a biological state:
  • Fishermen carefully harvest soft-shelled crabs during the molting season.
  • A soft-shelled crab is highly vulnerable to predators until its shell hardens.
• As a food item:
  • The restaurant's specialty is a sandwich with a fried soft-shelled crab.
  • Would you prefer your soft-shelled crab sautéed with garlic and butter?

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in its hyphenated form, "soft-shelled," when preceding the noun it modifies (e.g., ). The non-hyphenated form "soft shell crab" is also common, especially in culinary contexts.
• In biology and fisheries, the molting process is called "ecdysis," and a soft-shelled crab is in the "post-molt" stage.

Variants and Related Words

• Soft-shell crab: A common alternative spelling and term, especially in menus and culinary writing.
• Peeler crab: A term used to describe a crab that is about to molt and is showing signs of its shell peeling away.
• Buster crab: Another term, primarily regional, for a crab in the act of molting or just after.
• Hard-shell crab: The typical state of a crab with a fully formed, hard exoskeleton. This is the antonym.

Synonyms

• Molt crab (less common)
• Shedder crab (regional)

Related Phrases

• In the soft shell: Describes the state of being a soft-shelled crab.
  • Blue crabs are only harvested when they are in the soft shell.
• Soft-shell season: Refers to the time of year when crabs are commonly molting and available as soft-shells.

Noun

1. edible crab that has recently molted and not yet formed its new shell
2. freshly molted crab with new shell still tender and flexible