Dear chef, what is a soft-shell crab and why is it so hard to find?
As spring awakens the Lowcountry, a fleeting coastal delicacy returns to the menu: soft-shell crabs. Unlike their hard-shelled counterparts, these tender crabs can be enjoyed whole — shell and all — thanks to a natural molting process. Andrew Carmines, owner of Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks, explains the science (and the magic) behind this seasonal sensation, and why they’re only available for a short, savory window.


