Brown Crab UK

[Mundiz]

I've just bought a cooked Brown Crab from my local Market. Inside I found a fully formed soft shell (it must have been in the latter stage of moulting) can I eat this soft shell?

[Wait. Wot]

Welcome!

 

If the shell is soft enough to cut, chew and swallow I can't imagine it doing you any harm. Soft shell crabs are available frozen and, in season, fresh in the US.

 

I had a similar experience decades ago with lobsters. They were probably just starting to expand to break the old shell. When we cracked the old shell and pulled out the meat it was larger than the shell it was in. We had to peel off the new shell. The new shell was the thickness and consistency of writing paper. The lobster was excellent.

[Mundiz]

Thanks Wait. Wot, I've just tried to eat the soft shell but wasn't impressed with the taste or texture so I gave it a miss. 

[TdeV]

Hello @Mundiz. Welcome to eGullet!