A true Maryland delicacy, soft-shell crabs are only in season between spring and early summer. In addition to having a very short season, only one type of crab can be soft-shelled: the Maryland Blue Crab. So, come in to Costas Inn to enjoy this delicacy while it lasts!
Where Do Soft-Shell Crabs Come From?
You may be wondering how it’s possible to be able to eat an entire crab without dealing with the hard shell. The trick is to catch a Maryland Blue Crab at just the right time.
Both female and male Maryland Blue Crabs molt their shells as they grow bigger. After the crab molts its old shell, it will sit still and focus on absorbing the calcium from the water in order to harden their new, soft shell. Fishermen only have a window of a few hours in which to capture the crabs and deliver them to a restaurant or market to be deep fried and eaten.
This seems like an incredibly difficult process, doesn’t it? However, there are things that experienced fishermen do to locate and capture the crabs at the right time. First, a fisherman will look at the crab’s swimming fins. If the fins are white, it means the crab will molt in about five or six days. If the fins are red, it means the crab is getting ready to molt in a day or two. A fisherman will put crabs with red or white fins in a special tank where the crabs will be watched closely. After a crab molts, it must be put in a special container by itself to protect it from the other crabs. The fisherman keeps a close eye on the newly molted crab, waiting until about three hours after it has molted to transport it. By waiting a few hours, the crab’s new shell has hardened just enough to keep it alive and healthy during transport but is still soft enough for delicious eating.
There’s a lot of hard work that goes into getting delicate soft-shell crabs from the water to your plate, but you’ll know the effort is worth it when you try a delicious soft-shell crab for the first (or second, or third…) time! So, make your way to Costas Inn for soft-shell crab season!
Come Visit Costas Inn!
Costas Inn has been a family owned and operated restaurant for over 40 years. We were recently voted the 2015 #1 Baltimore Seafood Restaurant by USA Today. You may have spotted Costas Inn during one of our 9 appearances on the Today Show or heard one of our many interviews on WJZ TV Channel 13 with Ron Matz and Marty Bass. We were also voted #1 Crab Restaurant 2014 in the Baltimore Business Journal! You can enjoy our famous crab cakes in-house or order them online for anytime eating. We also provide some of the best seafood catering in the Baltimore area! You can also get your fill from Costas even when you’re not in our dining room: follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube!