How to Clean a Soft Shell Crab

How's it Done?
Basic preparations of fish and seafood after you've caught it.

Step by step guidelines on preparing fish and seafood

Fishing 'How's It Done'

By Fishing & Food Editor Renee Shelton

How to Clean a Soft Shell Crab

Take a pair of kitchen scissors and cut off the crab's head about 1/4 inch from behind the eyes. Reach inside the crab at the cut opening and gently grab the stomach out, or squeeze the stomach out. Hold the crab upside down and pry the flap (apron or tail flap) up and down. The intestinal vein is attached to this. Pull flap gently from the body, bringing the intestinal vein with it. Discard both.

Flip crab right side up and gently lift off top of shell by the pointy ends on one half (do not remove, just lift up one end). Peel back and scrape off the filmy gill filaments. Discard. Fold back the top shell and proceed with other side of crab.

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Fishing 'How's It Done'
By Fishing & Food Editor Renee Shelton


Take a pair of kitchen scissors and cut off the crab's head about 1/4 inch from behind the eyes. Reach inside the crab at the cut opening and gently grab the stomach out, or squeeze the stomach out.	Hold the crab upside down and pry the flap (apron or tail flap) up and down. The intestinal vein is attached to this. Pull flap gently from the body, bringing the intestinal vein with it. Discard both.

Flip crab right side up and gently lift off top of shell by the pointy ends on one half (do not remove, just lift up one end).	Peel back and scrape off the filmy gill filaments. Discard. Fold back the top shell and proceed with other side of crab.