In the latter part of July, 1877, I began a thorough test, in order to find out how long I could keep soft-shell crabs alive. I purchased eight crabs in good condition; carried them home carefully ...

This chef-favorite seasonal crab can be fried, grilled, and sautéed easily at home. The best part? You can eat the shell. Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Barrett Washburne Summer, sun, and ...

Soft-shell crabs are one of the wonders of the culinary world, with their pliable, fully edible shells. What gives them their smooth texture?

A seasonal delicacy, soft-shell crabs are the low-waste crustacean, eaten whole, (nascent) shell and all. Plus, they are wonderfully low-maintenance. No hammering, cracking or picking required.

Jettie Rae’s Oyster House’s sautéed soft-shell crabs, sourced from the Southeast coast, are served with long-cooked grits, charred frisée and a lemon caper beurre blanc. The cost is $39.

Hermit crabs are a decapod crustacean, meaning they have 10 (deca-) legs (pods) along with a hardened exoskeleton or shell. There are about 800 species worldwide with 11 found in Florida.