Soft Shell Crab Recipe

Ingredients
Soft shelled crabs
Salt
Pepper
Bread crumbs
Egg
Fat

Directions
Clean crabs, sprinkle with salt and pepper, dip in crumbs, egg, and crumbs, fry in deep fat, and drain. Being light they will rise to top of fat, and should be turned while frying. Soft-shell crabs are usually fried.

To Clean a Crab. Lift and fold back the tapering points which are found on each side of the back shell, and remove spongy substance that lies under them. Turn crab on its back, and with a pointed knife remove the small piece at lower part of shell, which terminates in a point; this is called the apron.

Source: Boston Cooking-School Cook Book, 1896

How to Cook Cold Crabs

Directions
Take the meat out of the shells

Make a dressing that contains : sweet oil, cayenne pepper, salt, mustard and vinegar.

Optional: add some hard-boiled egg yolk, mashed in the oil.

Put the mixture into the back-shells of the crabs, and serve.

Garnish with the small claws laid nicely round.

Source: Directions for Cookery, 1851