The crawfish season calls for the traditional crawfish boil. People come together several times during this time to boil pounds of crawfish and eat them alongside some tasty side dishes chock-full of flavor such as cooked potatoes, corn, garlic, Andouille sausage, and other vegetables.
Aside from being flavorful since it is usually soaked in spices that have cooked for hours, crawfish is low in calories and an excellent source of protein and other nutrients. However, since it is usually served shell-on, you might get intimidated to try it.
Surviving your first crawfish boil can be scary, especially if you have limited experience with shellfish and you have never tried this staple cuisine before. If you are planning to attend a crawfish boil during the upcoming season, here are some steps to help you survive and enjoy it:
1.) Wear dark and comfortable clothing
Before attending a crawfish boil, expect that you will eat a lot. The average boil is 4 to 5 pounds of crawfish per person! While very little meat can be eaten from each crawfish, it’s best to wear comfortable clothes that allow you some room to grow since you still have some side dishes to devour. Make sure to come in a dark outfit to avoid stains in case some of those delicious juices splatter across your shirt.
2.) Wear a ponytail if you have long hair
Crawfish juices are good to savor, but they can make you look and smell fishy when your lips, face, and even hair are covered in them. Keep your locks out of your face, especially if you have long hair, by tying them up into a ponytail. This way, you can avoid having to touch your hair every once in a while and get a more enjoyable eating experience.
3.) Choose the biggest crawfish with a curved tail
When reaching your first crawfish, choose the largest one you can find with a curved tail because it has more meat. Avoid cooked crawfish with a straight tail since it was dead before it hit the boil and will not taste as fresh.
4.) Extract the meat properly
Extracting the meat of the crawfish is a laborious process. To get the meat out of it, break the crawfish in its natural middle. Avoid tearing it apart elsewhere because you’re more likely to end up covered in its juices.
Before beginning to peel a crawfish, suck in the juices by putting your lips to the opening on its bodies. Afterward, peel the tail, pinch the meat, and pull it right out from its shell. To be safe, check for the black-hued tube that runs the length of its tails where it flushes toxins from its system. If you spot it, simply grab one end, pull it off the meat of the tail, and wash your hands after.
Meanwhile, if you want to try peeling crawfish before attending your first seafood boil, consider ordering from Crawfish Cafe. We take pride in offering the best crawfish in Houston, and you can taste it in nine different flavors at our restaurant.
Conclusion
Attending your first-ever crawfish boil can be intimidating, especially if you are unfamiliar with the tradition and you haven’t tried peeling or eating crawfish yet. But with the right preparation, it will definitely be an enjoyable and unforgettable experience. Just remember the steps mentioned above. To ease your mind, you can always familiarize yourself with the cuisine by heading to a crawfish cafe first like ours.
Try crawfish in various flavors by visiting or calling our crawfish restaurant. Order now!