Domain: tiger-web1.srvr.media3.us 1st crawfish boil | Food and Drink
Started By
Message
locked post

1st crawfish boil

Posted on 3/30/09 at 8:10 am
Posted by LSU9102
West of the Mississippi
Member since Mar 2007
2522 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 8:10 am
I christened my new equipment this weekend.
I bought the 100 qt pot like everyone suggested.
Everyone complemented the crawfish except my wife
She complained because of no juice in heads to suck.
What was wrong? Not enough water in the pot?
Posted by JustSmokin
Member since Sep 2007
9162 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 8:17 am to
Cue the nasty jokes.

Honestly, I've never heard that problem before. How long did you soak them?
Posted by TinyTigerPaws
Member since Aug 2004
35039 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 8:28 am to
tell her to eat the fat out of the heads and stop complaining. That is way better than the juice anyways.
Posted by nikinik
Mid City
Member since Jan 2009
5733 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 8:31 am to
I am wondering the same thing!!!!! I went to a boil yesterday and was disappointed for the same reason. The meat was wonderful and they were seasoned perfectly...but no fat!
Posted by TinyTigerPaws
Member since Aug 2004
35039 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 8:36 am to
quote:

but no fat!


no fat or no juice?
Posted by coloradoBengal
Member since Sep 2007
32608 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 8:38 am to
you have to shock them with cold water or ice jugs or something so that they sink, before you serve them. That means they soaked up the spicy water or "juices".

Floating crawfish will be "dry".
Posted by JustSmokin
Member since Sep 2007
9162 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 8:47 am to
The vast majority, including restaurants, do not add ice or anything. The crawfish will sink on its own as it soaks and the water cools. I don't think it's the reason for "dry" crawfish.

If it was, most people/places would be serving dry crawfish.
This post was edited on 3/30/09 at 8:49 am
Posted by BayouBlitz
Member since Aug 2007
18126 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 8:49 am to
quote:

you have to shock them with cold water or ice jugs or something so that they sink, before you serve them. That means they soaked up the spicy water or "juices".

Floating crawfish will be "dry".




I've never done this and my crawfish always turn out juicy. I just cook mine until almost done, trun off the heat, and let em soak. 10 minutes MINIMUM.
Posted by nikinik
Mid City
Member since Jan 2009
5733 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 8:55 am to
They were juicy...just no fat at all. When you pulled the tail from the head, there was literally no fat.
Posted by LSU9102
West of the Mississippi
Member since Mar 2007
2522 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 9:00 am to
thanks for everyone's responses.
i soaked them 25 minutes.

Posted by Geaux1
BR
Member since Oct 2008
1806 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 9:12 am to
quote:

so that they sink, before you serve them. That means they soaked up the spicy water or "juices".

Floating crawfish will be "dry".


+1
I normally "push" crawfish down thats out of water a couple of times during the soaking process. My heads always have juice.

The sack I boiled last weekend was FULL of fat.
Posted by TinyTigerPaws
Member since Aug 2004
35039 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 9:13 am to
quote:

just no fat at all.


that's a problem with the crawfish. I had some last night that were pretty damn tasty with LOTS of fat and I'm not really all that big of a fan.
Posted by coloradoBengal
Member since Sep 2007
32608 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 10:17 am to
quote:

The crawfish will sink on its own as it soaks and the water cools. I don't think it's the reason for "dry" crawfish.


Right, but why are they sinking? It doesn't matter if it was by ice or by time.. sinking crawfish sink because ... AIR goes out of them and WATER goes in.

If the guy says he soaked them 25 minutes and they were still floating, then they didn't cool in that 25 minutes enough for the air to go out and the water to go in. Its not rocket science.
Posted by mametoo
Louisiana
Member since Nov 2008
3282 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 10:58 am to
quote:

coloradoBengal


Is it normally...
Bring it to a boil, drop in bugs, bring it back to boil, turn off heat, sit for 20 minutes?
Posted by coloradoBengal
Member since Sep 2007
32608 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 12:26 pm to
quote:

Is it normally...
Bring it to a boil, drop in bugs, bring it back to boil, turn off heat, sit for 20 minutes?


That sounds about right. The water should be very spicy and almost too salty when you taste it.

But how fast it cools is going to depend on whether you shock it, what the temp is outside, what the shape of the pot is, is it covered well, etc. etc.

All I know is, if they floating, they ain't fully of water or "juice" as people call it.


ETA: I know every one has made that first batch after drinking too much beer that just didn't have the right amount of spice. You can sprinkle seasoning on them directly on the table while they are still hot and it will melt and you will save the batch.

I have cousins in Ville Platte that ALWAYS season this way, and when done right, its quite tasty. I have never gotten the knack of it myself so I stick with a traditional boil and soak.
This post was edited on 3/30/09 at 12:30 pm
Posted by Jimbeaux
Member since Sep 2003
21468 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 12:43 pm to
I'm pretty sure this has everything to do with the particualr subspecies of crawfish you've got, and not how your boil them.

Big hard crawfish later in the season also don't have as much fat or as much juice in the head.
Posted by Mattluvsu
baton rouge
Member since Mar 2009
60 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 1:25 pm to
Hahahaha. Sound like ronnie's boudin crawfish, dry as hell. After the crawfish is boiled, u need to put half bag ice in it and soak for about 4 min.
Posted by EatnCreaux
Houston, TX
Member since Jan 2005
2479 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 2:30 pm to
quote:

After the crawfish is boiled, u need to put half bag ice in it and soak for about 4 min.

Consider dumping a few frozen water bottles in it instead. Use smaller bottles instead of 2-liter jugs so that more surface area of the ice encased in plastic will contact the hot water.

Even though a half a bag of ice only partially dilutes the water, swing for the fences. Dilute NONE of it and get the same effect by using small frozen water bottles.

The plastic will not melt in the water because it is being cooled from the inside. After the inner ice melts, you can even reuse them a few times.
Posted by mametoo
Louisiana
Member since Nov 2008
3282 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 2:41 pm to
Thats great. Haven't heard that one before.
Posted by Croacka
Denham Springs
Member since Dec 2008
61451 posts
Posted on 3/30/09 at 3:02 pm to
quote:

EatnCreaux


i just throw the bag of ice in there, bag and all, the bag has never melted for me or busted, and you don't have to remember to freeze water bottles.

first pageprev pagePage 1 of 2Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram