OT-Crawfish question

jeffwit

We are doing a low country boil for my son’s 16th birthday in a couple of weeks. We plan on ordering the crawfish, but all the companies only deliver on Saturday and his party is Sunday evening. How big of an issue will it be to have the bugs delivered a day before I cook them? Do I need to rethink what I’m doing?
Thanks!

Killit_and_Grillit

We had a tradition to do them in Colorado and it always fell on a Sunday. You keep them cold and damp and darkly lit and they will be fine. Just order about 20% more bugs than you think you need. Some will die. (If they float when you pour them in the boil throw them out)

I usually just take the sack they are sent in and put them in an outside fridge or cooler on a grate with a drip pan. Then keep a cold water sprayer and wet them every few hours. 

Theyll be fine. Enjoy! 

nolan8v

Keep them in the sack and cool with ice, but not submerged in water. A large ice chest works great with the drain spout open and the lid cracked for breathing.

BugFreak72

Killit_and_Grillit said:

We had a tradition to do them in Colorado and it always fell on a Sunday. You keep them cold and damp and darkly lit and they will be fine. Just order about 20% more bugs than you think you need. Some will die. (If they float when you pour them in the boil throw them out)

I usually just take the sack they are sent in and put them in an outside fridge or cooler on a grate with a drip pan. Then keep a cold water sprayer and wet them every few hours. 

Theyll be fine. Enjoy! 

Would you say the 20% extra is good in general or only adding that much if I plan to leave them sit for a day?

Killit_and_Grillit

@BugFreak72 kind of a loaded question. I have hosted boils where people haven’t eaten 1/2 lb a piece and some where some coonass shows up with his family and eat 4lbs a piece. 

Do you have big eaters that like crawfish? I typically do 2lbs per person and then add additional for time keeping or who I’m hosting. 

You can always have a post boil shelling party. I usually break out some of the good stuff and put people to work after. Makes great etoufee or crawfish pies after. 

GrillSgt

On top of the ice, not in it. Make sure they get some air.

buzd504

Killit_and_Grillit said:

@BugFreak72 kind of a loaded question. I have hosted boils where people haven’t eaten 1/2 lb a piece and some where some coonass shows up with his family and eat 4lbs a piece. 

A proper coonass can easily eat 10lbs+ in one boil.  Down here we plan 5lbs/person, and usually are just about right.

2lbs/person outside of southern LA sounds about right, depending on the crowd.  Less if they are rookies.

Killit_and_Grillit

GrillSgt said:

On top of the ice, not in it. Make sure they get some air.

Oh yeah if I didn’t clarify...don’t submerge them in ice! 

@buzd504 I would never invite a proper coonass to a boil. My pockets aren’t that deep.  . 

TideEggHead

+1 on all the advice given! We have kept them in a pre chilled cooler with the lid and plug open with a wet towel over the sack for 6-8 hours with no problems, just spray them down every once in a while. Post some pictures of the boil!

SSQUAL612

Keep em cool...don’t eat any with a straight tail after they’re cooked since that indicates they were dead when they hit the boil.   When you spray em make it a mist not a strong pressure stream.  Enjoy!!!  Last boil I ate too many...walked backwards for a week. 

buzd504

SSQUAL612 said:

Keep em cool...don’t eat any with a straight tail after they’re cooked since that indicates they were dead when they hit the boil.  

For those that don't know, there isn't really any risk in eating the ones with the straight tail.  You *might* get some off flavors, but I've eaten many with no other ill effects.  Don't toss perfectly good crawfish because you think it might have a straight tail.

SSQUAL612

buzd504 said:

SSQUAL612 said:

Keep em cool...don’t eat any with a straight tail after they’re cooked since that indicates they were dead when they hit the boil.  

For those that don't know, there isn't really any risk in eating the ones with the straight tail.  You *might* get some off flavors, but I've eaten many with no other ill effects.  Don't toss perfectly good crawfish because you think it might have a straight tail.

Just eat em all...what doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger.   Guess the old myth was just that.  

https://www.quora.com/What-happens-if-you-eat-a-dead-crawfish

buzd504

SSQUAL612 said:

buzd504 said:

SSQUAL612 said:

Keep em cool...don’t eat any with a straight tail after they’re cooked since that indicates they were dead when they hit the boil.  

For those that don't know, there isn't really any risk in eating the ones with the straight tail.  You *might* get some off flavors, but I've eaten many with no other ill effects.  Don't toss perfectly good crawfish because you think it might have a straight tail.

Just eat em all...what doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger.   Guess the old myth was just that.  

https://www.quora.com/What-happens-if-you-eat-a-dead-crawfish

I'd eat both of those.  If the color is right and the shell is firm and intact, I'll usually eat it.  Like I said, occasionally you will get one that tastes really bad, but a few more good ones will take care of that.

GATraveller

Be sure to wash them off before dropping in the boil.  My neighbor did not and got everyone sick......except for me - I think I have a billy goat's stomach.

SSQUAL612

buzd504 said:

SSQUAL612 said:

buzd504 said:

SSQUAL612 said:

Keep em cool...don’t eat any with a straight tail after they’re cooked since that indicates they were dead when they hit the boil.  

For those that don't know, there isn't really any risk in eating the ones with the straight tail.  You *might* get some off flavors, but I've eaten many with no other ill effects.  Don't toss perfectly good crawfish because you think it might have a straight tail.

Just eat em all...what doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger.   Guess the old myth was just that.  

https://www.quora.com/What-happens-if-you-eat-a-dead-crawfish

I'd eat both of those.  If the color is right and the shell is firm and intact, I'll usually eat it.  Like I said, occasionally you will get one that tastes really bad, but a few more good ones will take care of that.

Wash em down with Abita Turbo Dog and it's all good.  

buzd504

SSQUAL612 said:

buzd504 said:

SSQUAL612 said:

buzd504 said:

SSQUAL612 said:

Keep em cool...don’t eat any with a straight tail after they’re cooked since that indicates they were dead when they hit the boil.  

For those that don't know, there isn't really any risk in eating the ones with the straight tail.  You *might* get some off flavors, but I've eaten many with no other ill effects.  Don't toss perfectly good crawfish because you think it might have a straight tail.

Just eat em all...what doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger.   Guess the old myth was just that.  

https://www.quora.com/What-happens-if-you-eat-a-dead-crawfish

I'd eat both of those.  If the color is right and the shell is firm and intact, I'll usually eat it.  Like I said, occasionally you will get one that tastes really bad, but a few more good ones will take care of that.

Wash em down with Abita Turbo Dog and it's all good.  

Not a big fan of Abita.  Would much prefer selections from Urban South, Parish, or some of NOLA's recent productions.

SSQUAL612

buzd504 said:

SSQUAL612 said:

buzd504 said:

SSQUAL612 said:

buzd504 said:

SSQUAL612 said:

Keep em cool...don’t eat any with a straight tail after they’re cooked since that indicates they were dead when they hit the boil.  

For those that don't know, there isn't really any risk in eating the ones with the straight tail.  You *might* get some off flavors, but I've eaten many with no other ill effects.  Don't toss perfectly good crawfish because you think it might have a straight tail.

Just eat em all...what doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger.   Guess the old myth was just that.  

https://www.quora.com/What-happens-if-you-eat-a-dead-crawfish

I'd eat both of those.  If the color is right and the shell is firm and intact, I'll usually eat it.  Like I said, occasionally you will get one that tastes really bad, but a few more good ones will take care of that.

Wash em down with Abita Turbo Dog and it's all good.  

Not a big fan of Abita.  Would much prefer selections from Urban South, Parish, or some of NOLA's recent productions.

Ozzie_Isaac

Are crawfish the same thing as crayfish?

SSQUAL612

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Are crawfish the same thing as crayfish?

Yes...it's okay for a crawfish to be cray, but avoid a cray cray woman.

nolaegghead

This morning....

saluki2007

nolaegghead said:

This morning....

Very jealous.  I wish I could just go pick some up on a whim.

GATraveller

Mmmmmmmm......butter.

buzd504

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Are crawfish the same thing as crayfish?

Plan on 2lb/person if you get crayfish, and 5lb/person if you get crawfish.

jeffwit

What about crawdads?

Sea2Ski

jeffwit said:

What about crawdads?

They are good for smallmouth fishing. 

BugFreak72

Killit_and_Grillit said:

@BugFreak72 kind of a loaded question. I have hosted boils where people haven’t eaten 1/2 lb a piece and some where some coonass shows up with his family and eat 4lbs a piece. 

Do you have big eaters that like crawfish? I typically do 2lbs per person and then add additional for time keeping or who I’m hosting. 

You can always have a post boil shelling party. I usually break out some of the good stuff and put people to work after. Makes great etoufee or crawfish pies after. 

I was assuming you meant add 20% because enough would die during transport but I take it that isn't a problem.

Ozzie_Isaac

Are mountain lobsters the same as mountain oysters?

Thapco

Just call them mudbugs and you know you got the right thing