How to Eat Crawfish

Published by Izzy

on Nov 05, 2021

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Ever wonder How to Eat Crawfish when you’d like to add these crustaceans to your Louisiana seafood boil? In this post you’ll learn how to cook crawfish, how to eat, and what part is edible.

Crawfish (also known as crayfish or crawdads) are small crustaceans that look like mini lobsters. These freshwater shellfish taste like an interesting combination of crab, lobster and shrimp for a flavor that’s sure to be relished by seafood lovers.

Though live crawfish range in color from dark brown to yellow, they turn bright red when fully cooked, just like lobsters. There are many ways to enjoy crawfish, with one of the most popular being the crawfish boil. Most times, you’ll be eating crawfish with your hands and you’ll need to know the proper technique to get all the meat.

What is a Crawfish?

Crawfish are small crustaceans that live in freshwater, such as rivers. About 95% of the crawfish consumed in the United States are from Louisiana. Not surprisingly, crawfish make up a large part of Cajun cuisine, including the infamous Louisiana crawfish boil.

What Part of the Crawfish Do You Eat?

Most of the meat is found in the tail of the crawfish. Here, the meat is thick, fleshy, tender, and easily comes loose from its shell. The meat in the head of the crawfish is also edible, though some people prefer to skip it. Crawfish shells aren’t edible.

How to Cook Crawfish Boil?

It’s easy to make your very own crawfish boil just like they do in Louisiana.

Gather your ingredients: crawfish, melted butter, corn, potatoes, and sausages. For the seasoning, you’ll need garlic, lemon, Old Bay seasoning, Cajun seasoning mix, salt, and pepper. Add your ingredients to the pot in order to ensure everything will cook properly. For more details, find the full recipe here.

Which Part of the Crawfish is Edible?

1. The Tail

For the majority of people, the tail is the most enjoyable part of the crawfish. It contains most of the meat.

2. The Head

The head of the crawfish contains an organ known as hepatopancreas, which ranges in color from yellow to bright orange. Many seafood lovers enjoy this part of the crawfish and consider it a delicacy, while others simply don’t like it.

3. Claws

Unlike king crabs, crayfish claws contain little, if any meat. It’s not worth the effort to try to break open these tiny claws. If you want, you can crack the claws and suck the juices from the claws.

How to Eat Boiled Whole Crawfish?

If you’ve never eaten crawfish before, you might think it’s tricky to eat. Once you get the hang of it, it’s easy to enjoy crawfish without wasting any of the meat.

Step 1: Remove the head by gently twisting and pulling.
Step 2: If you like, you can suck the savory juices from the head of the crawfish, as many do in Louisiana. Discard the head if you prefer to skip this part.
Step 3: Crack the shell of the tail by pinching and pulling to reveal the tender meat inside.
Step 4: You’ll want to devein the crawfish by holding the tail in one hand and using the other to peel back the outer layer of skin and remove the vein. Now you can enjoy the succulent meat from the tail of the crawfish.

What is the Yellow Stuff in the Crawfish Head?

In the head of the crayfish, there is an organ known as hepatopancreas, which aids in the crayfish’s digestion. Considered a delicacy by many, this yellow part of the crawfish is rich in flavor and can be reached by gently sucking the head after removing it from the tail.

Is There Poop in Crawfish?

By deveining your crawfish, you can remove the digestive tract and ensure that you won’t be consuming any of the crawfish’s waste. The yellow stuff in the head of the crawfish isn’t poop.

What Does Crawfish Taste Like?

Crawfish tail meat is delicious with a mild, slightly sweet flavor. It can best be described as a cross between lobster, crab and shrimp, making it a favorite for seafood lovers. Because they are freshwater crustaceans, crawfish are naturally less salty than lobsters.

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