Crawfish are a shellfish delicacy that can be served in a variety of ways. There are both freshwater and saltwater varieties. Also known as mudbugs, crayfish, rock lobsters, yabbies and crawdads, these flavor-packed crustaceans can grow up to six inches in length and they are related to the lobster.
Once you know how long to boil crawfish, you can make all kinds of wonderful dishes with them, including:
- Southern crawfish boil with potatoes and corn
- Crawfish-based pasta and rice dishes
- Mixed seafood platters
- Crawfish salad sandwiches
- Omelets and quiches
- Seafood soups and chowders
Not only are crawfish flavorful, but they also boast a variety of nutrients, including B vitamins, selenium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron. Crawfish are low in fat but high in lean protein and a worthy addition to your diet.
Boiling is the most traditional way to cook crawfish, but overcooking will result in an unpleasant, mushy texture, so it is important to know how long to boil then so you can be sure of great results.
It is also important to make sure you’re working with good quality crawfish. They should be live and the bag shouldn’t be full of mud and other gunk, since you’re paying per pound and you want to get the best value.
Boiling Crawfish Step-By-Step
- Start off with live crawfish (count on about four pounds per person for a main dish or two pounds per person as an appetizer, since six pounds of whole crawfish only yields one pound of crawfish meat).
- Make sure to wash and rinse the live mudbugs thoroughly in cold water using an outside hose or ice chest if you are working with a lot at once. You need to get rid of sand, mud and so on.
- Put a large pot over the heat and add two quarts of water for every pound of crawfish you cook. If you are making a lot, you can use more than one pot or cook them in batches.
- Wait for the water to come to a boil.
- Add seasoning if you like. Cajun spices work especially well with crawfish. You can also season the crawfish after cooking.
- Add the crawfish and cover the pot tightly with a lid.
- Determine how long to boil crawfish, depending on the recipe you are making (see the table below).
- Drain the cooked crawfish and toss with your preferred seasoning, using half a pound of seasoning for every seven or eight pounds of crawfish.
- Let sit for 10 minutes or so to allow the flavors to blend.
- Serve hot and don’t forget plenty of napkins – crawfish can be a messy eat!
How Long to Boil Crawfish
The exact boiling time depends on several factors, including the size of your crawdads and how you’re planning to serve them. The following table is a good guideline:
| Small to medium | 3-8 minutes |
| Medium to large | 8-15 minutes |
| Jumbo | 15-20 minutes |
How to Tell When Crawfish is Cooked
Because the cooking time can vary, it is best to pick out one of the crawfish every few minutes to check the tail meat texture for doneness, taking note of the following:
| Rubbery | Undercooked |
| Mushy or falling apart | Overcooked |
| Firm and juicy | Perfect! |
Some Tips for Great Boiled Crawfish
- Start off with crawfish of similar size. Trying to cook big ones with much smaller ones will mean you don’t end up with all cooked evenly – some will be overcooked while others might be undercooked.
- If you do have different sizes, add the larger ones to the water a few minutes before adding the smaller ones to make up for it.
- Bear in mind that if the water takes a while to return to a boil after adding the shellfish, this will add a few minutes on to the cooking time.
- When the crawfish are almost done, turn off the heat, cover the pot and let them sit in the hot liquid to gently finish cooking. This also ensures they soak up whatever flavors you added to the water.
- Once the crawfish begin to sink, they have soaked up all the flavors and are ready to serve.
How Long to Boil Crawfish with the “Boil and Steep” Method
Another simple way of boiling crawfish is letting them boil for 5 minutes and then letting them steep (sit in the cooking liquid with the lid tightly on the pot) for 25 minutes. This is the right cooking time – regardless of crawfish size.
This is the best method to use if you’re adding seasonings to the cooking liquid, since the steeping really gets all those wonderful flavors into every crawfish.
How Long to Boil Frozen Crawfish
Frozen crawfish are okay to use in certain recipes, but they are not as tasty as live crawfish. However, if they are out of season and you can only find the frozen variety, you might be curious about how best to prepare them for succulent results.
Frozen crawfish don’t need to be thawed before cooking. Check the packaging to see whether the crawfish are partially or fully cooked and the recommended cooking time.
Most frozen crawfish will only need a couple of minutes in the water, but it’s always a good idea to follow the instructions on the package.
In Conclusion
Crawfish are a real treat, and there are many recipes you can prepare with them. Once you know exactly how long to boil crawfish and how to check the doneness, you can have fun experimenting with different crawfish recipes and enjoy this tasty seafood in whatever style you prefer.
Boiling is definitely the best cooking method, since you can add your chosen seasonings to the water and the crawfish will soak up every delicious bit, resulting in a truly tasty meal everyone is going to love.
