Crawfish boils are a Southern staple. It's the one time that you shouldn't be afraid of being a little messy since eating crawfish is a complete hands-on experience.
That being said, there is a lot of debate about the best way to eat a crawfish. Some people wonder how to eat a crawfish head while others just focus on the tail. Whichever part of the crawfish you'd like to enjoy we've got some simple tips and a fun video tutorial to help you get the technique right.
What's a crawfish boil?
A crawfish boil is an occasion in itself. This type of meal is popular in the Southern United States when crawfish are in season (normally from February to June).
A crawfish boil can be as simple as boiling crawfish with spices or be a more elaborate meal featuring crawfish, potatoes, corn and garlic. Sometimes andouille sausage is added into the mix. The ingredients and accompaniments depend on the region.
A post shared by Brett Winkel (@brettwinkel) on Jan 7, 2019 at 9:36am PST
Essential Tips For Eating Crawfish
- Examine the crawfish carefully to see where the head and the tail meet.
- Push the tail into the head then twist it to separate it from the head.
- Find the first ring in the tail's shell and peel it off to remove the meat.
- Pinch the end of the tail while simultaneously biting into the meat to release it.
- If you'd like to eat the crawfish head go ahead and suck out the juices.
- Have a plate nearby to discard the shells while eating.
- Make sure to have plenty of napkins or paper towels on hand.
- Rub your hands with lemon afterward to help reduce the lingering seafood smell.
Video: How to Properly Peel and Eat Crawfish
The following video features a handful of Louisiana natives explaining how they like to eat crawfish. Everyone offers his or her own spin on eating crawfish - some more efficient than others. Stay tuned till the very end, as you'll discover a very efficient technique to get the job done.
