Expert Advice Page - Crawfish Boil Tips

Mudbugs.Crawdads.Freshwater lobsters.Crawfish have many names, but here in the South we call them mostly “Delicious!”

Just like barbecues and fish fries, crawfish boils have become one of the most popular forms outdoor cooking with family and friends. If you want to know how to do a crawfish boil of your own, here are some helpful considerations to keep in mind before purchasing live crawfish or heading to Academy Sports + Outdoors to pick up the best crawfish cooking gear.

To figure out how many pounds of crawfish you should order for your crawfish boil, you’ll have to figure a few things out.Firstly, for lighter eaters(or if you are adding in a lot of other fixings like potatoes, sausage, shrimp, corn, or other boil items) then the minimum crawfish you want is 3 to 5 pounds per person.However, if crawfish is the centerpiece, count on 5 to 7 pounds per guest.

Here are the key factors to consider when buying crawfish for a crawfish boil:

• Determine the total number of guests.RSVP's ahead of time are helpful

• Multiply the total number of guests by the pounds per person

• Pounds per person is 3 to 10 pounds per guest depending on:

• If there is a lot of extra add-ins

• Eaters' appetite for crawfish(experience level)

• Add a couple extra pounds to the crawfish boiler for every 3 - 4 guests

Truly experienced Creole crawfish eaters can put away 5 to 7 pounds and easily come back for seconds.If it's a daylong or weekend event, you may want to prepare for 10 pounds per person just to be sure there’s plenty to go around.

For the best crawfish boils, make sure you buy your crawdads fresh and live to get the best crawfish cooking results.The closer to the day and time of the boil, the better.You can order crawfish online from crawfish farmers or buy them local.Whether overnight delivery or pickup from a local vendor, make sure your crawfish are:

• Alive

• Clean, not caked in mud

• Delivered next day air or picked up local

• Consistent in size for even cooking

Never keep your crawfish for more than three days.Furthermore, never cook dead crawfish(if they float when you clean them, they're dead).

Check out our helpful guide for crawfish boil prep, to learn even more tips for buying and storing live crawfish.

Aside from the tables, chairs, and other & nbsp; outdoor living  furniture to help your guests feel at home for the crawfish feast, you’ll need some crawfish cooking essentials:

• A large crawfish & nbsp; boiling pot and strainer or crawfish boiler

• Insulated gloves

• Wood-handled strainer or spoon

• Propane crawfish cooker

For cooking crawfish, you will also need basic ingredients:

• Onions and garlic

• Crawfish seasonings or your own spice blend

• Corn on the cob (raw or frozen)

• Small potatoes, like fingerling or red potatoes

Other recommended ingredients:

• Lemons or citrus

• Bell peppers, hot peppers, or black or cayenne pepper

• Hot sauce

• Bay leaves

• Celery

• Shrimp, clams, oysters, crab, or other seafood stew features

• Cajun, Andouille, or spicy sausage(pre - cooked and cut into chunks)

Follow these tips for an easy crawfish boil! To make sure you throw the best backyard gatherings, find all your home and backyard outdoor cooking essentials, patio furniture, and more at Academy online and in-store.