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Washing Crawfish
Posted on 3/26/25 at 6:47 am
Posted on 3/26/25 at 6:47 am
I'm in DFW so we don't get to boil crawfish as often as we would like. We are doing good if it's 1 a year.
Anyway, my family was giving me crap about putting the crawfish in an ice chest and rinsing an dumping the water a couple times for each sack. I'm like do you want all that dirt on your corn, potatoes, mushrooms?
What do you guys do?
It just makes sense to me unless you do 2 pot system. One for boiling and transfer them to a soaking pot.
Anyway, my family was giving me crap about putting the crawfish in an ice chest and rinsing an dumping the water a couple times for each sack. I'm like do you want all that dirt on your corn, potatoes, mushrooms?
What do you guys do?
It just makes sense to me unless you do 2 pot system. One for boiling and transfer them to a soaking pot.
18
Posted on 3/26/25 at 6:52 am to jp4lsu
I have a large metal washtub that I can easily fit 40+ lbs. of crawfish in and will dump the sack in there, fill with cold water and give them a good mix to start getting the dirt off.
I will dump that water and fill again and just let the hose run so fresh water is introduced and mix them up until they are clean enough for my liking.
You really need to wash them and I prefer something large enough to allow me to give them a real good mixing. Using an ice chest is better than nothing, but I prefer something larger so the crawfish are spaced farther apart.
I will dump that water and fill again and just let the hose run so fresh water is introduced and mix them up until they are clean enough for my liking.
You really need to wash them and I prefer something large enough to allow me to give them a real good mixing. Using an ice chest is better than nothing, but I prefer something larger so the crawfish are spaced farther apart.
Posted on 3/26/25 at 6:57 am to jp4lsu
I've used the same metal wash tub for a decade now. I've seen modified ice chest setups where they cut the plug hole out large and just keep cold water running through it until it's time to throw them in the pot.
Posted on 3/26/25 at 7:22 am to jp4lsu
quote:
What do you guys do?
Large wash tub, fill tub up to cover crawfish for a few minutes, dump water after a few minutes. Do this 2-3 times. The water should be relatively clear after the crawfish sit in it for a few minutes. Makes zero sense not to do that.
This post was edited on 3/26/25 at 7:24 am
Posted on 3/26/25 at 7:28 am to jp4lsu
quote:
What do you guys do?
I had a gift card to academy so I bought one of these crawfish washer things.
It works great, but it makes a huge mess with all the water. So I only use it when there is ample space to make a mess.
Otherwise and normally, I just do what you do, put them in an ice chest and rinse 3 or 4 times.
Posted on 3/26/25 at 7:50 am to kengel2
I have the same thing. And yeah it makes a mess but I have a spot in my yard that I don’t mind getting wet. Run it til the water runs clear.
Posted on 3/26/25 at 8:21 am to kengel2
So how does this make more of a mess than using an ice chest or a wash tub to rinse?
Posted on 3/26/25 at 8:25 am to jp4lsu
quote:
Anyway, my family was giving me crap about putting the crawfish in an ice chest and rinsing an dumping the water a couple times for each sack.
Your family is dumb. Even "pre-washed" crawfish still need to be washed when you dump them from the sack.
A lot of restaurants use these, but its the same principle as an ice chest. Fill it up, then pull the plug and leave the hose in until the water drains clear. You may have to do it a few times in an ice chest because the water probably drains faster than you can refill it, but it doesn't cost anything extra to just use an ice chest that you already have.
Posted on 3/26/25 at 9:37 am to jp4lsu
Bought a heavy duty plastic wagon last year and drilled holes in bottom. Can pull a few sacks around wherever they are needed and also rinse when needed. When I’m done, I use it for yard work. Win win
Posted on 3/26/25 at 9:41 am to jp4lsu
They like to hide dirt under their tails. Make sure you mix them around while washing
Posted on 3/26/25 at 9:48 am to jp4lsu
quote:
my family was giving me crap about putting the crawfish in an ice chest and rinsing an dumping the water a couple times for each sack
Why? Do they wash / rinse their vegetables before cooking? A crawfish is called a "mudbug" for a reason. The undersides of them can often be caked in dirt / mud. Spraying them down helps get rid of that so you aren't chewing / eating dirt when consuming the crawfish.
But yes. Keep using your ice chest and running water through it a few times. I try to set my hose nozzle to shower setting and get direct spray on as much of the crawfish as possible by sifting them around as I spray them in the ice chest.
This post was edited on 3/26/25 at 9:52 am
Posted on 3/26/25 at 10:01 am to jp4lsu
quote:
So how does this make more of a mess than using an ice chest or a wash tub to rinse?
Because I can wheel my ice chest where ever I want to dump the water and then wheel it back. If you have the room to deal with it then cool, I dont. I guess I could add wheels to it, might have to look into that.
Posted on 3/26/25 at 10:21 am to jp4lsu
We use a basket like this. I think it's called a seafood basket or fish basket. Put this in a larger bucket and stuff the hose between this basket and the larger bucket.
Here's a link, about $25
Here's a link, about $25
Posted on 3/26/25 at 12:08 pm to jp4lsu
Absolutely do clean them, 3 times seems to be the normal. I usually just use the pot and basket to do it.
Posted on 3/26/25 at 12:49 pm to jp4lsu
clean them every time.
dump them into ice chest, fill with water and swoosh them around with my hands.
repeat until water runs clearish.
dump them into ice chest, fill with water and swoosh them around with my hands.
repeat until water runs clearish.
This post was edited on 3/26/25 at 12:50 pm
Posted on 3/26/25 at 12:58 pm to kengel2
You can hook a water hose to the outlet of the crawfish washer and run it where you want, so no mess is made.
Posted on 3/26/25 at 1:46 pm to jp4lsu
Reads like many are dumping them out of the sack. I leave them in. Use a metal tub and dunk the entire sack around like a giant tea bag. Change the water until it’s clear. Usuallly 4-5 times. Makes transferring to the pot simple and they get cleaned.
Posted on 3/26/25 at 1:57 pm to jp4lsu
I put mine in a large vessel of some sort, and refill/drain multiple times throughout the day, probably 6 or 7 times. But the time I'm ready to boil the water is relatively clean and the crawfish come out clean white with beautiful yellow fat. Nothing I hate worse than gritty, dirty crawfish.
This post was edited on 3/26/25 at 1:58 pm
Posted on 3/26/25 at 2:01 pm to PerplenGold
quote:
Reads like many are dumping them out of the sack. I leave them in. Use a metal tub and dunk the entire sack around like a giant tea bag. Change the water until it’s clear. Usuallly 4-5 times. Makes transferring to the pot simple and they get cleaned.
Yeah I dump out of the sack because I stir them around some to help the cleaning process. Then dump them in old ice chest lid propped ajar.
Posted on 3/26/25 at 3:12 pm to jp4lsu
I wash the shite out of my crawfish until the water runs clear enough to drink. I've never not done that.
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