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Crawfish pot size

Posted on 3/7/18 at 11:54 am
Posted by coletiger
Lafayette
Member since May 2010
44 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 11:54 am
What size pot would be needed to boil 15 - 20 lbs. of crawfish with potatoes, corn and sausage?
Posted by Brazoria Bengal
Your Wildest Dreams
Member since Nov 2016
112 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 11:58 am to
40 qt
Posted by Stadium Rat
Metairie
Member since Jul 2004
10074 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 12:00 pm to
Rule of thumb:

Pounds of crawfish = 60% of your pot size in quarts.

So 20 pounds of crawfish requires a 34 quart pot

20/.6 = 33.3333 quarts.
Posted by rbdallas
Dallas, TX
Member since Nov 2007
10344 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 12:14 pm to
I'd get a 40 and have a little room for corn, potatoes, etc. and easier to find.
Posted by TH03
Mogadishu
Member since Dec 2008
171949 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 12:18 pm to
I’d get 40 so you have room for other stuff.
Posted by AbitaFan08
Boston, MA
Member since Apr 2008
27880 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 12:28 pm to
Whatever you do, don't let the pot get too greasy.

Makes it a bitch to clean.
Posted by LSUFanHouston
NOLA
Member since Jul 2009
40170 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 12:31 pm to
I have three pots, an 80, 100, and 120.

My rule of thumb is, 2x in quarts vs the lbs of crawfish.

So 20 lbs of crawfish would be 40 qts, etc.

You can always use a larger pot... you just would need to add more water and seasoning than you would using the same amount of crawfish in a smaller pot.

You don't want to use too small of a pot, it gets crowded and if not careful you can cause it to boil over.
Posted by PiGbOyFaCe
Member since May 2017
95 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 12:50 pm to
A related question: how much water to put into the pot to prevent overflow when crawfish are added?
Posted by TH03
Mogadishu
Member since Dec 2008
171949 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 12:51 pm to
Fill it a bit over halfway and you’ll be fine.
Posted by LSUFanHouston
NOLA
Member since Jul 2009
40170 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 1:36 pm to
quote:

A related question: how much water to put into the pot to prevent overflow when crawfish are added?


What I will usually do is, after I rinse the mudbugs, I'll dump them into the basket and drop the basket in the pot, then fill up the pot until I'm about 3-4 inches above the level of the crawfish (to allow for corn, sausage, potatoes, etc). Then remove the basket, dump crawfish back into the ice chest to hang out, and turn fire on.
Posted by lsupride87
Member since Dec 2007
107936 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 2:39 pm to
quote:

You can always use a larger pot... you just would need to add more water and seasoning than you would using the same amount of crawfish in a smaller pot.
Wait huh?


If it takes 10 gallons of water to boil 1 sack in an 80qt pot, why would you need more water in a 100qt pot?

I have found 10 gallons is the honey hole for one sack whether it be an 80 qt pot or a 120 qt pot
This post was edited on 3/7/18 at 2:42 pm
Posted by Nawlens Gator
louisiana
Member since Sep 2005
5943 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 3:35 pm to

Amen. The amount of water depends on the lbs of crawfish and is in no way related to pot size.

Posted by lsupride87
Member since Dec 2007
107936 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 3:38 pm to
quote:

The amount of water depends on the lbs of crawfish and is in no way related to pot size.

Correct. The biggest misconception though, is people think the amount of seasoning is for the amount of crawfish as well

Incorrect. Once you find the correct amount of seasoning for the amount of water, it doesnt matter if you put one single crawfish in that pot, or 35 lbs it will be the same.


People will argue this to their blue in the face though, claming that more crawfish in the pot "soak up more of the seasoning"
Posted by LNCHBOX
70448
Member since Jun 2009
88576 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 3:47 pm to
quote:

People will argue this to their blue in the face though, claming that more crawfish in the pot "soak up more of the seasoning"
I suppose if you're putting in so much seasoning that it no longer is dissolving into the water, they might have a point.
Posted by lsupride87
Member since Dec 2007
107936 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 3:51 pm to
quote:

I suppose if you're putting in so much seasoning that it no longer is dissolving into the water, they might have a point.


True.

The argument kills me though. They will say "You can taste the spices!! and see the spices on the corn!!! So the more you put in the more it soaks up"

I try to explain, it is also soaking up the water, keeping the ratio the exact same. But it never works


I also try to explain you dont need to add any seasoning to the second batch unless you want it spicier (which I do, which is why I add more seasoning). Some people think you have to add more seasoning to the second batch to try and keep it "equal with the first"
Posted by coletiger
Lafayette
Member since May 2010
44 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 3:56 pm to
Thanks everyone for the input. Academy has a 42Qt. pot that I may pick up this weekend to boil some crawfish along with some shrimp.
Posted by lsupride87
Member since Dec 2007
107936 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 4:00 pm to
quote:

Thanks everyone for the input. Academy has a 42Qt. pot that I may pick up this weekend to boil some crawfish along with some shrimp.

Do you live here in louisiana and plan on doing more boils? If so, I would get an 80 qt pot because you will be able to do a full tradional sack in this(which is usually around 35 pounds)

If you live out of state, and are ordering crawfish by the individual pound and wont be doing alot of future boils, your 42 qt pot is perfect
Posted by coletiger
Lafayette
Member since May 2010
44 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 4:37 pm to
I live in Lafayette. I have access to larger pots but was just wondering what size pot I needed for a 20 lb. boil.
Posted by keakar
Member since Jan 2017
30152 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 8:20 pm to
if you are asking about buying a pot, get the 80 qt pot, it does a full 45 lbs sack if you ever buy a full "hard" sack (packed tight), the "soft" sack (packed loosely) is the 30 lbs sack.

its better to have more pot then you need, and then just not fill it all the way
This post was edited on 3/7/18 at 8:21 pm
Posted by Nawlens Gator
louisiana
Member since Sep 2005
5943 posts
Posted on 3/7/18 at 9:10 pm to

quote:

its better to have more pot then you need, and then just not fill it all the way


This. I have a 100 qt pot and I've boiled as little as 10 lbs of shrimp in it. Get a basket with the pot too. What is your heat source?



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