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For crawfish boils, how do you prefer the crawfish to be served? Trays or Dumped on Table?

Posted on 3/21/17 at 1:01 pm
Posted by SUB
Silver Tier TD Premium
Member since Jan 2009
23233 posts
Posted on 3/21/17 at 1:01 pm
I know, another crawfish thread, but it IS that season...

I am curious as to the way that people here prefer their crawfish to be served at a crawfish boil. I've really only seen two methods. Both have pros and cons. Growing up, my family and mostly every boil I went to used method 1 - trays. I'd never seen anyone use method 2 and dump a whole pot of crawfish onto a table(s) until college probably. Now, that's all I do because it's just so much easier. What's your preference, and why? Is one method more traditional than the other. Is there another method that I'm leaving out?

Method 1 - Trays
Once crawfish are done, dump them in an ice chest with a scoop and let people serve themselves (or someone does all the scooping) on individual trays. Vegetables are sometimes kept separate.

Pros
Some people like being able to serve themselves a certain amount of crawfish and fixings.
Crawfish will remain hot if you go back for seconds
You don't have to fight for a spot at a table and can eat from your tray anywhere.

Cons
It takes a while to serve everyone, especially if there's a large crowd
Need to get enough trays for everyone and creates a lot of trash / extra work.

Method 2 - Dumped on Table
Once crawfish are done, dump them with fixings onto tables and it's a free for all.

Pros
The least amount of work for the host / cooker
Creates a more social environment as everyone is sharing
Everyone is served all at once

Cons
If you don't have enough table space, some people may have a hard time getting their fill.
After a while, crawfish and sides get cold
Fixings not always distributed evenly




This post was edited on 3/21/17 at 1:08 pm
Posted by BoogaBear
Member since Jul 2013
6488 posts
Posted on 3/21/17 at 1:03 pm to
Table. Every man for himself.

Strategically place yourself near slow peelers and the cooler.
Posted by Coater
Madison, MS
Member since Jun 2005
33338 posts
Posted on 3/21/17 at 1:06 pm to
dumped on the table with a big hole/can in the middle so i can hide the damage
Posted by LSUballs
RayVegas LA
Member since Feb 2008
39007 posts
Posted on 3/21/17 at 1:17 pm to
Table. Another con to the ice chest is they keep cooking and get over done. Sometimes you don't have much of a choice but to dump them in an ice chest, but it's better not to imho.
Posted by SUB
Silver Tier TD Premium
Member since Jan 2009
23233 posts
Posted on 3/21/17 at 1:23 pm to
quote:

Another con to the ice chest is they keep cooking and get over done. Sometimes you don't have much of a choice but to dump them in an ice chest, but it's better not to imho.



Doesn't that depend on if you are soaking vs sprinkling? I almost posted this, but if you are soaking them, how do they keep cooking? Once you lower your water temp to a certain point, shouldn't they stop cooking during the soak? How would putting them in an ice chest restart the cooking process?

If you are sprinkling, then I can see how that would be relevant because they are put in the ice chest from a full boil.
Posted by Fight4LSU
Kenner
Member since Jul 2005
9854 posts
Posted on 3/21/17 at 1:30 pm to
I'm old school. Cover the tables with newspaper and dump the crawfish.
Posted by LSUballs
RayVegas LA
Member since Feb 2008
39007 posts
Posted on 3/21/17 at 1:31 pm to
How cool do you think they get in while they are soaking? 212 deg water with a bunch of crawfish in it will still be way up in the 100's even after you've soaked them for 20 minutes. And dumped in an ice chest that heat aint going nowhere..
Posted by SUB
Silver Tier TD Premium
Member since Jan 2009
23233 posts
Posted on 3/21/17 at 1:40 pm to
quote:

How cool do you think they get in while they are soaking?


I guess it all depends on how cool you get your water? I have no idea at what water temp they actually stop cooking, but I let mine soak anywhere from 20-45 minutes, sometimes longer, and never have issues with overcooking. I get what you are saying, but if what you say is true, longer soak times can lead to overcooked crawfish. But I'd argue that most people agree here that soak time is all about taste with no concern of under/overcooking.
This post was edited on 3/21/17 at 1:43 pm
Posted by TH03
Mogadishu
Member since Dec 2008
171891 posts
Posted on 3/21/17 at 1:43 pm to
Dump on the table. Boils are a social thing, trays make it an individual thing.
Posted by CHEDBALLZ
South Central LA
Member since Dec 2009
22781 posts
Posted on 3/21/17 at 1:48 pm to
Trays, people tend to gorge themselves when you dump them on the table.

Also, its easier to clean. I go to Fanguy Brothers in Houma and buy a case of styrofoam trays, they are about 12"x18", for $20. They last me about a year and I never have to wash a tray or roll up newspaper. You finished, throw your trash in the can, done.
Posted by jaydoubleyew
Downtown
Member since Oct 2011
726 posts
Posted on 3/21/17 at 2:18 pm to
Trays so everyone can kind of eat when they want and they stay hot in the chest. Never noticed them being over cooked by sitting.

We line the chests with some 50gal trash bags so it just needs a quick spray out and it's clean. I like those round plastic trays from academy. Spray them off and run the dishwasher at the end of the day.
Posted by lsuwontonwrap
Member since Aug 2012
34147 posts
Posted on 3/21/17 at 4:12 pm to
table
Posted by jmon
Loisiana
Member since Oct 2010
9286 posts
Posted on 3/21/17 at 5:04 pm to
Table or one of those small pirogues set in the center of a table.
Posted by LSUFanHouston
NOLA
Member since Jul 2009
39228 posts
Posted on 3/21/17 at 6:07 pm to
I line the table with newspaper and dump on the table. I also have some trays lying around, as well as a few cardboard drink flats. So if the table is crowded or someone wants to go sit on the side, they can just fill from the table.

Putting them in an ice chest does tend to cause the veggies to get a little mushy over time. Like 30-60 minutes later.

If the crawfish get cold on the table before you eat them, then that's when you peel them and save them for crawfish pasta, crawfish etoufee, etc!!
Posted by Darla Hood
Near that place by that other place
Member since Aug 2012
14107 posts
Posted on 3/21/17 at 6:12 pm to
Tray. I take a small amount at a time so I can keep them hot.
Posted by jimbeam
University of LSU
Member since Oct 2011
75703 posts
Posted on 3/21/17 at 6:27 pm to
Trays are so much cleaner. Use them almost every time.
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