re: When you are boiling crawfish

head of cabbage

eggs

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small children

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best marinated in olive oil and a beer the night before cooked.

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When I turn the fire off, I put a bag of ice in mine.

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Bag and all or dump the ice in?

I like those vending ice machine bags. They're nice and thick. I usually get two bags for each batch and stick the bag and ice in the boil. When the first one melts, I put the second bag in.

Have you ever tried the two pot method? You boil the stock by itself, then set it aside and let it cool. Boil the crawfish in non-seasoned water. When they're done, drop the basket into the cooled stock. The tails come out more flavorful and the heads are really juicy. I just don't like how they're not as hot temperature wise.

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small children

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Buy a bigger pot. Teens are a little harder to peel, but the meat does not fall apart. This also allows you to evaluate the little ones to see if they are keepers.

Why do some people put ice on their crawfish while soaking? Crawfish really don't overcook as long as you don't overboil them.

I always add a bag or 2 of ice when done (crawfish and shrimp). Better control of the doneness, the shear caused between shell and meat makes them peel easier, and they soak up more spice faster. I have experimental data.

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Why do some people put ice on their crawfish while soaking? Crawfish really don't overcook as long as you don't overboil them.





Better control. It shuts the cooking phase down, and accelerates the soaking up of the seasonings.

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Bingo.

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dude I don't even like to keep the teens, they have too much of a "city" taste,

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Obviously you are not removing the brains.

In your soak pot, try cracking a few eggs. Do this very slow and close to the water. They will float to the top when done and then you have some damn hot par-boil eggs. Pretty damn good.