Cooking Crawfish Without A Steamer: Simple Alternative Methods

Crawfish, a staple in many households, is a delicious meal that brings friends and family together. While boiling is a popular way to cook crawfish, it is not the only way. If you don't have a steamer, you can sauté or fry them. To sauté, coat a deep pan with oil, add minced onion and garlic, and then the crawfish. Fry for about 5-6 minutes, flipping continuously for even cooking. You can also boil crawfish without a steamer by filling a large pot with water and seasoning, adding the crawfish, and boiling for about 6-8 minutes.

How to reheat crawfish in the oven

Reheating crawfish in the oven is not recommended, as the dry heat will likely dry out the crawfish, making them hard to chew. If you want to reheat crawfish, steaming, sautéing, or boiling are better options, as they will help retain the moisture in the crawfish.

Reheating Via Steaming

The best way to reheat crawfish is to ensure that it's full of moisture and to cook it quickly. To steam crawfish, follow these steps:

• Use a large pot to cook the leftover crawfish.
• Coat the bottom of the pot with some leftover spices such as shellfish boil or crawfish crab. Alternatively, you can create a homemade blend of spices using mustard seeds, pickling spices, black peppercorns, dried hot red pepper flakes, celery seeds, ground ginger, dried oregano, bay leaves, sea salt, and dried chives.
• Add a small amount of water and put a steamer basket on top of the pot. Make sure the water is not touching the bottom of the steamer basket.
• Bring the mixture of spices and water to a boil.
• Put the crawfish in the basket, cover with a lid, and steam for about 4 to 7 minutes.
• Use tongs to take out one crawfish and check if it's thoroughly cooked. If not, resume steaming and check every 30 to 45 seconds to avoid overcooking.
• Transfer the steamed crawfish to a platter and serve.

Reheating Via Sautéing

Another option is to sauté the crawfish. Here's how:

• Use olive oil to coat the bottom of a deep pan or skillet. Add minced onion, garlic, or a large spoonful of crab boil seasoning to retain flavor.
• Put the skillet over medium flame and heat the oil until there's a clear shine across the surface.
• Place the crawfish in a single layer in the skillet and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes.
• Use tongs to turn the crawfish several times to ensure even cooking and coat them with the flavored oil to keep them moist.
• Cover the skillet with a lid and remove it from the flame.
• Let the crawfish rest in the hot skillet for about 3 to 5 minutes to heat through without drying out.
• Use tongs to remove the crawfish from the skillet and serve hot.

Reheating Via Boiling

If you want to ensure the crawfish remains juicy, boiling is a good option. Here's how:

• Fill a large pot with water and add a leftover blend of spices like old bay or shellfish boil for added flavor.
• Bring the mixture to a full boil.
• Carefully lower the crawfish into the boiling water with tongs.
• Boil the crawfish for about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Pick out one crawfish, peel it, and check if it's heated through. If not, put it back in the boiling water and check every 1 to 2 minutes to avoid overcooking.
• Use a colander to drain the reheated crawfish, squeeze some fresh lemon juice on top, and serve hot.

How to cook crawfish on a stovetop

Ingredients

• Live crawfish
• Seafood boil seasoning
• Vegetables (optional)
• Salt
• Water
• Lemon wedges
• Melted butter
• Dipping sauces

Utensils

• Large pot with a steamer basket or rack insert
• Slotted spoon or strainer
• Large serving platter

Method

• Rinse the live crawfish thoroughly in cold water to remove any dirt or debris.
• Fill a large pot with water, leaving enough room for the crawfish to be added later.
• Place the pot on the stove and bring the water to a rolling boil.
• Add the seafood boil seasoning according to the package instructions. The amount of seasoning you add will depend on your preference and the desired spiciness level.
• Once the water is seasoned, carefully add the live crawfish to the pot, handling them with care to avoid any injuries from their pincers.
• Gently stir to ensure all the crawfish are fully immersed in the seasoned water.
• Cook the crawfish in the boiling water for approximately 10 minutes. Keep an eye on their color as they cook; they should turn a vibrant red hue.
• (Optional) To enhance the flavor and add extra elements to your crawfish boil, throw in some vegetables such as corn on the cob, potatoes, and sausage.
• Once the crawfish are cooked, remove the pot from the heat.
• Use a slotted spoon or a strainer to drain the crawfish and vegetables from the water.
• Transfer them to a large serving platter or a newspaper-covered table for a traditional Cajun-style feast.
• Serve with melted butter, lemon wedges, and your favorite dipping sauces.

Notes

• It is important not to overcook the crawfish as this can result in tough and chewy meat.
• The crawfish are fully cooked when the shells turn bright red and the meat is opaque.
• The tails should easily separate from the body when gently pulled.
• You can reheat leftover crawfish by placing them in a steamer basket or on a rack above boiling water for a few minutes.

How to prepare crawfish for steaming

Preparing crawfish for steaming is a relatively simple process, but it does require a few key steps to ensure the best results. Here is a guide on how to prepare crawfish for steaming:

Step 1: Sourcing and Cleaning

Start by sourcing live crawfish, preferably bought just before you plan to cook them. Rinse them thoroughly under cold, fresh water to remove any dirt or debris. You can use an ice chest or a large container for this process. This step is important as crawfish are typically harvested from muddy freshwater sources.

Step 2: Purging

After cleaning, it is recommended to purge the crawfish to remove any remaining impurities. To do this, soak the crawfish in a large container filled with salted water for about 30 minutes.

Step 3: Removing Damaged Crawfish

Once they are clean and purged, inspect the crawfish and remove any with loose or damaged shells. It is also important to discard any crawfish that are dead.

Step 4: Final Rinse

After removing any unwanted crawfish, give them a final rinse in cold water to ensure they are ready for the steaming process.

Step 5: Preparing the Steamer

Fill a large pot with water, leaving enough room for the crawfish and other ingredients. The amount of water will depend on the size of your pot, but generally, you will need about 2 quarts of water for every pound of crawfish. Place a steamer basket or rack insert into the pot, ensuring it sits above the water level.

Step 6: Seasoning

Add your desired seasonings to the water to infuse it with flavour. Traditional Cajun spices, garlic, lemon, and bay leaves are popular choices. You can also use a pre-made seafood boil seasoning. The amount of seasoning can vary according to your taste preferences. Remember that the crawfish will absorb these flavours during the steaming process.

Now that your crawfish are prepared and your steamer is ready, you can proceed to the steaming process. Enjoy your delicious seafood feast!

What to serve with crawfish

Crawfish is a popular dish in the Southern United States, especially Louisiana, and is often served at social gatherings. It is usually boiled and can be accompanied by a variety of side dishes and condiments. So, what to serve with crawfish?

Traditional Sides

Crawfish boils are a popular way to cook and serve crawfish, and this method often includes a variety of sides cooked in the same pot as the crawfish. This can include potatoes, corn, onions, garlic, mushrooms, green beans, and other vegetables. These vegetables absorb the flavours of the crawfish and seasonings, making them a tasty and colourful addition to the meal. Andouille sausage is also a popular choice to accompany crawfish.

Condiments and Seasonings

Crawfish is often served with a range of condiments and seasonings to enhance the flavour. This can include cocktail sauce, melted butter, Cajun seasoning, crawfish boil seasoning, and lemon wedges. The seasonings can be added to the cooking liquid or provided on the side for guests to add to their liking.

Drinks

As crawfish is often served with spicy seasonings, a cool drink is a perfect pairing. Zydeco music, which often accompanies crawfish boils, calls for a refreshing beverage. Beer is a popular choice, as are other cold drinks such as water or lemonade.

Dessert

After a hearty crawfish meal, a light and refreshing dessert can be a perfect finish. Some options could include lemon blueberry muffins, buttermilk pie, or fresh fruit.

How to check if crawfish is cooked

There are a few ways to check if crawfish are cooked, depending on how you are cooking them. If you are boiling crawfish, they will be cooked when they turn red and their tails curl up. If you are steaming or sautéing crawfish, you can check by taking one out of the pan with a pair of tongs and checking if it is heated through. You can also check by sucking the juices from the base of the head – if the liquid is warm, the crawfish is cooked.

If you are hosting a crawfish boil, it is important to know that crawfish with straight tails were likely dead before they were boiled and will taste rotten.

Frequently asked questions