How to Cook Crawdads

Crawdads can be found in many lakes, rivers and creeks throughout the U.S.

Crawdads, also known as crayfish, can be found in many lakes, rivers and creeks throughout the U.S. Crawdads have sharp claws, similar to a crab, and can cause some discomfort if you get pinched while trying to catch them. It is a good idea to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands. Cooking crawdads is very simple to accomplish and a good meal would consist of about 30 crawdads per person.

Instructions

1. Fill the pot with water and a pinch of salt and bring it to a boil. You can also add any other seasonings that you prefer, such as black pepper or cayenne pepper.

2. Decide whether to cook the entire crawdad or just the tails and claws. The entire crawdad will need about 18 minutes to cook, while just the tails and claws will require about five minutes. When done, the crawdad will be a bright red color.

3. Add other ingredients while cooking to season the dish, such as onion, cilantro, garlic or jalapenos. The ingredients you use should be based on your preferences. Once the cooking is complete, remove the crawdads from the pot and crack the shells by bending the tail outward. You can dip the crawdads in butter or hot sauce or any other condiment you prefer.

References

• Coos-Bay: Crawdad Information and Pictures:
• The Arizona Republic: Crawdad Catching 101