10 Tips for a Successful Crawfish Boil
Although crawfish season can last from November through July, you'll find the best crawfish in the springtime and early summer, from late February through May. Crawfish boils are a super easy way to feed a large crowd, and the joyous atmosphere will create a memorable event for your friends and family. Here are my top 10 tips for hosting a successful crawfish boil this spring!
Serve mild-flavored beers to accompany your spicy crawfish boil! Wheat beers and summer shandys help balance the flavor and spice found in the seafood boil. Be sure to avoid serving beers that are too acidic or assertive in flavor, such as Coronas or IPAs, as they may completely clash and throw off the flavor of the seafood.
Designate 1-3 guests to be in charge of teaching newcomers how to eat crawfish properly. For newcomers, crawfish can seem like a very intimidating thing to eat. Be sure to have patient teachers floating around to help guests twist the head, suck the juices, peel and clean the tail, and enjoy the tiny morsel of crawfish meat awaiting them inside.
Serve side dishes that help to mellow out spicy foods. Bread rolls, boiled potatoes, potato salad, green salad, and rice pilaf are all examples of side dishes that will help relieve the spice of the seafood boil. Focus on serving simple sides that are easy to eat and will help to give your guests’ palates a rest from the spice of the seafood boil.
Overestimate the amount of napkins, tablecloths, and wet wipes your guests will need during the party. Crawfish boils are traditionally served by pouring a pot of seafood directly onto a table covered with a plastic tablecloth. Feel free to purchase inexpensive plastic tablecloths from your local party supply store, but it is best to double up on tablecloths and change them frequently. Visit your local big box store to buy paper towels, paper napkins, and wet wipes in bulk. Make sure that one roll of paper towels is placed on the table for each group of six guests, and consider placing small trash bins at the edge of each table for easy disposal of used napkins, paper towels and wipes.
Dress code must be super relaxed and casual. Eating crawfish is a messy, hands-on activity. So be sure to warn your guests that they should try to wear clothing that they are okay getting messy.
Come, sit, stay a while. Crawfish boils usually carry on from early afternoon until late in the evening, so encourage your guests to lounge, linger, and stay for a long time. In order to keep the seafood boils hot and fresh, consider batch cooking the seafood to order. Guests should be laughing, enjoying themselves, and relaxing in between rounds of crawfish.
Crawfish and shrimp are a match made in heaven! While crawfish should be the star of the show, adding shrimp to your seafood boil is a must. First, while eating crawfish is a fun and social activity, crawfish is not a very filling food. It will take approximately 1.5 to 3 pounds of crawfish for one guest to feel satiated. Adding shrimp to the seafood boil will help your guests feel satisfied sooner. Also, adding shrimp to the seafood boil is a great way to appease children or any guest that is a bit leery of eating crawfish.
Create a fun and lively atmosphere with family-friendly music. Frankie Beverly & Maze, the Temptations, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Bon Jovi should be welcome guests at your seafood boil. Create a fun-loving and welcoming atmosphere by rocking out to all of your best family reunion tunes.
Go Mardi Gras Wild! Regardless of the time of year, a crawfish boil is an excellent time to break out your beads and noise makers for a Mardi Gras decorated event. Crawfish boils are almost exclusively associated with Louisiana, New Orleans and Cajun culture, so a Mardi Gras-themed seafood boil is always appropriate.
Let nature be your venue! Consider hosting your crawfish boil outdoors or in a non-traditional space. Hosting your crawfish boil outdoors help to prevent your formal dining area from the messy event, and it will help create the relaxed and causal atmosphere necessary to a successful crawfish boil.