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How to Reheat Crawfish Fit for a Tasty Southern Feast

If you’re lucky enough to snag some leftovers after a home-cooked southern feast, we sure hope you know how to reheat crawfish. Also known as crayfish, crawdad, and crawdaddy, this miniature crustacean is typically served cajun style and served with potatoes and corn.  

Lazarus Lynch, the host of Food Network’s Comfort Nation and Chopped U says that crawfish boils are a great way of bringing friends and family together to share one big and exciting meal. Soaked in spices and cooked for hours, freshly boiled crawfish are flavorful and delicious. But if you find yourself with a bowl to-go, here are a few ways to reheat crawfish leftovers. 

How to Reheat Crawfish in the Microwave

Love it or hate it, the microwave is one of the most popular tools in the kitchen. But if you’re looking for the best way to reheat crawfish leftovers, you need to think twice before tossing them in the microwave. In general, reheating fish in the microwave is not a good idea — so we say that it’s best to steer clear of this method to reheat crawfish leftovers. 

How to Reheat Crawfish on the Stovetop

It’s no secret that reheating crawfish can be difficult. That’s why Lynch says the key to perfectly delicious crawfish leftovers is moisture and fast cooking. If you’re looking for the best way to reheat crawfish leftovers, Lazarus says the stovetop is your answer. This method keeps the crawfish full of flavor, and it’s the ideal way to reheat cooked crawfish without drying them out. Plus, using the stovetop is the way to go if you need to reheat frozen crawfish. Here, he goes over the steps to reheat crawfish leftovers on the stovetop.

  • Choose a large pot to reheat the crawfish.
  • Add a thin layer of leftover spices (such as Crawfish Crab and Shellfish Boil or Old Bay) in the bottom of the pot. You can also make your own crawfish spices with pickling spices, mustard seeds, black peppercorns, celery seeds, dried hot red pepper flakes, ground ginger, bay leaves, dried oregano, dried chives, and sea salt.
  • Add a very small amount of water to the bottom of the pot and place a steamer basket on top, making sure the liquid does not touch the underside of the basket.
  • Bring the water to a boil.
  • Place the crawfish into the steamer basket and cover.
  • Steam for four to six minutes.
  • Take one crawfish out and check to see if it’s hot throughout. If not, resume steaming and test every 30 to 45 seconds until completely heated.
  • Transfer to a cool plate and enjoy!

    • How to Reheat Boiled Crawfish

    Lynch says if you’re looking for an easy, foolproof way to reheat cooked crawfish without drying them out, throw them back in the pot! “Just be careful to watch the time, as re-boiling too long can cause them to dry out quicker and lose that delicious flavor,” he adds. Here, he explains how to reboil crawfish.  

  • Fill a large pot about three-quarters of the way full. If you have leftover boil spices (such as Crawfish Crab and Shellfish Boil or Old Bay), add them in here as this will enhance the already-flavored crawfish. 
  • Bring the water and optional spices to a full boil.
  • Keeping the boil, add the crawfish either directly to the water or to a fryer basket or perforated pasta insert.
  • Boil the crawfish for six to eight minutes. Be sure to pick one out with tongs and peel, testing to see if it’s thoroughly heated through. Depending on the amount of crawfish, you will need to test every one to two minutes until they are hot throughout.
  • Drain the crawfish in a colander and serve them hot!

    • Now that you have two excellent ways to reheat crawfish leftovers, you need a few options for serving them. Lynch says if you want a complete crawfish boil-feel, top with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and add a side of cut andouille sausage and red potatoes. You can also pair leftover crawfish with corn on the cob and a nice side salad!

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