Quick Answer: How Do You Reheat Crawfish?
Crawfish is a lovely Southern dish that can be reheated 3 easy and effective ways. The first method is sauteing. Simply throw in your crawfish in a greased and seasoned skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes and you’re done! Another approach, and the one that is most ideal, is steaming. Using a steamer basket to warm up crawfish creates excess moisture, ensuring the fish is extra juicy without taking away the flavor. This method takes approximately 4-6 minutes to complete. Finally, you can also boil your crawfish in a large pot on the stove for 6-8 minutes.
When you’re in the mood for a little southern cuisine, a classic crawfish dish will never disappoint.
If you’ve never had crawfish before, it is essentially a freshwater fish that is similar in flavor to crab and shrimp.
The taste can be described as sweet and slightly salty, with a firm texture. It pairs wonderfully with a variety of other side dishes, including potatoes, salad and corn on the cob.
Now, if you’ve ever found yourself with crawfish leftovers and didn’t know what to do with them, there are 3 easy and effective ways of reheating this dish (because who likes waste?).
When it comes to warming up leftover crawfish, it is essential that you minimize the cooking time as much as possible to avoid difficulties with removing the shell from the meat as well as issues with the fish becoming tough and chewy.
The 3 best approaches to ensure this doesn’t happen include sauteing, steaming and boiling. Each of these methods will provide you with deliciously juicy and flavorful crawfish that are easy and quick to prepare.
Whether you’re a newbie to the crawfish world or simply want to improve your kitchen skills, the following article will provide you with everything you need to know about perfecting the art of reheating crawfish (yes, that is a thing- at least to us, it is).
Because life is busy enough without having to worry about the small things.
How To Reheat Crawfish: Sauteing?
Sauteing your crawfish is an excellent way to reheat them, as it requires just a short cooking period and offers you the opportunity to really increase the flavor factor with other ingredients.
Plus, it’s super easy to execute and will allow you to have dinner ready and on the table in minutes.
Here’s what you need to do:
Pro Tips
- You can just use olive oil to grease the skillet if you prefer, but for a little extra flavor, adding in butter is also a great option.
- The instructions call for 2-3 tablespoons, as the amount will vary slightly depending on how much leftover crawfish you are reheating.
- Adding in the garlic, onion, wine and seasonings isn’t necessary, but it will definitely aid in providing extra yumminess to your dish.
- We highly recommend trying out crab boil seasoning!
- The wine will also help to provide extra moisture, making your crawfish even more juicy!
- Make sure when you add the crawfish to the skillet that they are placed in a single layer and aren’t at all overlapping.
- This will ensure they are all being heated through evenly.
- Flipping the crawfish over every minute will not only make sure the crawfish are being fully coated with the sauce, but it will also ensure they are being cooked evenly on both sides.
- The resting period after the crawfish is done reheating is critical, as it prevents the crawfish from drying out, so don’t skip this step!
RELATED: 19 Amazing Crawfish Bread Recipes
How To Reheat Crawfish: Steaming?
The best method to reheat your crawfish is steaming.
Steaming warms up your crawfish by creating large amounts of moisture. This is ideal as crawfish need to be reheated quickly without being dried out or becoming tough to chew.
This approach will give you moist and flavorful crawfish that you won’t be able to get enough of.
Here’s what you need to do:
Pro Tips
- Make sure that you choose a large enough pot that will fit your steamer basket.
- When it comes to the seasonings, you can simply add in the same ones that you originally used the first time you prepared the crawfish.
- Alternatively, you can also make your own blend. We recommend bay leaves, salt, dried herbs, old bay, and mustard seeds.
- Ensure that the water does not touch the base of the steamer basket. If it does, remove a little.
- Make sure you arrange the crawfish in the steamer basket so that they are not overlapping.
- This will ensure all of the crawfish are being heated through evenly.
- If you remove the crawfish from the heat and notice they are not done, you can put them back and cook for longer. However, it’s important to note that crawfish can easily be overcooked and when this happens, they become tough and hard to chew. To avoid this, ensure you are checking on them every 30 seconds.
RELATED: How Do You Purge Crawfish?
How To Reheat Crawfish: Boiling?
The final method you can implement when reheating crawfish is boiling.
Boiling crawfish is a sure way to create an end result that is extra juicy and delicious.
But be careful with this approach, as you can easily overcook the crawfish and cause them to lose their flavor.
Follow these instructions to avoid this:
Pro Tips
- Make sure that you choose a large enough pot that will have enough space for all of your leftover crawfish.
- When it comes to the seasonings, you can simply add in the same ones that you originally used the first time you prepared the crawfish.
- Alternatively, you can also make your own blend. We recommend bay leaves, salt, dried herbs, old bay, and mustard seeds.
- If you remove the crawfish from the heat and notice they are not done, you can put them back and cook for longer. However, it’s important to note that crawfish can easily be overcooked and when this happens, they become tough and hard to chew. To avoid this, ensure you are checking on them every minute.
- A great way to serve leftover crawfish is with a little lemon juice, accompanied by grilled corn on the cob, red potatoes, sausages and salad!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Eat Leftover Crawfish?
Yes, absolutely, leftover crawfish is perfectly safe to eat.
That being said, crawfish is a type of food that is easily prone to going bad, so it is vital that you store it properly. For more information on how to optimally store leftover crawfish, check out the next question.
It’s also good to keep in mind that for the best eating experience possible, your leftover crawfish needs to be reheated adequately. If it is not, you will have difficulties removing the skin and the meat will be tough and hard to chew.
The best methods for reheating leftover crawfish include sauteing, steaming and boiling, as they all effectively warm up this dish without removing any flavor.
How Do You Store Crawfish?
If you have leftover crawfish, it’s essential that you store it properly to avoid it from spoiling.
This can be done in two ways:
- Fridge: cooked crawfish can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: If you wish to eat your crawfish at a later date, it can also be stored in the freezer in either an airtight container or a resealable freezer bag. Your crawfish will last this way for up to 3 months (the temperature must be maintained at or below 0 degrees Fahrenheit).
Leaving your leftover crawfish at room temperature longer than 2 hours can lead to the development of bacteria, and if consumed this way, can cause serious illnesses, so make sure you follow the storage instructions carefully.
Can You Reheat Crawfish In The Microwave?
Although you might be tempted to reheat your crawfish in the microwave, you should not.
Crawfish require moisture when being reheated, which is why methods such as sauteing, boiling and steaming work so well.
This moisture is absent in a microwave, so when you reheat your crawfish this way, you will be left with a very dry result that is tough to chew.
In addition to this, crawfish possess a strong odor and will leave your microwave smelling rather unpleasant for an extensive period afterward (if you’re familiar with cooking with fish, you’ll know what we mean).
How To Reheat Crawfish: Sauteing?
Crawfish are placed in a greased and seasoned (if desired) skillet on medium-low heat for approximately 3-5 minutes, ensuring to be flipped every minute. The crawfish then rest off of the element for an additional 3-5 minutes before being served.
Materials
- Crawfish
- Olive oil (or olive oil & butter)
- Garlic/onion (optional)
- Seasonings (optional)
- Dry white wine (optional)
Tools
- Skillet with lid
- Measuring spoons
- Tongs
Instructions
- Retrieve a skillet
- Measure out 2-3 tablespoons of either just olive oil or equal parts olive oil and butter and pour them into the skillet
- Adjust the heat setting to medium-low heat
- If desired, add in a couple of cloves of garlic as well as chopped onion
- Add in any desired seasonings
- If you wish, you can also add in 2-4 tablespoons of wine at this time
- Allow the mixture to heat up for approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute
- Once the mixture is heated, add in the crawfish in single file into the skillet
- Allow the crawfish to cook for about 3-4 minutes
- Using tongs, make sure to flip the crawfish over every minute
- Remove the skillet from the element
- Place the lid on top of the skillet and allow it to rest for 3-5 minutes
- Remove the crawfish using tongs and serve with your favorite side dishes!
How To Reheat Crawfish: Steaming?
A pot is filled with water and seasonings and brought to a boil on medium-high heat. The leftover crawfish is then added to a steamer basket and heated for 4-6 minutes.
Materials
- Crawfish
- Water
- Seasonings of choice
Tools
- Large pot with lid
- Steamer basket
- Tongs
Instructions
- Retrieve a large pot
- Add in any seasonings of your choice to the base of the pot
- Pour ½ cup-1 cup of water into the pot
- Place the steamer basket on top
- Adjust the heat setting of the stove to medium-high
- Allow the water to come to a boil
- Once the water is boiling, add the crawfish to the steamer basket
- Place the lid on top of the pot
- Allow the crawfish to cook for 4-6 minutes
- Once the crawfish are finished, remove the lid and take the crawfish out using tongs
- Check that they are heated all the way through
- If yes, serve hot and enjoy
- If not, set the crawfish back into the steamer basket and continue cooking, ensuring to check on them every 30 seconds
How To Reheat Crawfish: Boiling?
A pot is filled with water and seasonings and brought to a boil on medium-high heat. The leftover crawfish is then added to the boiling water and heated for 6-8 minutes before being drained with a colander and prepared to serve.
Materials
- Crawfish
- Water
- Seasonings of choice
Tools
- Large pot
- Tongs
- Colander
Instructions
- Retrieve a large pot
- Fill the pot with water
- Add in any seasonings of your choice
- Allow the water to come to a boil on high heat
- Once the water is boiling, slowly add in the crawfish, one at a time, using tongs
- Allow the crawfish to cook for 6-8 minutes
- Once the crawfish are finished, take them out using tongs
- Check that they are finished by peeling one crawfish and seeing if it is heated all the way through
- If yes, drain the water with the crawfish using a colander, serve and enjoy!
- If not, set the crawfish back into the boiling water and continue cooking, ensuring to check on them every minute
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
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