Crawfish is a traditional meal in most Southern households. Crawfish makes for a fancy meal that you can cook to impress your friends and family. If you’re dealing with leftovers, you might get super skeptical about reheating crawfish, but we’ve got you! Well, can you reheat crawfish?
Yes, you can reheat crawfish in four easy ways. It can be reheated by boiling, sautéing, steaming and microwaving.
In this article, we will talk about not one but 5 different ways to reheat crawfish. Keep on reading to know more!
How to reheat crawfish properly?
You need to know the tips and tricks to reheat crawfish properly to prevent it from drying out. Keep on reading to find out how to reheat your crawfish so that it has all its flavors and juiciness intact.
Steaming crawfish
Steaming crawfish ensures it doesn’t dry out and retains its flavor and moisture. Here are the simple steps to reheat crawfish by steaming:
- Get a large pot to steam the crawfish.
- Add in some leftover spices such as crawfish crab or shellfish boil in the bottom of the pan.
- Pour some water into the pit and put a steamer basket over the pot. Ensure that the liquid doesn’t touch the bottom of the steamer basket.
- Allow the water and spices mixture to come to a boil.
- Put the crawfish in the basket and then cover it.
- Allow the crawfish to steam for 4-6 minutes.
- With the help of tongs, take one piece of crawfish out and check whether it’s heated and cooked thoroughly or not. If you feel it’s cooked, remove it from the pot. If it isn’t reheated properly, leave it in to continue steaming, then check after every 30 to 45-second interval so that your crawfish doesn’t get overcooked.
- Place the steamed crawfish on a dish after steamed and serve!
Boiling crawfish
You can reheat crawfish on the stovetop by boiling. Boiling crawfish to reheat it is actually one of the easiest and most convenient ways to ensure your crawfish remains juicy. It’s fairly simple, but you’re also at the risk of your crawfish losing its flavor. However, that can be prevented if you make sure you don’t boil it for too long. Here’s how:
- Take a large pot and fill it up with water. Add in your leftover spices like shellfish boil or old bay in the water if you have any. This will give the reheated fish a great flavor!
- Bring the water and spices mixture to a boil.
- Carefully add your crawfish to the boiling water with the help of tongs.
- Allow the crawfish to boil for 6-8 minutes. If you feel it’s cooked, remove it from the pot. If it isn’t reheated properly, leave it in to continue boiling, then check every 1-2 minutes so your crawfish doesn’t get overcooked.
- Drain the reheated crawfish with the help of a colander, squeeze some lemon juice over it, and voila! You have your crawfish reheated to perfection!
Make sure to read this article about reheating seafood boil to learn more about how to reheat your favorite meals!
Sauteing crawfish
Sauteing crawfish to reheat them is another simple stovetop method that you can opt for. Here’s how you do it.
- Coat a deep pan or skillet with olive oil and add some chopped onion and garlic. You can also add a spoonful of crab boil seasoning if you wish to enhance the flavor of the crawfish.
- Turn the heat to medium and heat the oil.
- Put the crawfish down in a single layer and let them cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Toss and turn the crawfish every now and then as they reheat. This will ensure the flavored oil coats the crawfish and gives it a great flavor and ensure even cooking.
- Cover the pot and turn off the heat.
- Allow the crawfish to sit in the hot skillet for 3-5 minutes. This way, the crawfish heats thoroughly and doesn’t dry out.
- Remove the crawfish from the pot with the help of tongs and serve!
Microwave crawfish
Reheating crawfish in the microwave (similar to reheating bacon in microwave) is one of the most convenient reheating methods.
- If your crawfish is frozen, allow it to defrost first.
- Place the crawfish in a microwave-safe Tupperware container. Throw in a knob of butter or a tablespoon of water.
- Cover the container with a paper towel.
- Heat the crawfish at full power for 2-3 minutes.
- Reheat further for another 2-3 minutes if the crawfish hasn’t reheated properly.
- Remove from the oven, uncover the bowl, add in salt, pepper, lemon, or the seasonings of your choice for added flavor.
How to reheat crawfish in the prepared dish?
If you have a dish of crawfish prepared and you want to reheat it entirely, this is the step you want to opt for. Follow these steps to reheat crawfish in the prepared dish.
- Reheat the entire dish on a stovetop until it’s warmed through. Heat your dish on medium heat.
- If your dish was cooked in the oven, place it back in the oven to reheat it. Set the temperature to 325 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove from the oven until warmed through completely and serve!
Can you reheat crawfish twice?
Yes, you can reheat crawfish more than once! However, this is only achievable if you refrigerated your crawfish within 2 hours of cooking. If your crawfish was left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, then it is not safe to consume.
How to store leftover crawfish?
Refrigerate your crawfish within two hours of cooking so that it keeps well for up to 4 days. Here’s how:
- Take your crawfish leftovers and put them in airtight containers or Ziploc bags.
- For freezing, put them in airtight containers or freezer-safe Ziploc bags.
Related FAQs to crawfish
Can you eat leftover crawfish?
Yes, you can! However, be mindful that crawfish is highly perishable; make sure you refrigerate your crawfish within 2 hours of cooking. Then you may reheat it to your liking and enjoy!
How long do crawfish last in the fridge?
If refrigerated within two hours of cooking, crawfish will keep well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Make sure you put them in airtight containers before storing them in the fridge.
Also, read about how you can reheat shrimps at home here!
Final thoughts on reheating crawfish
It’s fairly easy to reheat crawfish given that you do it correctly. With the right method and some care, your leftover crawfish will be as juicy and delicate as ever! Using our in-depth guide on reheating crawfish, you will surely keep the taste intact while reheating leftover crawfish!