Louisiana Crawfish Guide | Lake Charles LA

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Share Southwest Louisiana Crawfish

When you think of Louisiana cuisine, crawfish is probably the first thing that comes to mind — and rightfully so! A cash crop, during the winter and spring, crawfish are bought by locals, restaurants, and grocery stores for boiling and peeling for dishes like crawfish stew and étouffée.

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Crawfish 101

Crawfish 101

Where Can I Get Crawfish?

A freshwater shellfish that is considered a Louisiana delicacy, crawfish can be found in many places! From front yard drainage ditches and clean freshwater streams and bayous (good luck catching enough on your own to boil) to the convenience of crawfish farms, grocery stores, restaurants, and road-side boil stops. You can buy crawfish already boiled or still alive in a netted sack to take home and boil/season to your liking. Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana has a lot of places you can conveniently eat or pick up crawfish, jump to our list below.

How Do I Eat Crawfish?

While locals have been enjoying crawfish since infancy, getting to the meat can seem like a daunting task for newbies. To enjoy, simply grab the tail and the head and twist, then pull the tail from the head/body portion and peel the shell off the tail. It helps to pinch the tip to secure and pull all of the meat out.

When Can I Purchase Crawfish?

Crawfish can become available in some restaurants as early as December, but if size matters, you may want to wait until later in the season around March to June. Check out our seafood chart below.

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How Much Do Crawfish Cost?

Crawfish are typically sold by the pound and vary in cost based on the market price. Check out the crawfish app where prices are updated weekly. 

Are Crawfish Healthy To Eat?

Many people from outside of Louisiana wonder why Louisianans bother eating crawfish, a.k.a.- mudbugs, but you may be surprised with the nutritional values of the tiny crustacean. Low in calories, boiled crawfish are low in fat and provide a healthy amount of protein. Along with protein, crawfish have several valuable vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin B-12 and B-6, which helps keep the body's nerve and blood cells healthy while helping brain development in children and producing serotonin to help regulate mood, no wonder people from Louisiana are usually so happy! We will let you know that a 3-ounce serving of crawfish meat does contain about 115 milligrams, or 40% of the recommended daily limit, of cholesterol. So like anything else, be mindful and eat in moderation, but we understand if you don't want to stop.

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Where To Get Crawfish

Crawfish Season.

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