How Exactly Are You Supposed To Eat Crawfish?

"Pinching tails and sucking heads" is a phrase that most people wouldn't associate with food, but if you have ever been to the southern states in the U.S. and you've eaten crawfish (or crayfish), you will know exactly what it means. The phrase refers to the traditional way of eating crawfish, and it gives you a big clue as to how the little mudbugs should be consumed if you want to eat them the way seasoned crawfish eaters do. 

Crawfish boils are popular in the southern United States, where large pots of boiled crawfish are prepared with spices and other ingredients, like potatoes, onion, garlic, corn, and sometimes even shrimp. Crawfish season can vary depending on the location, but it generally runs from late winter to early summer, and crawfish are harvested or fished when they reach a certain size. During the crawfish boil, people often engage in the "pinching tails and sucking heads" tradition, which is exactly how you are supposed to eat crawfish.

To eat crawfish, first, you'll need to remove the head from the tail. You can do this by twisting the head and pulling it away from the tail. Some people like to suck the juices out of the head, which is where the "sucking heads" part of the phrase comes from. If eating the juices — and yes, brains — isn't up your alley, you can discard the head. Next, peel the shell off the tail by pinching it with your fingers ("pinching tails") and gently pushing down on either side of it with your thumbs to pull it away from the meaty part of the tail. Finally, you can eat the meat by either dipping it in a sauce or just eating it plain.

It's worth noting that eating crawfish is a social activity, so it's common to have a large pot of boiled crawfish that is poured onto a table, and everyone digs in together and throws the shells in the same trash can or bucket. This means you won't use utensils to eat crawfish — your hands will do the job just fine!

Crawfish can be a healthy food option, as they are low in fat and high in protein, according to the Cardiovascular Institute of the South. They are also a good source of essential minerals, such as zinc and potassium. However, how they are prepared can affect their nutritional value. Crawfish that are boiled or steamed and seasoned with spices can be a healthy option, while those fried or served with dips may be less healthy. 

Crawfish are ordered by the pound, and in places like Louisiana, the vegetables in the crawfish boil (also called the Lagniappe) are eaten with the crawdads to serve as filler since it usually takes a lot of crawfish to make a satisfying meal. This is similar to a seafood boil but spicier. Those potatoes and corn ears can add up in calories, though, so if you are trying to stick to a healthy diet, you will want to monitor how many of them you eat.