Crawfish boils are one of the best traditions in the South, with states like Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi and even Texas fighting over potatoes and corn in the pot. Louisiana crawfish boils are a classic, with Cajun seasoning and boatloads of butter being imminent signs of spring.
With tradition comes a few individual rules and expectations. Crawfish boils have a few general rules of thumb that many people follow or preach. TikToker Jae (@jaesanatomy) explained one tip that veteran crawfish connoisseurs from the South generally know. She recommends that anyone trying their very first boil or those unfamiliar avoid the crawfish with straight tails.
Onscreen during her TikTok video, she wrote, “If you don’t know why this crawfish can’t be eaten, then you most likely weren’t raised in Louisiana.” She added, “straight tail = throw it away,” in the video’s description.
The post, which now has over 2.5 million viewers, confused many TikTokers. Thousands of commenters asked what Jae meant by her advice and how she knew it. Other viewers eventually answered the question. But, is it really true that straight tails aren’t safe to eat?
Should You Avoid Straight Tails In A Crawfish Boil?
While many unfamiliar with crawfish boils might not be able to tell the difference, there’s a widely debated myth about crawfish with straight tails versus those with curled ones.
Generally, people familiar with boiling advise others not to eat any crawfish with straight tails. That’s because straight crawfish likely died before they got boiled. When boiling, crawfish’s abdominal muscles contract, leading them to curl before they die. However, many people believe that dead crawfish’s muscles can no longer contract. The widely believed theory is that this means the crawfish might have been decaying prior to the boil, making them unsafe to eat.
Researchers at LSU’s AgCenter debunked this theory and proved that there’s no tangible difference between a crawfish that has a straight tail and a curled one. They also concluded that most crawfish that have straight tails do so for other reasons. Sometimes, crawfish’s tails cannot contract because there are too many crawfish in the pot at one time. It’s not always because the crawfish have “decaying” abdomens that prevent the crustacean’s muscles from contracting correctly.
Why Do So Many People Believe This Theory?
Despite evidence proving otherwise, commenters who answered Jae’s question argued that the crustaceans with straight tails were a no-go.
“It means they were boiled dead. Not alive,” one commenter, who answered another viewer’s question about the practice, said. “It sounds cruel but they can’t be eaten if they were cooked dead.”
Another added, “I’m not from Louisiana, I know what a straight tail means.”
Some commenters were familiar with LSU’s study. One viewer asked, “Wasn’t this proven incorrect?” Jae responded, “It’ll always be correct for me lol. Regardless, the tails be mushy.”
Websites like Cajuncrawfish.com recommend checking for mushy tails as an alternative to avoiding straight ones, as it can be a more verified way to ensure you’re not eating a spoiled product. According to commenters, crawfish with straight tails tend to be mushier when compared to those with curved tails.
Another viewer agreed, saying, “The only time people get sick from eating crawfish is if they have an allergy or if they eat crawfish with straight tails lol.”
For that reason, many people are sticking with the idea that straight tails aren’t worth the risk.
Jae Doubles Down On Her Advice
In a comment to BroBible, Jae clarified that the “straight tail = don’t eat it” rule is well-known. “I’ve been going to crawfish boils since birth,” Jae said. “I can remember being as young as three and my dad telling me not to eat the straight ones. It’s just something we grew up knowing not to do.”
She personally sticks to the rule every time she eats crawfish, as the ones with the straight tail taste “disgusting” to her. She noticed that they’re usually mushy and hard to peel. Regardless of LSU’s research, Jae mentioned that she still wasn’t willing to eat a straight tail.
@jaesanatomy Straight tail = throw it away 🦞 #louisiana #crawfish #crawfishboil #fyp #virał
“I will say, though, I do know the difference between a straight tail that was dead before being boiled and one that got straightened during cooking. The few times I tried them out of curiosity, mostly as a kid, the straight tails were gross.”
Jae also clarified that “Louisiana is full of culture, and crawfish is a big part of that. We all cook and eat it in different ways, but I think it really comes down to traditions and sayings being passed down from generation to generation.”
She continued, “There’s a rule in the South: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. So even with all the fancy research from Louisiana State University (and I love LSU by the way), I think most of us are still sticking to our rules when it comes to crawfish.”