Doing a boil on Sunday, just one sack. I know it's not likely that anyone will still have bugs in stock Sunday morning. What's the best way to keep them alive if I get them Saturday morning? My plan is to put a ice in the bottom of the cooler and cover with a towel, then place the unopened sack on top, then place another wet towel on top with some ice on that. Leave the drain hole open and keep a fan on them.

Or I can put the whole sack in my outside fridge.

Your first plan will work just fine. I've done that many times. I've never tried putting in a fridge before...

Fridge will work too.

What you suggested will work just fine, have done that numerous times in the past and never had an issue or a lot of dead ones.

Outdoor Life just put up a video yesterday on FB about keeping crawfish alive for 2-3 weeks in a storage container.

Step 1: Acquire a clear storage bin with a removable lid.

Step 2: Drill plenty holes in lid of storage container. This acts as a vent and a drain.

Step 3: Dump crawfish in container and add 2 inches of creek/lake water to bottom of bin. Throw in a few big pieces of lettuce off of a head of lettuce for food.

Step 4: When water begins to turn a dirty/murky color, flip on to lid. Water will drain, when empty add another 2 inches of creek water and more lettuce.

Supposedly this will keep them alive for a few weeks.

***Disclaimer*** - I haven't ever tried this, just relaying the info. from the video I saw yesterday.

Are you not purging them?

I do a fresh water wash. Basically put them in a cooler or pool with a drain and run clean water until the discharge is clean

Since they've got gills, why not just fill the cooler with ice water?

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Since they've got gills, why not just fill the cooler with ice water?

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Why do you think cold winters make crawfish prices higher?

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thanks Webster ... should have put purging in quotations ... its commonly called "purging" (even if incorrect) when referring to rinsing crawfish prior to boiling. We basically said the same thing ...

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You don't know what you're talking about. I tried to educate you. I'd normally say ignorance is bliss, but in reality your obtuse (Webster).

The only thing that makes it worse is providing an uneducated opinion to those looking for help to do things the best way.

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I always just cover them completely in ice and tilt the drain of the cooler downhill so the water drains off of them. I've keep them alive for over two days doing this.

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I typically don't put ice on the bottom. I put the crawfish in, cover with a layer of wetted towels and place ice on top with the drain open. I try to keep them cool and wet enough to survive, but not cold enough to harm them.

I don't give a hoot n hell what lsu said...always purge in salt water ... unless you like muddy crappy taste...40 years of cooking them and more if you include family history...always works and you get to discard the dead guys as stated above!

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I don't give a hoot n hell what lsu said...always purge in salt water ... unless you like muddy crappy taste...40 years of cooking them and more if you include family history...always works and you get to discard the dead guys as stated above!

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You're fooling yourself. They're only cleaning them when you purge them by letting them sit in water for a long time. The salt only harms them and provides no benefit. You get all the same benefit without harming the crawfish or paying for salt without the wait by thoroughly rinsing them a couple of times.

This comes right back to you "don't give a hoot n hell" about reality because your unneeded, longer process gets to a similar result even though there are better ways to go.

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Since they've got gills, why not just fill the cooler with ice water?

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I think they'll deplete the oxygen in the water and die. If you submerge them you'll prob either have to aerate the water or continuously flow through it. I'm no expert, but I do know if you submerge them in an ice chest for an extended period of time, even with lid propped, a lot will die.

I have them in the cooler. I'm a little concerned as the sack fills most of the cooler. Anyway, layer of ice with a towel under and on top. Drain open. Ice on top too. Cooler with lid open in bathtub. Not much movement but I'm assuming dormant due to ice

If they die I'll cook chickens or something I guess

When I used to live in Austin we had a boil one time and I bought the bugs the day before. Having never kept them overnight, I asked the guys who helped me how to do it. They said "well, they like warm water", and shrugged. So I put them in a big chest with bath water. Yeah, they all died.

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Since they've got gills, why not just fill the cooler with ice water?

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Why do you think cold winters make crawfish prices higher?

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Shrinkage?

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When I used to live in Austin we had a boil one time and I bought the bugs the day before. Having never kept them overnight, I asked the guys who helped me how to do it. They said "well, they like warm water", and shrugged. So I put them in a big chest with bath water. Yeah, they all died.

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We caught a big catfish one winter in lake livingston. We left it in the cooler with water overnight. The girl I was dating at the time felt bad for the fish because it was cold and poured in warm/hot water -- It was belly up when I checked it in the morning.

...just to add to the story, she went to texas.

And this one time...at Band Camp....