- Is it safe to eat crayfish?
Most crayfish tend to hide under rocks or logs during the daytime and are most active at night. Crayfish belong to the kingdom Animalia, phylum Arthropoda, and class Crustacea. Crayfish are eaten all over the world. Like other edible crustaceans, only a small portion of the body of a crayfish is edible.
- The iodine content of crayfish
It is noted that crayfish has trace amount of iodine, however, shrimps a seawater crustacean (1), has higher iodine content than crayfish, a fresh water crustacean (2).
- What’s the difference between crawfish and crayfish?
Crawfish are aquatic crustaceans, that don’t have both fins and scales. They are low in fat and contain only trace amounts of carbohydrates. Crawfish are high in B Vitamins and minerals such as Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc and Phosphorous. A 3-ounce serving of cooked crawfish contains 70 calories and 14 grams of protein. In many cases, crawfish is seen as a dialectical variant of crayfish, referring to the same animal. This spelling is derived from the way the word crayfish is pronounced by some English speakers in the American South. Crawfish has become accepted in American English, especially in the context of regional dining.
- What does Crayfish taste like?
Crawfish are usually less tough and more subtle compared to shrimp, on most occasion it is often a combination of crab and shrimp. It basically has a sweet taste with a little bit of salt and mineral flavour. It is safe to say that crayfish has a distinctive taste.
African Dried / Smoked Crayfish…and where to find it in Calgary
West African “Crayfish” are freshwater Shrimp (or Prawns, depending on your preferred terminology) and are not closely related to North American Crayfish, which are fresh water lobsters. The catch is predominantly of the three species listed above. West African Crayfish are usually smoked, which is why you will find recipes listing both “Dried Crayfish” and “Dried Shrimp”. The African dried shrimps are sun dried and not smoked. Our crayfish branded packages at Ugonwa’s share same flavour as the Japanese shaved bonito (Katsuobushi), and the flavor of the shrimp proved also quite similar, but stronger. Ground African Crayfish is not much available in markets in North America, but can be purchased at our online store. Dried Crayfish are exported from Nigeria and Ivory Coast.
African and Carribean Foods, Imported to Canada
Ugonwa’s® is a specialty retail (online and store-front), with a great variety of African-Caribbean top-quality, kosher/halal meats and fishes, wholesome staple foods and produce, as well as authentic Afro-Caribbean fashion and Arts. Our niche spans across North America and the global market.
