Freezing cray fish
Discussion
You probably won't die but you are quite right to mention botulism. Its not the bacteria so much as the toxins they produce you need to be concerned with.
Chances are they have been frozen and defrosted for sale. You would hope that in a commercially produced product that refreezing and defrosting again would be safe(ish). There was an article on TV last week about refreezing products and most are fine but shellfish is one I would definitely not risk. Plus the crayfish will suffer in texture and be pretty mushy.
Chances are they have been frozen and defrosted for sale. You would hope that in a commercially produced product that refreezing and defrosting again would be safe(ish). There was an article on TV last week about refreezing products and most are fine but shellfish is one I would definitely not risk. Plus the crayfish will suffer in texture and be pretty mushy.
Catch your own!
Many UK watercourses are teeming with them. You'll need a licence (free from the Environment Agency) plus an approved trap, but that's it.
I got mine here:
https://www.solwayfeeders.com/vermin-control/crayf...
Many UK watercourses are teeming with them. You'll need a licence (free from the Environment Agency) plus an approved trap, but that's it.
I got mine here:
https://www.solwayfeeders.com/vermin-control/crayf...
PositronicRay said:
Mrs PR likes to buy crayfish from the local supermarket, often they've run out. The packet say's do not freeze, is there a reason for this? Could it be they've been previously frozen? Are we going to die from botulism or something nasty if we try?
I might be because they have already been frozen craigjm said:
It will definitely be because they have already been frozen and defrosted. You should never re-freeze something in the same state sonifbyiu want to freeze them cook them first and that will be fine.
I love new worms 
They're (crayfish tails) purchased pre cooked in little packets, nice to bung on some linguine with a tin of crab meat, squeeze of lime, some chilli and garlic.
Great for an easy midweek meal, we can't always guarantee supply so sometimes use frozen prawns, never seen frozen crayfish tails to keep in.
PositronicRay said:
Catching sounds good, no streams in my garden though, guessing you'd have to speak to the landowner.
Where do you catch yours?
I catch mine in the River Mole, Surrey, but American signal crayfish are present in pretty much every watercourse in the South-East. Where do you catch yours?
If you're anywhere near the Grand Union Canal that could be worth a try. I'm sure they've made their way up to that by now.
Mobile Chicane said:
I catch mine in the River Mole, Surrey, but American signal crayfish are present in pretty much every watercourse in the South-East.
If you're anywhere near the Grand Union Canal that could be worth a try. I'm sure they've made their way up to that by now.
The Stratford upon Avon canal runs close by, not sure I'd want to eat anything from it though. If you're anywhere near the Grand Union Canal that could be worth a try. I'm sure they've made their way up to that by now.
Not as bad as the french canals, their boats don't have septic tanks. 
I might try the Avon. Do you just need a fishermans license? And how long do leave your traps in for?
Edited by PositronicRay on Monday 17th July 14:07
PositronicRay said:
Do you just need a fishermans license?
No, as already mentioned.https://www.gov.uk/guidance/permission-to-trap-cra...
http://foragedfoods.co.uk/how-to-catch-signal-cray...
soad said:
No, as already mentioned.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/permission-to-trap-cra...
http://foragedfoods.co.uk/how-to-catch-signal-cray...
What if I own the land the river passes through?https://www.gov.uk/guidance/permission-to-trap-cra...
http://foragedfoods.co.uk/how-to-catch-signal-cray...
nitrodave said:
soad said:
What if I own the land the river passes through?You need to state the exact location of trapping so the EA can determine if you are trapping in an area where native white clawed crayfish are also present. You won't get a licence if they are.
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