Seeking Crawfish Boiling Equipment Help

100 qt is best size IMO. I have Bayou Classic from Lowe's. The aluminum seemed thicker than the crap they sell at Academy.

I only have an aluminum pot, so I can't comment on al vs. stainless.

But I do have a 100 quart pot, and I'd probably get an 80 if I had to replace it. The 100 is just more of a pain to clean, store, travel with, etc. And the 80 would boil as much as I ever need to.

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But I do have a 100 quart pot, and I'd probably get an 80 if I had to replace it.

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I just hear a 40# sack makes a 80qt pot snug

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I just hear a 40# sack makes a 80qt pot snug

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You can fit a full sack plus the fixins in an 80qt. Do it all the time. A full sack and no fixins fits in a 60qt. 100qt has a little more room to play with, but it's also heavier, bigger, harder to clean and doesn't really afford you much advantage.

IMO, 80qt is the best all around size. And we have always used aluminum without any issue. Unless you boil lots (20+ times a year), an aluminum will last you a very long time.

I boil crawfish on the weekends with friends and the aluminum 100qt pot does the job. I would recommend a double jet burner and replace the regulator with a high pressure one. You can find one at most hardware stores. I have had nothing but problems from the crap regulators that come with burners.

I've got a 65 quart aluminum I boil my crawfish in & a turkey style pot for potato, corn, & other fixings. 65 holds a sack no prob. Quicker to bring to a boil also.

I have an 80 qt stainless pot and wouldn't go any other way, unless you boil for large groups every time. As for the stainless v aluminum, it all depends on the quality of each. Neither is inherently better than the other. It's all about the quality of the pot. Academy sells crappy stainless pots and crappy aluminum pots. You get no benefit with a choice between crap and crap.

If you want to know the actual difference while shopping, look at the grade of stainless and the thickness of the aluminum. Bayou Classic stainless pots are 18/8, 301 stainless steel. It's a high quality pot. The stainless sold at Academy is 201 stainless, a lower grade. The grade of steel makes a huge difference in quality.

As for the aluminum, Bayou Classic is thicker gauge than the Academy pot, making a more durable and better performing pot.

I'm not a spokesperson for Bayou Classic, but the discussion always seems to be between Bayou Classic and Academy's Outdoor Gourmet. It is worth the extra couple of bucks to get the better, more durable pot.

As for the stainless v aluminum issue, I went with a 301 stainless pot because I store it indoors, don't want it to keep odors after I use it, and because I like the way it looks. It cost about $100 more, but I don't intend to buy another pot until I'm so old that my kids will have to deal with it. In my mind, buy the best performing, most durable pot you can afford. If stainless is out of the budget, buy the thickest aluminum you can afford. It isn't rocket science, and the differences are real.

Also, the sometimes overlooked key to the success of the rig is the burner. Get a commercial burner regulator from a real hardware store, like Goodwood Hardware in Baton Rouge or Guidry's Hardware in Lafayette. Not being able to control the boil speed and intensity degrades the entire experience.

no idea

my pot is twice the size with 2 baskets, will do 4 sacks at a time but you'll need a 25 gallon tank to run it without freezing

Get a 100 quart stainless by Winco from Restaurant Depot or Amazon. Last pot you ever going to buy to boil crawfish unless a Crackhead borrows it.

I have a 32 jet natural gas burner.

I'd get a 100 quart, more room and your water will come back to a boil quicker.

As far at it being harder to clean a 100 over an 80 I'd say thats hog wash, you talking another 1-2 square foot of pot to clean. Anyway that's the kids job to clean the pot.

eta..... just looked and the Stainless only come up to 80 qt.

Heres the 100 quart alumimu 6mm thick


Heres the 80qt Stainless

I have no idea why cleaning the pot is being discussed.

Dump the water, rinse it out, put it up.

Does anyone actually wash that nasty arse wooden paddle? I know mine sits in the garage until I use it, but never gets anything more than a rinse.