How to Throw a Backyard Seafood Boil Party

Since eating seafood like lobster, crab and peel-and-eat shrimp is both a deluxe food experience and a hands-on activity, it’s great for a party-especially in the summer. Boiling up a large pot of shellfish with all the fixings ofa classic low-country boil-potatoes, smoked sausage, Old Bay seasoning and plenty of melted butter for dipping-is one of the easiest ways to feed a crowd. The benefits are endless:

But before you send out your invites, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got the right goods to make the event a success.

Healthy Lobster Recipes

What You’ll Need:

Seafood Boil Shopping Tips

Lobsters in a pot

For a Lobster Boil:

How many:One 1 1/4- to 1 1/2-pound lobster per person, to yield 4 to 6 ounces of meat.

What to look for:Ask your fishmonger to hold each lobster up. Choose those that are kicking their tails when removed from the tank.

Or buy it cooked:Many markets will steam lobster for you while you wait (call ahead). Some stores also offer cooked, picked lobster meat.

Clean Eating Buyer’s Guide to Seafood

For a Low-Country Boil:

How many:Three 21-25 count shrimp per person

Or buy it cooked:You can buy shell-on (or without shells if you want to skip peeling!) shrimp cooked too. But remember, they just needed to be heated through rather than cooked fully, so be careful not to overcook.

Shrimp Shopping Guide

How to Prepare a Seafood Boil

Low-Country Boil

Pictured Recipe:Low-Country Boil

Lobster Boil Cooking Steps:

Low-Country Boil Cooking Steps:

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