Rinse the crayfish under cold running water
Sort and discard any dead, damaged, or bad-smelling crayfish
Purge them in clean cold water if needed
Scrub the shells with a brush to remove dirt and debris
Remove any mud, grass, or grit from the claws and tail
Rinse again until the water runs clear
Keep them chilled until ready to cook
Follow your recipe for any additional cleaning or seasoning steps