How To Cook Lobster For The Juiciest Meat

Choosing The Right Lobster

If you want your lobster to be loaded with meat, then the selection of the right lobster is crucial. Here are a few things to consider when buying a right lobster:

• The first thing to do is to look for live lobsters. It is because the killed lobster releases an enzyme within 8 hours that produces mush into the flesh. This affects your health when consumed. So, lively lobsters are fresh and good for consumption.
• Second, look for lobsters that are not stored for a long time. It is because they don't get to eat anything to satisfy their hunger as a result the meat within the shell shrinks. From the outer side, the lobster may seem fleshy but there will be very little meat from the inside. 
• Third, compare their weights. A lobster that has more flesh is heavier in size. it's because a heavy lobster indicates more flesh within it. So, it's best to choose big and heavy lobster for more meat. 
• If possible get lobsters from the fisherman directly, instead of buying them from the grocery store. Fishermen usually have freshly traped lobsters.

Besides these, you can choose lobster with any color and make sure to take into account the aforementioned.

How To Prepare Lobster

Before you jump into the cooking process, it is important to prepare lobsters properly to clean unwanted parts. Preparing doesn't mean killing the lobster.

First, keep the live lobster in the freezer for about 15-20 minutes to make it numb. This will make lobsters less resistant to heat when placed in the hot pot. After that, take it out from the freezer and wash the lobster in cold water. This will help to remove dirt or sand on the shell. you can also use a brush to clean the hidden dirt on the shell. 

Remove the rubber bands from the claws and proceed to take out the greenish liver and stomach sac. These parts are advised not to be eaten due to indigestion problems. Besides these, other parts are edible. 

How To Cook Lobster (4 Ways)

1. Boiling

The most common way of cooking lobster is by boiling it. Since it doesn't require much ingredients and effort, making it is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways. From a single to many lobsters can be boiled at a time. Here's how to do it:

Ingredients

• Lobster: 1-2 pounds per person
• Water: 3-4 quarts 
• Salt: 3-4 tablespoons
• Garlic: 3-4 big cloves
• Lemon: half cut lemon
• Bay leaves: 3-4 fresh leaves

Instructions

• First, get a large pot that has enough space for lobsters to fit comfortably and fill 3-4 quarts of water. You can increase the amount of water if lobsters are not fully submerged. 
• Second, add 3-4 tablespoons of salt into the water. This creates an environment of seawater and enhances the flavors of lobsters. Stir the water well until salt dissolves into water. You can adjust the quantity of salt according to your taste. 
• Third, pour additional seasonings such as minced garlic, squeezed half lemon juice, and bay leaves. Now, stir well so that these ingredients blend well. 
• Fourth, place the pot in the gas and bring the water to a boil. Ensure the water is properly boiled before adding lobsters. This will help to develop deep flavors of ingredients. 
• Fifth, add lobsters into the pot one by one. It's best to put the lobster head first into the water as it will ensure even cooking.
• Sixth, cover the pot with a lid and let the lobsters boil for 10-12 minutes. Ensure the lid is properly covered to prevent the steam from escaping. This way the lobsters will be cooked quickly. 
• Seventh, check for the doneness of lobsters. for that, you can insert a knife or fork into the lobster and if it goes easily then it is cooked. Besides this, cooked lobster's leg is easily pulled off. You can try this technique as well. 
• Lastly, drain the lobsters by using a slotted spoon and serve on the platter. You can enjoy the served lobster with melted butter or sauce. 

2. Grilling

This method requires no use of water and cooks the lobsters evenly retaining their natural juicy flavors. Here's how to grill lobsters and the required ingredients to cook: 

Ingredients

• Live lobsters: 1-2 pounds per person
• Melted butter or olive oil: 2-3 tablespoons per lobster
• Garlic: 2-3 minced
• Lemon juice: 1-2 squeezed 
• Parsely leaves: 2-3 per lobster
• Salt and pepper: 1/2-1 teaspoon per lobster or to taste 
• Red pepper flakes: 1/2-1 teaspoon or to taste

Instructions

• Place the chilled lobster on its back on a chopping board. Wear gloves for safety purposes. Now move to split the lobster in half from head to tail by using a sharp knife. Then, discard the greenish liver and also remove the rubber bands from the claws. 
• Preheat the grill and apply some oil to the grill gates to prevent the lobster from sticking. 
• While you preheat the grill, add seasonings to the lobster and spread them evenly all over it. First, start with brushing the butter, then add minced garlic, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and squeeze some lemon juice. Now, gently spread all the seasonings properly. Lastly, garnish with some fresh parsley leaves. 
• Place the lobsters keeping the flesh side down on the grill frame and leave for 5-7 minutes. 
• After 5-7 minutes, flip the lobster to the other side and grill at the same time. 
• Use a sharp knife or fork to check for the doneness. Insert the knife into the lobster if it goes easily, the lobster is cooked. or you can check the temperature of the lobster. If it reaches about 57-60°C in a thick part of the meat, then it's all ready to be eaten. 
• Once the lobster is fully cooked, take out the lobster from the grill and let it cool down for a bit. Then you can proceed to enjoy the juicy and tender lobster with melted butter, heavy cream, or sauce. 

3. Baking

One of the easiest and least time-consuming methods that is used to cook lobsters. If you want to enjoy the tender and juicy lobsters at home, here are your guidance:

Ingredients

• Live lobsters: 1-2 pounds per person
• Butter: 2-3 tablespoons per lobster
• Garlic: 2-3 minced cloves
• Lemon juice: 1-2 squeezed
• paprika: 1 teaspoon or to taste
• Salt and pepper: 1/2-1 teaspoon or to taste
• White wine: 1/2 cup (optional)

Instructions

• First, preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) to set the temperature. 
• Second, prepare the lobster. Start with partially boiling the lobster for 4-5 minutes to ease the handling process. Don't forget to remove the greenish liver and stomach sac as these are good for digestion. 
• Third, pan-fry all the seasonings and ingredients. Place a small pan on the stove and melt the butter on a low heat. Then, add and stir minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and some fresh herb leaves for more flavor. Continue to stir until an aromatic fragrance starts coming. 
• Fourth, apply the fried seasonings all over the lobster with the help of a brush. Ensure the seasonings are spread evenly. For added flavor, you can add some lemon slices on top of the lobster. 
• Fifth, transfer the lobster from the plate to the baking sheet and place it into the oven to bake. Ensure the hard shell is placed downside whereas the flesh portion facing up. The baking process takes around 20-25 minutes. 
• Lastly, transfer lobsters from the oven and let them rest for 3-4 minutes. Then, you can garnish lobsters with some chopped fresh herbs and serve with your favorite side dishes or sauce. 

4. Steaming 

It is one of the popular methods that you can follow to cook lobsters without losing their meaty flavor and savory juice. Here the list of ingredients and guidance to cook: 

Ingredients

• Live lobsters: 1-2 pounds per person
• Water: 3-4 quarts
• Salt: 2-3 tablespoons
• Garlic: 3-4 cloves
• Lemon: half cut
• Bay leaves: 3-4 fresh leaves

Instructions

• Initially, add 3-4 quarts of water to a large pot and place it on the stove. Ensure that the water level is below the steaming basket.
• Add 2-3 tablespoons of salt to the water and stir it well until the salt dissolves. Along with this, also add garlic cloves, half-cut lemon, and bay leaves to the water and mix well. These will add more flavor which will be infused into lobster through steam. 
• Now, boil the water for about 4-5 minutes. once the water comes to a boil, insert the steaming basket inside the pot. 
• Add lobsters to the steaming basket. Use a tong to transfer lobsters to avoid your hands getting burned from the steam.
• After this, cover the pot with a lid and leave it for steaming about 10-15 minutes.
• Once the steaming time passes, check whether the lobsters are cooked or not. You can pull a small leg, if it comes easily then it's cooked. Besides this, lobsters' color changes into bright red or orange ones. 
• Lastly, turn off the stove and use a tong to take out lobsters from the pot and place them on a plate. Before you eat it, let it rest for a few minutes. Then serve it with melted butter, spicy sauce, or heavy cream. 

Helpful Cooking Tips

Here are some useful tips that will ease the process of cooking lobsters: 

• Always look for fresh and live lobsters.
• Don't overcook beyond the estimated time to avoid the hardness of the meat.
• Wear gloves while dealing with live lobsters.
• Set a timer to know when lobsters get ready. 

How To Cook Lobster Tails

The cooking of lobster tail is almost the same as that of whole lobster. The only difference is in the preparation of lobster tail before cooking. Here's how to prepare and cook lobster tails:

1. Thawing

If the lobster tail is frozen, thaw it by placing it in the fridge for 24 hours. or you can submerge them in cold water for 1 hour and ensure to change the water every 15 minutes. 

2. Cutting and prepping

First, begin by cutting the middle part of the shell of the tail with the use of shears. Separate the cut part of the shell until the meat is exposed. After this, take out any dark vein from the meat and wash with cold water. 

3. Bring water to boil

Here, you will need a medium-sized or large pot depending on the amount of lobster tail you plan to cook. Add water to a large pot, and add minced garlic, salt, lemon juice, and green herbs. Mix the added ingredients well and bring the water to a boil. It will allow the formation of flavors in the water. 

4. Add lobster tails

Now, add lobster tails to the pot. Make sure to do it carefully as you don't want the steam to burn your hand. Once tails are added, cover the pot with a lid and leave it for boiling about 8-10 minutes for 8-10 ounces of tails. 

5. Check for doneness

After the boiling time passes, remove the lid and insert a knife into the thicker part of the tail, if it goes easily then it's ready. Besides this, you can also look for its color which changes into bright red or orange when cooked.

6. Drain and serve

Before draining it, leave it for 3-4 minutes for cooling. Then, use a tong to take out each lobster tail one by one and place it on a plate. You can enjoy the tender and fleshy meat with melted butter, heavy cream, or sauce. 

Besides boiling, you can also grill, bake, and steam the lobster tails to enjoy the best juicy meat. 

How Long To Cook Lobster

The cooking time for lobsters depends on their sizes. Bigger ones need more time to cook, whereas smaller ones need less time. Besides sizes, the quantity of lobsters used also influences the exact cooking time. The larger quantities require a longer time. Here are the ranges of time for 

For Boiling

• 1-pound lobster: 8-10 minutes
• 1.5-pound lobster: 10-12 minutes
• 2-pound lobster: 12-14 minutes

For Grilling

• 1-pound lobster: 4-5 minutes
• 1.5-pound lobster: 6-8 minutes
• 2-pound lobster: 8-12 minutes

For Baking

• 1-pound lobster: 10-12 minutes
• 1.5-pound lobster: 14-16 minutes
• 2-pound lobster: 16-18 minutes

For Steaming

• 1-pound lobster: 10-12 minutes
• 1.5-pound lobster: 14-16 minutes
• 2-pound lobster: 15-18 minutes

Note: you can increase the cooking time by 2-3 minutes to ensure the cooking evenly. 

How To Store Lobster

Storage of lobster is a bit different than that of other meat products. Unlike other raw meat, lobsters can not be stored raw and breathless. They should be kept alive until you plan to cook them.

It is because there is a formation of toxins within lobsters which creates indigestion issues when consumed. This is why knowing how to store lobster is important and here it is:

Live lobster

To store live lobster, place them in a paper bag or cover them with a clean damp cloth. Then, place them in the coldest part of the refrigerator at a temperature of 40°F (4°C). This way live lobsters can be stored up to 2-3 days for better quality. So you should use lobsters before that time. 

Ensure that there is a space for airflow to keep lobsters alive. So, it's best to avoid the use of airtight containers. Besides that make sure the lobsters are not soaked or submerged in water. It should be damp but not water-leaking. 

Live lobsters can't be stored in the freezer. The coldness will kill them due to breathing difficulty for a longer time. Also even if they don't die, the quality and texture will be poor, indicating no ideal for human consumption. 

Cooked lobster

Cooked lobster can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Before you store, let the cooked lobster cool down after cooking, then transfer it to an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and place it in the fridge. Maintain the temperature at 40°F (4°C) or lower for freshness. 

You can also store cooked lobster in freezer for up to 6 months. For this, place cooked lobster meat in an airtight container and put it in the freezer. Maintain a temperature of 0°F (-18°C) or below to keep the meat fresh. 

Serving Suggestions For Lobster

Cooked lobsters can be served with various side dishes to make the dish delightful. Here are a few serving suggestions for lobster: 

1. Garlic-buttered corn on the cob

The mixture of flavors and texture from the corn and lobster complement each other beautifully. The corn has a sweet and juicy taste, which is enhanced when minced garlic and melted butter are added to it. Creating a rich, buttery, and chewy texture. This creation balances the tender and fleshy mixture of lobster. 

2. Roasted vegetables

Lobsters are ideally paired with roasted vegetables to bring out the rich flavors and textures on the palate. While roasting veggies, the natural sugar evolves and is infused into the veggies, making them slightly sweet. The sweetness as well as crispiness enriches the soft and juicy lobster meat. 

You can create this palate with the use of some veggies such as carrots, potatoes, eggplant, broccoli, etc. Add seasonings for enhanced flavors.

3. Creamed spinach

Creamed spinach is filled with creamy and slightly tangy flavors. Whereas the lobster has soft, juicy, and fleshy meat portions. Both of these, when combined, complement each other and satisfy your tastebuds.

You can prepare creamed spinach by using ingredients like fresh spinach, butter, garlic, chopped onions, and milk or heavy cream. For more flavors, add salt and black pepper as seasonings.