Tips For Cooking And Preparing A Lobster

Many people feel too intimidated to try and prepare a lobster at home. Perhaps they think only experienced chefs can bring out the best qualities in lobster meat, or maybe they’re just scared of the claws. If you follow these four tips for cooking and preparing lobster, you can make the perfect meal every time without getting pinched.

Choose Fresh Ingredients

Choosing fresh ingredients is the most important thing you can do when preparing lobster. It’s best to choose live lobster over frozen meat. If you have trouble finding live lobster near you, consider ordering a live lobster kit from a reputable source, which includes enough lobster for two to six people. The kit also comes with butter, lobster crackers, and bibs so you don’t have to worry about buying accessories.

Always cook lobster on the same day you buy it. The longer you wait, the less flavorful the meat becomes. If your lobster dies before you’re ready to cook it, don’t hesitate to throw it out and start over.

Store Live Lobsters In A Cool Area

Learning how to store lobsters will help keep them alive and flavorful before you cook them. To store lobster, wrap it in damp newspaper and put it in a cool area like a refrigerator or cooler. It’s best to keep the rubber bands on the lobster’s claws so it can’t force its way out of the container.

You may have heard that it’s best to keep lobster on ice. This is a common practice that some chefs find unnecessary. Keeping the meat slightly chilled in the fridge works fine, so you don’t need to risk anything by using ice.

Know How Long to Boil Your Lobster

Knowing how long to boil your lobster is essential to preparing the perfect recipe. Follow these guidelines to determine how long you should boil your lobster:

• 1 pound: 9 minutes
• 1.25 pounds: 10 minutes
• 1.5 pounds: 11 minutes
• 1.75 pounds: 12 minutes
• 2 pounds: 13-15 minutes
• 2.25 pounds: 15-20 minutes

Start the timer after you’ve brought your water to a boil, added the lobster, covered the pot, and let the water return to a boil. If you start before the water returns to a full boil, then your lobster may be a little underdone. If you over boil, you’ll get rubbery meat.

Consider Roasting Your Lobster

Boiling is the most common way to prepare lobster, but it certainly isn’t the only way. Roasting offers an easy, flavorful alternative. Boiling lobster can flush away some tasty pieces. Just look in the water after you remove the lobster, and you’ll see and smell remnants that should be on your plate. Roasting prevents this, giving the meat a sweeter flavor with more intensity.

How you prepare lobster depends on your preferences. Some people like the mild flavor they get from boiling, while others prefer roasting. It’s worth trying both methods to decide which you like better.

Don’t let your lobster go to waste. Follow these tips to make flavorful recipes at home.