How to prepare a Lobster🦞

Preparing a lobster can seem intimidating, but it's quite straightforward once you know the steps. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to cook and prepare a lobster:

1. Choosing a Lobster

• Live Lobster: Ensure the lobster is alive if buying fresh; it should be active and the tail should curl under when picked up.
• Frozen Lobster: If using frozen lobster, ensure it’s fully thawed before cooking.

2. Cooking the Lobster

The most common methods are boiling and steaming.

Boiling:

1. Prepare the Pot: Fill a large pot with enough salted water to cover the lobsters (about 2-3 inches of water per lobster). Bring to a rolling boil.
2. Add Lobsters: Grasp the lobster firmly and quickly submerge it headfirst into the boiling water. This is the most humane way to cook them.
3. Cooking Time:
   • 1 to 1.25 pounds: 7-9 minutes
   • 1.5 to 2 pounds: 9-12 minutes
   • 2.5 to 3 pounds: 12-18 minutes
4. Check for Doneness: Lobsters will be bright red when done. The tail meat should be firm and opaque, not translucent.

Steaming:

1. Prepare the Pot: Add 2 inches of salted water to a large pot and bring to a boil.
2. Add Lobsters: Place the lobsters on a steaming rack inside the pot.
3. Cooking Time:
   • 1 to 1.25 pounds: 8-10 minutes
   • 1.5 to 2 pounds: 10-12 minutes
   • 2.5 to 3 pounds: 12-20 minutes

3. Preparing the Lobster

After cooking, follow these steps to prepare the lobster for serving:

1. Remove from Pot: Use tongs to transfer the lobster to a plate. Allow it to cool slightly.
2. Twist Off the Claws: Twist the claws off the body at the first joint.
3. Crack the Claws: Use a lobster cracker or the back of a knife to crack the claws and extract the meat.
4. Separate the Tail: Twist the tail away from the body.
5. Remove Tail Meat: Push a fork through the small end of the tail to push the meat out through the wide end. Remove the black vein running along the tail meat.
6. Extract Meat from Legs: Use a rolling pin to roll over the legs and extract the meat.

4. Serving the Lobster

• Melted Butter: Serve with clarified melted butter and lemon wedges.
• Side Dishes: Popular sides include corn on the cob, boiled potatoes, and coleslaw.

Tips for Preparing Lobster

• Humane Cooking: To make the cooking process more humane, you can place the lobster in the freezer for 15-20 minutes before boiling or steaming.
• Flavor Enhancements: Adding aromatics like bay leaves, peppercorns, and lemon slices to the boiling water can enhance the lobster's flavor.

Safety Note

Be cautious while handling and cracking the lobster shells as they can be sharp.

Enjoy your freshly prepared lobster!