How do you cook lobster?

Cooking Lobster: A Step-by-Step Guide

Here's how to cook lobster, whether you're steaming, grilling, boiling, or baking:

1. Choosing Your Lobster:

* Live: The best option for freshness and flavor. Look for lobsters that are active, with hard shells and clean eyes.

* Frozen: A good alternative, but make sure it's completely thawed before cooking.

2. Preparation:

* Live lobsters:

* Humanely dispatch: Place lobster head-first in a large pot of boiling water for a few minutes.

* Remove the band: Cut the rubber band around the lobster's claws to prevent them from snapping.

* Rinse: Clean the lobster under cold running water.

* Frozen lobsters:

* Thaw: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or in cold water for a few hours.

* Rinse: Rinse the lobster under cold running water.

3. Cooking Methods:

a) Steaming:

* Ingredients:

* 1 live lobster

* 1 cup of water

* 1/4 cup of white wine (optional)

* Herbs (e.g., parsley, thyme, bay leaf) (optional)

* Instructions:

* Fill a large pot with water, wine, and herbs (if using).

* Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.

* Place lobster in a steamer basket and lower it into the pot.

* Cover and steam for 10-15 minutes (depending on the lobster's size).

b) Boiling:

* Ingredients:

* 1 live lobster

* 1 gallon of salted water

* 1 lemon

* Herbs (e.g., parsley, thyme, bay leaf) (optional)

* Instructions:

* Fill a large pot with salted water and add lemon slices and herbs (if using).

* Bring the water to a rolling boil.

* Carefully lower the lobster into the boiling water.

* Boil for 10-15 minutes (depending on the lobster's size).

c) Grilling:

* Ingredients:

* 1 live lobster

* Olive oil

* Lemon wedges

* Salt and pepper

* Herbs (e.g., parsley, rosemary) (optional)

* Instructions:

* Preheat grill to medium-high heat.

* Split the lobster lengthwise down the center, but keep the shell attached.

* Brush the lobster flesh with olive oil, salt, pepper, and herbs.

* Grill for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the meat is opaque and cooked through.

d) Baking:

* Ingredients:

* 1 live lobster

* Butter

* Lemon wedges

* Salt and pepper

* Herbs (e.g., parsley, thyme) (optional)

* Instructions:

* Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

* Split the lobster lengthwise down the center, but keep the shell attached.

* Place the lobster on a baking sheet.

* Stuff the lobster with butter, lemon wedges, salt, pepper, and herbs.

* Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the meat is opaque and cooked through.

4. Serving:

* Crack the shell: Use a lobster cracker to crack open the claws and tail.

* Remove meat: Use a lobster pick to extract the meat from the shell.

* Enjoy! Serve with melted butter, drawn butter, or your favorite sauces.

Important Tips:

* Cook time: The cooking time for lobster depends on its size. A 1-1.5 pound lobster will cook in 10-15 minutes, while a larger lobster may take longer.

* Doneness: You know the lobster is cooked when the meat is opaque and firm.

* Safety: Always handle live lobsters carefully and dispose of them humanely.

Enjoy your delicious lobster!