So, you impulsively bought a live lobster during your last grocery trip. You’ve just realized you don’t have the slightest clue what to do with it.
What now?
Keep reading! By the end of this post, you’ll be armed with 6 delicious and simple ways to prepare lobster to impress your partner and friends or to treat yourself after a hard day at work.
How to Prepare Lobster Before Cooking
When handling a live lobster, you need to be careful of its claws. Keep the claw bands on before killing them to prevent any painful pinches.
Kill the lobster humanely by first placing it in the freezer for at least 20 minutes, then splitting its skull with a large kitchen knife.
1. Simple Boiled Lobster
Boiled lobster is the perfect place for beginner chefs to dive into the world of shellfish recipes! It’s important to remember that the tail and claws need different boiling times.
Start by filling just over 2/3 of a pot with salted water and bring it to a boil.
Toss the lobster into the water and wait for it to simmer.
Turn down the heat and poach to lobster for around 7 minutes.
Once the tail has curled in on itself, use a pair of tongs to hang the tail of the lobster over the edge of the pot. The claws should be in the water.
After another 7 minutes, your lobster is ready!
Eat the lobster as is or add some flavor with some lemon garlic butter dipping sauce.
2. Healthy Steamed Lobster
Steamed lobster is said to give you a succulent and tastier result than boiling. It’s well worth the extra time it takes!
Place a steaming rack at the bottom of a large pot before adding 2 inches of water and 1 tbsp of salt.
Place the lib on the pot and bring the water to a fierce boil.
Place the lobster on the rack, cover the pot, and bring the water to a boil again. Once it’s boiling, you can start timing!
Steam the lobster for 14 minutes for a 1 pound lobster. Add 3 minutes of cooking time for every additional pound.
Drain and serve immediately with melted butter.
3. Tender Grilled Lobster
The secret to perfectly grilled lobster is to partially boil it before it going near the grill. While the grill is heating to medium heat, for five minutes par-boil the lobster.
Cut the lobster down the middle and remove the guts and veins in the tail as well as the sand sac from the head area.
Add butter and seasonings to the lobster before placing it shell-side down on the grill.
Grill until the meat is firm, and serve with melted butter.
4. Prepare Baked and Stuffed Lobster
Baked lobster also starts off with a 5-7 minute par-boil.
Cool the lobster for a minute before cutting it down the middle to remove the guts and veins in the tail as well as the sand sac from the head area.
Stuff the body of the lobster with the filling of your choice (crab cake stuffing is a delicious option!) and drizzle with butter.
Bake at 450 Fahrenheit until the stuffing is golden brown.
5. Decadent Oven-Roasted Lobster
Some say that cooking with water extracts flavor. Roasted lobster is a delicious alternative to boiling and steaming!
Preheat your oven to 400 Fahrenheit.
Cut the lobster down the middle and crack its claws to remove the claw meat.
Drizzle with melted butter and place the lobster and claw meat onto a baking pan.
Roast for around 10 minutes and voila! Now that you’ve prepared the perfect decadent lobster, you can read on how to eat lobster like a pro.
6. Prepare Lobster in Your Microwave
Want to cook lobster and all your pots are dirty? This microwave trick is just for you!
Cook on the microwave’s highest power setting.
Place the lobster in a microwave-safe freezer bag with 1/4 cup of water and a lemon half. You can also add rockweed for extra flavor.
Close the bag tightly and microwave for 6 minutes for a 1 pound lobster. Add one minute per added 1/4 pound lobster size.
Master Preparing Lobster at Home
Now that you have 6 easy methods to prepare lobster from the comfort of your home, what’s stopping you?
Try out each of these recipes and share your favorites with your close friends.
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