The Best Ways to Cook Live Lobsters

lobsterchef — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:34:39 +0200

Many people object to the common practice of cooking a live lobster by plunging it into boiling water. Those with tender hearts and animal rights philosophies are concerned about the pain the animal experiences and advocate more humane ways of creating lobster dinners.

There has been a lot of scientific research done to try to determine the amount of pain a lobster actually feels. While not being totally conclusive the findings have been good news for people who love to eat fresh lobster.

A lobster has a brain about the same size as a grasshopper has which is pretty minute for a larger animal like a lobster. Lobsters brains are lacking in the complexity human brains have which means a lobster is unable to think.

Because of this lack, it is also extremely doubtful that a lobster is able to feel pain the way people do. Based on these findings, the practice of cooking live lobsters continues. Three common methods of cooking a live lobster are by steaming, boiling, or grilling.

To steam a lobster you need to start with a four to five gallon pot which is the ideal size for steaming six to eight pounds of lobster. Put about two inches of seawater (if you have access to it) or other salted water in the bottom of the pot. Put your steaming rack inside the pot, and bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the live lobsters one at a time. Put the lid on the pot and start timing. One pound of lobster takes approximately 10 minutes to steam. With six to eight pounds, it will take closer to an hour. Make sure that you rearrange the lobsters in the pot half way through the cooking process.

If you want to boil your live lobsters, add 3 quarts of water to your large pot for every 1 to 2 pounds of lobster. For each gallon of water you end up using, you will need to add one quarter cup of salt. Bring the pot up to a rolling boil. Once again, add the lobsters to the boiling water one at a time. Start timing immediately. One pound of lobster will require 8 minutes of boiling time. Six to eight pounds will take 50 minutes to an hour. Stir the lobsters half way through the cooking time.

Grilling lobsters starts the same way boiling them does by cooking them in boiling water for about five minutes. Remove them from the hot water immediately and plunge them into a cold water bath so that they won't continue to cook. Take each well-drained lobster and place it on its back on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, split each lobster down the middle and cut out the black vein in the tail and the sand sac by the head. Baste the lobsters with melted butter or oil and place them flesh-side down on the grill. Cook them for five to six minutes on that side before turning them over. Baste them again and continue cooking for another four or five minutes.

There are still people who shy away from lobsters that are cooked live, but most have come to accept the fact that the lobsters do not suffer. Cooking a live lobster is the way to experience the freshest lobster meat available. Not only can you purchase live lobsters at restaurants and supermarkets, there are also many wonderful online seafood shops that promise the very freshest lobster delivered to your door overnight.

lobsterchef.blogr.com - Tag 'lobsters' (RSS 2.0)

The Best Ways to Cook Live Lobsters