Fresh live lobster is one of life’s great culinary treats. The sweet, succulent meat with its delicate briny flavor is delicious when simply steamed or boiled. But creative home cooks know there are so many more exciting ways to enjoy fresh lobster beyond basic preparations.
In this article, we’ll explore 10 delicious ways to cook and eat fresh live lobster at home From classics like lobster rolls to more unique recipes like lobster pizza, you’ll find inspiring ideas for making the most of fresh seafood
Handling and Storing Fresh Live Lobster
Before diving into recipes, it’s important to know how to properly handle live lobster. Here are some tips:
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Store live lobster in the refrigerator on damp newspaper or seaweed. Don’t store in fresh water.
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Cook live lobster within 24 hours of purchasing for best flavor
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Handle live lobster gently to avoid injury before cooking.
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Cook quickly by steaming, boiling, or grilling to ensure humane preparation.
Proper handling ensures both taste and ethics when cooking fresh live seafood. Now let’s get to the fun part – delicious ways to prepare lobster!
1. Classic Lobster Boil
This no-frills, traditional preparation lets the natural flavor of fresh lobster shine through. Simply bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Carefully add live lobsters and cook for 10-15 minutes depending on size. Serve with melted butter or lemon wedges. Easy and delicious!
2. Lobster Rolls
These classic New England sandwiches are summer perfection. Gently cook fresh lobster meat, letting it cool slightly. Dice the lobster and mix with a bit of mayonnaise. Pile the lobster salad into a split-top bun, garnish with chives, and serve! For extra flavor, brush the bun with butter before toasting on the grill.
3. Steamed Lobster with Herbs
Steaming is a great way to cook lobster, as it retains moisture compared to boiling. Place a steaming rack in a large pot and add 2-3 inches of water. Scatter fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or tarragon over the rack. Bring water to a boil, add live lobster, cover and steam 10-15 minutes until the shell turns bright red.
4. Lobster Mac and Cheese
Everyone loves classic mac and cheese, so why not add lobster for a luxurious twist? Gentle cook lobster meat, cool and cut into bite size pieces. Make an indulgent cheese sauce and stir the lobster meat in, topping the macaroni before baking. Garnish with panko breadcrumbs, fresh herbs, or chili flakes for extra flair.
5. Grilled Lobster
Get outdoor flavors by grilling freshly cooked lobster. Split lobster lengthwise after steaming or boiling briefly. Brush with olive oil or garlic butter. Grill shell-side down over medium high heat for 5-8 minutes per side until hot and slightly charred. Sprinkle with fresh lemon juice and enjoy!
6. Surf and Turf Skewers
Alternating chunks of lobster and beef tenderloin on skewers makes for an impressive dinner. Brush with soy sauce, chili oil, or citrus marinades before grilling. Serve over rice pilaf or roasted veggies for a complete meal.
7. Lobster Cobb Salad
Turn lobster into an elegant composed salad by placing chunks over mixed greens. Add avocado, tomato, bacon, hard-boiled egg, and crumbled blue cheese. Drizzle with your favorite vinaigrette. A satisfying light summer meal.
8. Lobster Pizza
One of the most creative ways to eat lobster! Bake pizza crusts until crispy, then top with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and bite size lobster pieces. Finish with fresh basil, parmesan, and chili flakes for an upscale pizza night.
9. Lobster Tacos
For soft tacos, warm corn tortillas and fill with lobster meat tossed in lime juice. Top with cabbage, avocado, cilantro and Mexican crema. Or fry lobster in crunchy taco shells. Garnish with queso fresco and green onion.
10. Lobster Pasta
It doesn’t get much better than tender pasta with lobster in a creamy white wine sauce. Saute minced shallots and garlic, deglaze with white wine, then add cream and gently cooked lobster meat, cooking briefly until heated through. Toss with your favorite pasta and garnish with herbs.
Creative Lobster Recipes Know No Bounds!
Beyond these 10 ideas, there are endless possibilities for preparing fresh live lobster. Stuff it, bake it, grill it, fry it, put it on pizza – your imagination is the limit. Just use the freshest highest quality lobster and handle it with care as you get creative in the kitchen.
The sweet succulent meat of fresh lobster is so versatile. Elevate everyday meals by adding lobster or make it the star of a special seafood feast. However you choose to prepare it, fresh live lobster is one of life’s great culinary pleasures.
Preparing to Cook Live Lobsters
Your lobsters will arrive with thick rubber bands around their claws. Fishers place these on the lobsters after they remove the lobsters from traps. You may leave the rubber bands on until after the lobster is cooked. That will protect you from getting snapped with a claw — live lobsters are feisty.
To pick up a lobster, grab it by its body — not by the claws or the tail. When you lift the lobster, it will probably curl its tail and try to strike you with its claws. Keep your fingers away from the underside of the tail. It has edges that may cut you if the lobster flips its tail.
How to Store Your Live Lobster in the Refrigerator
Live lobsters are highly perishable and must be handled promptly. It’s best to cook your lobsters the day they arrive, but they can be stored up to two days if needed.
If you need to store them when they arrive, wrap the lobsters in damp paper and store with ice packs or in the refrigerator and keep them as cold as possible — but don’t freeze them.
If your refrigerator is large enough, keep the lobsters in the shipping container and place it in the refrigerator. If you need to take them out of the container, cover your lobsters with a damp cloth until you’re ready to cook them. Lobsters will die if they dry out, and can only last so long when refrigerated.
Lobsters stored this way will stay sluggish and moist, but must be cooked within 24-48 hours — after this, your investment in fresh seafood probably won’t be so fresh.
You risk a dead lobster and a lost meal if you postpone your lobster’s rendezvous with your pots and pans.
Some handling tips you’ll finitely want to keep in mind when handling live lobster:
- Don’t place lobsters in tap water. They are saltwater creatures, and fresh water will kill them.
- Don’t seal lobsters in an air-tight container.
- Don’t store lobsters in stagnant water.
How to COOK Maine Lobster!
FAQ
What do I do with a live lobster?
You can keep a live lobster alive for around 36-48 hours, although I’d recommend where possible using them on the same day — unless you’ve got a tank at home, it’s more humane. Store them on the bottom shelf of a fridge (to stop it contaminating other food), wrapped up in their damp paper and they’ll be fine.
How long will live lobster last in the fridge?
Lobsters can be stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking; but have a plan prepared so that you cook them as soon as you can.
Do restaurants still boil lobsters alive?
In seafood restaurants across the globe, chefs kill lobsters in one of two ways: either slicing them in half or boiling them alive. The latter process is so violent and unpalatable that chefs sometimes leave the room while the animal is being boiled.
How do you prepare fresh caught lobster?
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil: Fill a large pot 3/4 full of water. …
- Lower the lobsters into the pot: Grasp the lobster by the body and lower it upside down and head first into the boiling water. …
- Boil lobsters for 7 to 14 mins, depending on size: …
- Remove the lobsters from pot to drain:
Can you cook lobster at home?
Yes, you can cook up restaurant-quality lobster dishes at home without the costly bill. From elegant bisques to loaded lobster rolls, there are so many lobster recipes to enjoy.
What is an easy lobster recipe to make at home?
If you really want to impress, make this restaurant-quality lobster ravioli at home. It’s easier than you’d think! In this recipe, tender, sweet lobster tail is grilled to perfection and finished with an herby garlic butter. One of our all-time favorite ways to cook lobster is on the grill.
How do you handle a fresh lobster?
To handle it, grasp it around the big part of the shell, behind the claws. A fresh lobster will be alive and kicking. It should move legs and claws vigorously, and curl its tail. Lobsters can live for several days out of water, but they must be handled properly, kept cool and moist.
What are some popular methods for cooking live lobster?
Cooking live lobster is a unique and delicious experience. With the right know-how, you can transform a live lobster into an unforgettable feast. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular methods for cooking live lobster: boiling, steaming, and grilling. Boiling is one of the simplest ways to cook lobster.
What can I serve with lobster?
This lobster pasta salad is a deconstructed New England lobster roll. Instead of bread, the luscious lobster is served with pasta. If you’re on a tight budget, this pasta salad is a great way to stretch lobster to feed the whole family. Creamy, meaty, and loaded with flavor, this pasta salad makes for a great light lunch. 24. Grilled Lobster Tail
Why should you cook a live lobster?
Cooking a live lobster allows chefs to control the texture of the meat better and retain more flavor in its meat than if it were to be killed before being cooked. This is because boiling a live lobster helps retain more flavor in its meat, and chefs can adjust their cooking times based on how active or inactive the lobster is.