Sweet, mellow lobster is an ocean delicacy for good reason: the meat from these flavorful crustaceans makes a delicious addition to a sandwich roll, a creamy seafood pasta, and even an Eggs Benedict. But many seafood aficionados insist that the best way to enjoy this maritime treat is to eat the lobster whole, which can be daunting.
If youve never eaten a whole lobster before, you might feel a bit confused about how to dig in – after all, the lobsters hard shell doesnt give you an obvious way to access the tender meat. Luckily, were providing you with clear step-by-step instructions for how to get the most out of these tasty creatures with the help of owner and seafood expert Steve Kingston of The Clam Shack in Kennebunk, Maine.
Lobster is considered a luxury food, loved for its sweet, rich flavor and tender texture. When cooking whole lobsters at home, most people stick to eating just the tails, claws, and knuckles, tossing the rest of the inedible shell. But there is actually tasty, succulent meat spread throughout the entire body if you know how to extract it properly.
So can you eat the whole lobster? The answer is yes – you can consume almost every part of a cooked lobster! While the tail and claws have the most abundant meat, there are smaller, hidden morsels in the legs, joints, head, and even the body cavity Eating the entire lobster allows you to get your money’s worth and enjoy the full lobster experience
However, accessing some parts like the legs or inside the shell requires effort. You’ll need the right tools, determination, and a understanding of lobster anatomy. But it’s worth it to savor the last bites.
Here is a detailed guide on how to eat all edible parts of a cooked lobster from head to tail.
Tools Needed to Break Down and Eat a Whole Lobster
To fully break down a lobster and get all the meat out of the shell, you’ll need:
- Sharp kitchen shears or sturdy scissors to cut through shells
- A lobster cracker or sturdy nut cracker to break through the hard exoskeleton
- Seafood picks or very thin forks to pull meat out of tight spaces
- Small hammers or mallets to crack open hard shell lobsters
- Bowls for discarded shell pieces
- Heavy duty aprons, bibs and napkins to protect from messes
The shears and crackers help crack open the shell The picks allow you to reach into crevices and joints The hammers help with hard shells. And the aprons and bibs keep you clean!
Step-by-Step Guide to Eating All Parts of a Cooked Lobster
Here is a detailed guide to accessing every bit of meat from a cooked lobster:
Remove the Claws
- Twist and detach the front claws where they meet the body.
- Use shears or a lobster cracker to crack open the shells and remove the claw meat.
- Twist off the small jointed knuckles near the claws and pick out the meat.
Extract the Tail Meat
- Twist the tail off the body.
- Pull off the small tail fins with your hands or scissors.
- Use picks or fingers to pull tail meat from the openings at the end.
Consume the Knuckles and Legs
- Crack knuckles with shears or a cracker and remove meat.
- Pull legs off the body and use picks to get the meat inside.
Open and Clean Out the Body
- Crack body open by pressing down firmly from the top.
- Rinse out and discard the green tomalley (liver/pancreas).
- Use fingers or picks to remove bits of meat inside.
Access the Head
- Twist off the head and break open with tools.
- Dig out pockets of meat from the head using picks.
And that’s everything! With the right tools, patience and determination, you can pick your way through an entire lobster.
Tips for Eating All Parts Easily
Eating a whole lobster takes time. Here are tips to make it easier:
- Choose soft shell for thinner, easier to break shells.
- Invest in quality cracking/picking tools.
- Start with easiest parts like tails and claws first.
- Enlist help from friends or family to split up the work.
- Focus on sections with prime meat vs. tiny amounts in legs or head.
What to Do With Leftover Shells and Parts
Don’t throw out the shells, legs and parts after picking out the meat. Use them to:
- Make lobster stock by simmering shells in water.
- Line a steamer pot with shells to add flavor.
- Bake and grind shells into lobster seasoning powder.
- Compost the unused parts.
So go ahead – break out the tools, don your bib, and get cracking! With this guide, you can pick your way through an entire lobster and enjoy every tasty morsel. Just take your time and don’t be intimidated. The effort will be well worth it in the end when you get to savor the fruits of your labor!
Step 4: Suck out the leg meat
Like crab legs, lobster legs contain tasty edible meat. “Hold the carapace red-shell-side up in one hand and squeeze while simultaneously using the other hand to pull the underparts in one piece away from the head,” says Kingston. You can then break each leg away from the body and suck out the tender leg meat, then split the carapace in half lengthwise (seafood scissors can be helpful here) and pick out the remaining nuggets of meat from the leg joints.
Step 3: Shuck the lobster tail and head
The lobster tail is home to the firmest and richest meat, so youll want to go in with a clear game plan for accessing all of that goodness.
“Separate the tail from the carapace by holding the body firmly in one hand and bending the tail backwards until it breaks away,” says Kingston.
Break the tail open by squeezing the shell until it cracks, exposing the meat. You can then pull the meat out with your hands or a seafood fork. Tail meat is firmer than claw meat, so its less slippery and easier to grab with your fingers.
You can get even more meat by removing the center flap (lobster pros call it “skin” since it has a softer, flesh-like texture), starting at the wide end and pulling it toward the narrower end of the tail. The meat under the center flap is edible, but Kingston recommends avoiding the black or green vein at the center of the tail, which youll want to remove and discard.
Just as you can pull the tail away from the carapace, you can do the same with the head. There are plenty of tender bits of meat in the head, so grab your fork or pick and use the sharp tines to scrape out the small nuggets. get to work!
Note: You may see green and red material around the tail and body meat. The red materials are eggs, while the green is tomalley (the lobsters liver). While both are technically edible, the FDA warns against eating tomalley due to potential toxins in lobster-heavy waters, which can be passed along to humans through the tomalley.
How to Shell and Eat A Whole Lobster | Serious Eats
FAQ
What parts of a lobster can you not eat?
Avoid eating the tail vein, as well as any cartilage or portions of the shell. Lastly, while the tomalley—the soft green paste in the body cavity—is technically edible, current guidance says you should refrain from eating it because it may contain high levels of toxins.
Can you eat the whole lobster?
You can eat all parts of the lobster, except for the shell, the stomach and its gills. Those parts aren’t edible but if you do swallow them you’re not going to get sick or anything. They’re just not meant for eating.
What percentage of a whole lobster is edible?
On average, live lobster contains about 20% meat, with the remaining 80% comprising shell and waste. The meat percentages change based on the season, with the Grade A lobsters of the fall and winter containing the most meat. Grade B lobsters caught in the summer months are likely only to have 15% meat by weight.
Can you eat the orange stuff in a lobster?
Lobster That orange stuff is roe (eggs) everyone says it’s freaking delicious We also heard it makes some badass sauces
Is lobster high in low-density lipoprotein (LDL)?
Lobster is low in saturated fatty acids and rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are good for the heart and help lower cholesterol.
What parts of a lobster can you eat?
Other parts of the lobster that can be eaten are the legs, which have small amounts of meat, and the tomalley, which is a soft, green substance inside the lobster’s body. Some people think of tomalley as a treat, but its strong, briny taste makes it not for everyone.
Is lobster meat safe to eat?
To fully enjoy lobster meat without worry, here are some tips for safe preparation and consumption: When cooking whole lobsters, always remove the digestive tract, eyes and gills before eating. Carefully crack open claws and tails using proper tools to access the meat.
Can you eat a lobster shell?
Yes, both tomalley (the green liver) and roe (eggs) found inside the body of a female lobster are edible. They are often considered delicacies and can be used in various lobster dishes or enjoyed on their own. 3. Can you eat the lobster shell? Is it bad to eat soft lobster?
What do you need to know about eating lobster?
Here’s what you need to know about eating lobster! The first thing to know about lobster is that it has two main parts: the tail and the claws. The tail is the long, thin part that extends from the body and is typically the part that is served in restaurants. The claws are the large, pincer-like appendages that are attached to the body.