How to Cook Delicious Maine Lobster at Home

Maine lobster is famous for its sweet delicious flavor and tender texture. Many seafood lovers consider it to be the best lobster in the world. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on some fresh Maine lobster you’ll want to cook it perfectly to enjoy this special treat.

Cooking lobster requires some special considerations, It’s important to know the right techniques for preparing and cooking the lobster properly, Here is a complete guide to cooking delicious Maine lobster at home

Selecting Your Maine Lobster

The first step is picking out high-quality lobsters from your local fish market or seafood delivery service. Look for lobsters that are lively and energetic when you pick them up. Their tails should curl tightly under their bodies and their claws should be firmly closed. The lobster’s shell should look shiny and firm, without any spots or discoloration. Soft shells or black spots indicate a weaker lobster.

Choose lobsters that are about 1 to 15 pounds for the best flavor and texture Larger lobsters tend to be tougher. Maine lobsters average about 1.25 pounds.

Make sure to get your lobster as fresh as possible and plan to cook it the same day for optimal flavor. Store it on ice or in the refrigerator until ready to cook.

Humanely Killing the Lobster

Many home cooks prefer to put the lobster “to sleep” before boiling to avoid having it feel pain. Place the live lobster in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before cooking. This hypothermia puts the lobster into a dormant state so it doesn’t feel being cooked.

Once the lobster is asleep, use kitchen shears to cut through the center part of the body where the chest and tail connect. This will kill it quickly before cooking.

Preparing the Lobster for Cooking

Once the lobster is dead, prep it for cooking:

• Twist and remove the claws and knuckles from the body. The knuckles are the small claws at the base of the large front claws.

• Use kitchen shears to cut the underside of the tail lengthwise to butterfly it open.

• Remove the green tomalley (liver) and red roe (coral) if desired. Reserve for sauces or discard.

• Optional: Crack the claws lightly before cooking so it’s easier to access the meat after.

Boiling Method

Boiling is a simple, no-fuss way to cook lobster perfectly.

Fill a large pot with about 3 quarts of water per 1.5 pounds of lobster. Salt the water with around 1/4 cup of sea salt per gallon of water. Bring to a rolling boil.

Gently add the lobster pieces and cover the pot. Return to a boil then immediately reduce to a simmer. Cook for 8-12 minutes depending on size. See times below:

• 1 pound lobster: 8 minutes
• 1.25 pound lobster: 9-10 minutes
• 1.5 pound lobster: 11-12 minutes

The lobster shells will turn bright red when done. For tender, juicy meat, plunge the cooked lobster into an ice bath for 2 minutes before serving. This stops the cooking process quickly.

Steaming Method

Steaming is another easy cooking method that keeps the lobster moist.

Fill the bottom of a large pot with 2 inches of water and bring to a boil. Add some seaweed or lemon slices if desired for flavor. Place lobster pieces on a steaming rack or vegetable steamer basket.

Cover tightly and steam for 4 minutes per 1/2 pound of lobster:

• 1 pound lobster: 9 minutes
• 1.5 pound lobster: 12 minutes

Check for doneness after the minimum time by cutting into the tail meat. It should be opaque, not translucent.

Grilling Method

Grilling imparts delicious smoky notes to lobster meat. Cut the uncooked lobster tails in half lengthwise. Grill the tails, meat-side down, for 2 minutes. Flip and grill 3 minutes more until opaque.

Grill the claws and knuckles for 4-5 minutes per side until shells turn red. Serve with melted lemon butter.

Serving and Eating Lobster

Cracking and eating steamed lobster takes a little practice. Here are some tips:

• Twist and crack open the claws and knuckles using lobster crackers or small hammers. The small leg tips can often be cracked open with your hands. Extract the meat using a small lobster fork.

• For the tail, use both hands to crack the shell open lengthwise. Remove the bottom tail fins. Use a fork to push the tail meat out of the top shell.

• Serve with melted butter, lemon wedges, and favorite sauces for dipping like hollandaise, mustard sauce, or garlic aioli.

• Provide small dishes for collecting shells and bibs to protect clothing from hot butter drips.

• Chilled white wine or sparkling cider make excellent beverage pairings.

With these simple techniques, you can enjoy succulent Maine lobster feasts right at home. The sweet tender meat is amazing when cooked properly. Experiment with different cooking methods and flavor pairings using fresh lobsters from the Atlantic waters of Maine.