You have a special night planned and your brain goes to what equates to “fancy dinner”. Steamed lobster, of course!
But there are a few things you should know before you decide to make a whole lobster for your special occasion… especially if you’ve never done it before.
I’m not trying to scare you off. I love making (and eating) whole lobster. It is a social experience and should be a fun family event. I just pride myself on being honest and I don’t want you to commit to something you might not enjoy.
Steaming is one of the most popular cooking methods for preparing fresh lobster. When done right, it yields tender, flaky meat infused with sweet, briny flavor. But nailing the perfect steamed lobster depends entirely on using the right steaming time. Undercook your lobster and the meat stays chewy and translucent. Steam it too long and you end up with tough, rubbery meat.
So how long should you steam a lobster to achieve tender perfection every time? The steaming time can vary quite a bit based on the size and type of lobster. Here’s a complete guide to determines the ideal steaming duration for your lobster
Factors That Determine Lobster Steaming Time
There are a several key factors that impact how long you need to steam lobster:
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Size of the lobster – Larger, heavier lobsters require longer steaming times. Most recipes recommend around 10-12 minutes of steaming time per 1 pound of lobster
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Cooking method – Steaming takes longer compared to boiling. Plan for at least 10 minutes per pound when steaming vs. 8 minutes per pound for boiling.
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Split vs. whole – Split lobster tails will steam faster than whole lobsters since the steam can penetrate inside quickly. Keep lobsters whole if possible for even cooking.
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Frozen vs. live – Frozen lobster meat cooks faster than live lobsters which need time to come up to temperature. Add a few extra minutes for live.
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Altitude – Increased altitudes will lengthen the cooking time. At higher elevations above 3000 feet, add 5 extra minutes.
Keep these key factors in mind when figuring out the steaming duration needed for your particular lobster.
Recommended Steaming Times
Here are the standard recommended steaming times based on lobster size:
- 1 pound lobster – steam for 10-12 minutes
- 1.25 pound lobster – steam for 12-15 minutes
- 1.5 pound lobster – steam for 15-18 minutes
- 1.75 pound lobster – steam for 18-21 minutes
- 2 pound lobster – steam for 20-24 minutes
For larger lobsters:
- Add 3-5 extra minutes of steaming time per additional 1/2 pound
Remember, these steaming time guidelines are for live lobsters. Reduce the times by 2-3 minutes if steaming previously frozen lobster meat.
Checking Doneness
After steaming for the recommended time, there are a few ways to check that your lobster is cooked to tender perfection:
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Check the internal meat color – it should be solid opaque white when fully cooked, with no translucent sections remaining. This is the most reliable doneness test.
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Look for a bright red shell, though this can be misleading if the shell reddens before the meat is done.
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Check that the meat separates easily from the shell when poked with a fork.
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Insert a knife into the thickest part of the tail meat – it should slide in and out with no resistance when fully cooked.
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Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature, which should reach 140°F when properly steamed.
Steaming Tips
Follow these pro tips for steaming lobster perfection every time:
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Use a large pot with a tight fitting lid and steamer basket or rack to allow steam to circulate fully.
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Add enough water to fill the pot 2-3 inches up the bottom. Season it with salt for extra flavor.
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Bring the water to a full rolling boil before adding the lobsters. Steam with the lid on to trap steam.
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Add lobsters head first into the steamer basket or pot. Avoid overcrowding which increases cook time.
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Halfway through, check lobsters and turn/rearrange shells for even exposure to steam.
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Once done steaming, plunge the lobster into an ice bath to stop the cooking process.
Serving Your Steamed Lobster
Once perfectly steamed, it’s time to crack open the lobster shell and dig into the sweet meat. Serve steamed lobster with melted butter, lemon wedges, and dipping sauces like garlic butter. Sides like corn on the cob, roasted potatoes, and coleslaw pair nicely. Provide lobster crackers, picks and bibs for getting all the meat out.
For quick weeknight meals, opt for raw lobster tails to steam in just 10-12 minutes. Or pick up cooked frozen lobster meat to steam from frozen in only 4-6 minutes. Celebrate special occasions with a dramatic whole live lobster presentation.
Steaming Lobster FAQs
How long should I steam a 2 pound lobster?
For a 2 pound live lobster, steam for 20-24 minutes total.
Can you oversteam a lobster?
Yes, overly long steaming times can lead to tough, rubbery lobster meat. Stick to recommend guidelines based on weight.
How long do frozen lobster tails take to steam?
Frozen lobster tails take 10-12 minutes to steam fully from frozen state. Watch closely to prevent overcooking.
Should I steam lobster with fresh or salt water?
Either works fine! Fresh water highlights the natural flavor. Salt water lightly seasons the briny notes.
Can I steam lobster in the microwave?
Microwaving doesn’t effectively steam lobsters. Use steamers or stovetop methods for even cooking.
Achieving Lobster Perfection
Following proper steaming times based on your lobster’s size results in tender, juicy meat with sweet ocean flavor in every bite. It’s important to use the right durations to perfectly steam lobster and avoid under or overcooking. With the right guidelines, you’ll achieve tender lobster success every time.
Prepping A Whole Lobster
This is the nice way of saying you are going to have to kill the lobster and if you don’t have the will to do this, I won’t judge you, but it needs to happen.
There is a lot of discussion on how to humanely kill a lobster and when it comes down to it, there are 3 ways that are considered to be acceptable, some more than others.
First, let it be known that experts believe that lobsters do not feel pain, although they do sense changes in temperature. Their nervous system is purely skeletal and resembles that of an insect. They also have no brains. You can be scared or feel pain without a place to process it.
They also do not have vocal chords, so the myth that they will scream when put in the pot is also false. There might be noise, but it is just spitting of the cold lobster going into a hot pot.
Whatever you do, keep the lobster cold in the fridge until you are ready to do it. This slows down their reflexes and keeps them calm. When making a steamed lobster or whole lobster options 1 and 2 are your best bets.
- Boil. The thought of boiling something alive seems alarming, but many chefs will tell you that head first into the hot water (or steam pot) is actually the best way to go for you and the lobster. However, many folks think this is outdated and inhumane.
- Knife Behind the Eyes– If you look at the back of a lobster, you’ll see a little cross in the shell. Aim there with a chef’s knife and stab in the middle. This disconnects the nervous system immediately. Some will say it is stabbing them in the brain, but they don’t have a brain so that isn’t possible. Their legs may move around a little, this is purely reflex. They are now dead.
- Cut off the Tail- Others just use a cleaver and cut off the tail. Other legs might move as a reflex, this is normal.
Before you get started…
Sure- you can jump right to the recipe, but here are some things to consider before buying a live lobster from the tank at the grocery store.
- Most lobster is sold live. Some places will steam it for you, but it is certainly best right after cooking and not reheated. This means you will be dispatching (killing) the lobster yourself.
- Eating whole lobster is messy. Water from steaming (or boiling), tomalley, organs and intestines are all in there along with its buttery meat. You know when you devein a shrimp? Well, lobsters have the same issue and some might be carrying quite the load. Not so romantic.
- And then there is the fussing with shell. You’ll need some sort of pick and a cracker. I also suggest a dish towel to protect your hands while cracking. If you have picked crabs before, it is similar, but with a little more water because there is a lot more room inside the shell of a lobster.
- The claws and the tail have the most meat. You can expect to get about 3/4 cup of meat out of a 1 1/2 pound live lobster.
If any of these things aren’t appealing to you, then just buy a lobster tail and be done with it. A little less presentation, but also less work. If you are in it for fun, read on!