If you want to bring an air of sophistication and celebration to your dinner table without spending hours in the kitchen, a surf and turf dinner might be the perfect solution.
With the right ingredients and a bit of planning, you can pull off an effortless meal that looks (and tastes!) over the top—and we’ve got just the recipes to show you how.
Lobster is a cherished delicacy for seafood lovers across the world With its sweet, succulent meat, it’s no wonder why lobster is a luxury item often saved for special occasions If you’re lucky enough to be preparing a 1.5 pound lobster, you may be wondering – just how much delicious lobster meat can you expect to enjoy from this crustacean?
In this article we’ll breakdown how much meat you can anticipate from a 1.5 lb lobster using facts estimates, and tips from experienced chefs and seafood suppliers.
An Overview of Typical Lobster Sizes
Lobsters are categorized into different sizes based on their weight. Some of the most common commercial size classifications are:
- Chicken lobsters – 1 to 1.25 lbs
- Quarters – 1.25 to 1.5 lbs
- Halves – 1.5 to 1.75 lbs
- Deuces – 2 to 3 lbs
- Jumbos – Over 3 lbs
A 1.5 lb lobster falls into the “halves” category, making it a nice large size for a single serving. Halves offer a good amount of meat for one diner to enjoy.
Estimating the Total Meat Yield
On average, a 1.5 lb lobster will provide around 4-6 ounces (113-170 grams) of cooked lobster meat.
The exact amount can vary based on factors like:
- Time of year – meat content is higher in colder months
- Soft shell vs. hard shell – hard shells have a better meat to shell ratio
- Cooking method – some methods lead to more meat loss
To better understand how much meat you can get from each part of a 1.5 lb lobster, let’s break it down:
Tail
The tail makes up about 15% of the total meat. For a 1.5 lb lobster, expect approximately 1-1.5 ounces from the tail.
Claws
The claws account for roughly 10% of the meat, giving you around 0.8 ounces of claw meat.
Knuckles
The knuckles contain about 3% of the lobster meat, yielding around 0.3 ounces.
Legs
The small amount of leg meat provides about 2% of total meat, or 0.2 ounces.
Adding up the estimates for each section, you can expect between 3-4 ounces of meat from a 1.5 lb lobster. This aligns with the general 4-6 ounce yield range.
Lobster Meat Yield Guidelines
For a quick reference, here are some useful rules of thumb for meat yields based on lobster size:
- 1 lb lobster – About 3 oz of meat
- 1.25 lb lobster – Around 4 oz of meat
- 1.5 lb lobster – Approximately 4-6 oz of meat
- 2 lb lobster – Roughly 6-8 oz of meat
On average, it takes around 5 lbs of live lobster to produce 1 lb of cooked lobster meat.
Factors That Impact Total Lobster Meat
While these guidelines provide a helpful starting point, there are some factors that can raise or lower the amount of meat you’ll get from a 1.5 lb lobster:
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Shell Hardness – Hard shells have higher meat yields than soft shells from recent molts.
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Sex – Females generally have broader tails and more tail meat vs. males with bigger claws.
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Cooking Method – Minimal handling and slower cooking helps maximize meat retention. High heat can cause meat to stick to the shell.
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Season – Late fall/early winter lobsters are often hard-shelled with higher meat density.
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Lobster Health – Unhealthy lobsters may have less meat overall. Pick active, lively lobsters.
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Size Differences – Not all 1.5 lb lobsters are the exact same dimensions. Some may be meatier.
Purchasing Live 1.5 lb Lobsters
To enjoy the ultimate in freshness and quality, buying a live 1.5 lb lobster is the way to go. Here are some tips:
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Purchase from a trusted supplier like Maine Lobster Now that offers overnight shipping.
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Select lobsters that are active and energetic when they arrive. Avoid lethargic ones.
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Pick lobsters that feel heavy for their size, indicating higher meat content.
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Cook them the same day they arrive for peak texture and flavor.
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Handle them gently until just before cooking.
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Use proper steaming, boiling, or baking methods to ensure tender, juicy meat.
Getting the Most Value from a 1.5 lb Lobster
One great way to get your money’s worth is to utilize the entire lobster – tail, claws, legs and all. Carefully crack the shell and extract every morsel of sweet lobster goodness. Use the meat right away or store for 2-3 days max in an airtight container in the fridge.
Some delicious ways to use every bit of 1.5 lb lobster meat:
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Lobster rolls – packed with meat from the tail, claws, and knuckles
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Lobster mac and cheese – great way to use smaller leg and body pieces
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Lobster salad – combine with fresh veggies
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Lobster bisque – make stock with the shells
Fillet and Crab Cakes
Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes come packed with flavor and seasoned to perfection. This means you can rely on crab cakes for an easy yet impressive surf offering. Pair them with tender fillet for a well-balanced meal that comes together in minutes.
Before you start cooking, make sure your crab cakes are thawed in the refrigerator. This way, they’ll cook in 10 minutes or less.
Use a large heavy cast-iron skillet for both the steak and the crab cakes.
Here’s how to do it:
- First, pat the steaks dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and pepper. Brush them with a thin coating of canola oil or another high-heat oil.
- Heat your pan over medium-high heat for a good 3 to 5 minutes, until hot.
- Gently place the steaks in the skillet and sear for 4 minutes, or until you have a nice brown crust on one side. Use tongs to flip the steaks and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on the other side.
- Add 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet and as it melts, spoon the butter over the steaks for another minute.
- Remove the steaks from the skillet when they are 5 to 10 degrees away from your desired doneness. Place on a cutting board, cover with aluminum foil, and let rest while you cook the crab cakes.
- Melt another 2 tablespoons of butter in the empty skillet.
- When the butter is melted, place the crab cakes in the hot pan and sear for 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown on both sides and cooked through.
Steak and Lobster Tails
If you’re really aiming to impress, serve up restaurant-quality steak and lobster for dinner. A brilliant red lobster tail makes a statement on the plate. Add a homemade oven-broiled steak and you have an all-around winning combination for every palate that’ll satisfy even the most pretentious New England seafood chef.
We make this show-stopping dinner easy to pull off with our ready-to-prepare Captain’s Tails and Turf package. This combo includes two buttery-soft fillets with the meatiest Atlantic cold water lobster tails and a zesty key lime pie to finish things off.
Here’s how to prepare steak and lobster tails for dinner:
First, prep and season your lobster.
- Make a deep lengthwise cut in the top of the lobster tails.
- Gently pry the shells apart and season the meat with melted butter and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. If you like, you can add a dusting of Old Bay seasoning, smoked paprika, or any dried herb you love.
(For more tips on how to properly prepare lobster, Checkout our recipe How to cook Lobster Tails .)
Meanwhile, fire up your broiler to high and prepare the steaks.
- Place an oven rack two to three inches from the heat source.
- Place the steaks on a baking sheet and generously season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Place the baking sheet under the broiler.
- Use this chart to determine the best cooking time for your steaks.
- Remove the steaks from the oven just before they reach your desired doneness, transfer to a cutting board, cover with aluminum foil, and let the meat rest while you broil the lobster.
Cook the lobster.
- Place the prepared lobster tails on the same baking sheet.
- Place them under the broiler and cook until the meat is opaque, about 5 to 10 minutes.
Finally, plate everything up and dig in!
Steak and scallops might be a more unusual approach to surf and turf, but it still fits the bill. In fact, plump, fresh sea scallops have a soft and flaky texture that pairs well with steak.
Since scallops are so naturally buttery on their own, you can swap the more traditional fillet with a high-quality New York strip steak.
This surf and turf pairing calls for the stovetop. Use a large, heavy-bottomed cast-iron pan or skillet to sear both your steaks and scallops.
Here’s how to cook it:
- First, pat the scallops and steaks dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and pepper. Brush them with a thin coating of canola oil or another high-heat oil.
- Heat your pan over medium-high heat for a good 3 to 5 minutes, until hot.
- Gently place the steaks in the skillet and sear for 4 minutes, or until you have a nice brown crust on one side. Use tongs to flip the steaks and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on the other side.
- Add a 2-tablespoon pat of butter to the skillet and as it melts, spoon the butter over the steaks for another minute.
- Remove the steaks from the skillet when they are 5 to 10 degrees away from your desired doneness. Place on a cutting board, cover with aluminum foil, and rest while you sear the scallops.
- Return the skillet to medium-high heat.
- When the oil is hot, gently place the scallops into the skillet, leaving several inches of space between each scallop.
- Sear for 2 minutes undisturbed, then add 1 tablespoon of butter to and gently flip the scallops with tongs or a thin fish spatula to sear for another minute, until cooked through but still soft in the center.
Plate up your steaks and scallops and serve hot!
How Much Lobster Meat is in a One Pound Lobster? Is it Cheaper to Buy Lobster Meat or Live Lobsters?
FAQ
How much meat do you get from a 1 lb lobster?
For example, a 1 lb. hard-shell lobster will yield 3.36 oz. of cooked meat (Based on a 21% yield).
How much meat is in a 5 oz lobster tail?
Generally speaking, you should expect to get 50% of cooked lobster tail meat out of every raw lobster tail once cooked, so you can expect about 2.5 ounces of meat per 5 ounce lobster tail.
How many cups is 1 lb lobster meat?
A 1 ½ pound lobster yields approximately 1 1/3 cups of meat. A one pound lobster yields 2/3 cup.
How many ounces of lobster meat are in a lobster roll?
Most of these recipes call for about 1 pound of lobster meat for about 6 rolls per recipe, which means that I used 2.6 ounces of lobster meat for each roll.Jun 10, 2022
How much meat is in a 1 lb. lobster?
A 1 lb. hard-shell lobster will yield 3.36 oz. of cooked meat (Based on a 21% yield). To get a pound of meat, divide 16 oz. (1 lb.) by 3.36 oz. So you will need 4.76 1 lb. lobsters for 1 pound of cooked meat. Four ounces of meat is considered a typical serving size for lobster.
How many lobsters are in a pound?
It depends on the type and size of the lobsters used. Generally, it takes either 5 to 6 pounds of soft-shell lobsters or 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 pounds of hard-shell lobsters to make a pound of lobster meat. Which has more meat, 1 two-pound lobster or 2 one-pound lobsters? In fact, the 1 two-pound lobster will have more meat.
How many oz of lobster meat do I Need?
4 oz lobster meat is suitable for an appetizer or side salad. 6-8 oz makes a nice single main course serving. 10-12 oz can feed two people or provide extra large portions. For whole lobsters, a 1.25-1.5 lb lobster generally provides about 5-6 oz of meat after shelling. So you’d need two of those lobsters to make two 6 oz main servings.
What is the weight range of a 1 1/2 pound lobster?
A 1 1/2 pound hard-shell lobster will yield about 1 1/3 cups of cooked meat. 650-775 g (1 1/2 lb) lobsters are called halves because they’re one pound plus a half.
How much meat does a 1 lb. hard-shell lobster yield?
A 1 lb. hard-shell lobster will yield 3.36 oz. of cooked meat (Based on a 21% yield). To get a pound of meat, divide 16 oz. (1 lb.) by 3.36 oz.
What is a 1.5 lb lobster called?
A 1 ½ lb. (650-775 g) lobster is called a half because it’s one pound plus a half. These are whole, live lobsters, not lobsters cut in half. Halves are a large enough lobster for a “Maine” course lobster dinner.