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 one of the most prized seafood delicacies, loved for its tender meat and rich, sweet flavor. But with over 70 lobster species inhabiting our oceans, it raises the question – what is the sweetest tasting lobster? As a lover of all things lobster, I set out on a flavor quest to uncover the lobster variety with the perfect balance of sweetness and seafood essence. After extensive research and tasting, the clear winner is the Maine lobster.
Here’s a complete guide to finding the sweetest tasting lobster and understanding what makes the Maine lobster stand out above the rest
What Determines Lobster Sweetness?
Before determining the sweetest variety. it’s important to know what makes lobster meat sweet in the first place
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Diet – Lobsters that eat more nutrient-rich foods like shrimp, crab and mussels tend to be sweeter. Their diet enhances the natural sweetness.
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Species – The Maine lobster is genetically predisposed to having a sweeter flavor compared to spiny lobsters of warmer waters.
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Gender – Female lobsters have a higher fat content which makes their meat taste sweeter. Males tend to be leaner with less sweetness.
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Cooking Method – Optimal cooking like steaming helps lock in the lobster’s natural sugars and sweetness.
The Sweetest Species Showdown
To find the sweetest lobster variety, I tested the top contenders side-by-side:
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Maine Lobster – Also called the Atlantic or Northern lobster, it has an unmatched rich, buttery sweetness.
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European Lobster – Found near the British Isles, it has an intense sweetness and delicate texture.
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Caribbean Spiny Lobster – From the warm Caribbean waters, it has a slightly fruitier and milder sweetness.
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Rock Lobster – The Australian and New Zealand variety has a firm texture with subtle sweet notes.
After extensive tasting, the Maine lobster took top prize with its unrivaled, velvety sweet flavor shining through. The cold North Atlantic waters give it the ideal conditions to develop superior sweetness.
Secrets to the Sweetest Maine Lobster
Through conversations with Maine fishermen, I uncovered some secrets behind the Maine lobster’s incredible sweetness:
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It feeds on a protein-rich diet of crab, mussels, and shrimp which enhances its natural sugars.
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Females carry a higher roe content in summer making their meat the sweetest.
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Quick steaming preserves the delicate sweetness that can be lost through high heat cooking.
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Sweeter lobsters are found in colder waters and caught in fall and winter months.
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Experienced lobstermen know where to source the sweetest catch.
How to Enjoy Sweet Lobster at Home
While dining on fresh Maine lobster in coastal restaurants is a memorable experience, you can also enjoy sweet lobster at home by:
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Finding a reputable seafood market that sells whole live Maine lobsters.
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Looking for wild caught lobsters, not farmed, for better flavor.
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Cooking it simply with butter or lemon to let the natural sweetness shine through.
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Buying frozen tails if fresh lobster isn’t available. Avoid pre-cooked.
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Ordering overnight shipped lobster from a Maine supplier to ensure freshness.
The Takeaway on Sweet Lobster
Finding the sweetest lobster is a flavor quest worth taking. While personal taste plays a role, the Maine lobster objectively takes the crown for its luscious texture and velvety sweetness achieved through optimal North Atlantic conditions. With some insider tips and quality sourcing, you can enjoy divinely sweet lobster no matter where you live.
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.
What is Surf and Turf?
Surf and turf is a style of menu that offers the best of both the land and the sea. This means customers don’t have to choose between the steak and the lobster and just get them both. This is a classic offering at steakhouses and seafood restaurants.
Surf and turf plates are often show-stopping displays of vibrant, fresh seafood and juicy seared steak. Alongside the main course, you’ll often find vegetable side dishes like crisp green asparagus, creamed spinach, whipped potatoes, or other sides to balance out all the protein.
Ultimately, surf and turf is a delightful culinary experience of texture, flavor, and aroma in one unique meal.
How I cook lobster for the sweetest taste #shorts
FAQ
What is considered the best tasting lobster?
In addition, Maine lobsters are the largest around, and under their smooth, dark red shell is some of the best-tasting seafood you can find.
What is the most delicious lobster in the world?
Maine Lobster is the sweetest, most flavorful and tender lobster you can eat. Hand-caught by a community of lobstermen committed to sustainable fishing for generations. If it’s not from Maine—it’s not lobster.
Is Caribbean lobster sweeter than Maine lobster?
Amount of Meat: Maine Lobster offers more meat overall, particularly from its claws, while Caribbean Spiny Lobster provides firm, flavorful meat primarily from the tail. Taste: Maine Lobster boasts a tender, buttery flavor, whereas Caribbean Spiny Lobster offers a slightly sweeter and firmer taste.
What is the most sought after lobster?
Tropical rock lobsters, or pearl lobsters, as they’re better known, are one of the rarest and most expensive lobster varieties. The colorful crustaceans are so valuable that there have been international smuggling attempts of its larvae.