| The two most popular ways to cook Lobsters are Steaming and Boiling. These are explained here. But before we get started, we just want to dispel a common myth: Lobsters do not scream when you put them into boiling water. The sound you hear is air whistling out of the shell as it expands due to the heat. That's our story, and we're stickin' with it. That out of the way, here's how you cook a lobster:
Steaming
Put about 2 inches of sea water or salted fresh water in the bottom of a large kettle. Bring the water to a rolling boil. Put in the live Lobsters, one at a time, grasping just behind the claws. Let the water boil again and begin timing. Allow 18 minutes for a 1 to 1 1/4 lb. hard-shell Lobster, and 20 minutes for a 1 1/2 lb. hard-shell Lobster. If the Lobster has a soft-shell, reduce the cooking time by 3 minutes.
Boiling
Fill a large kettle 3/4 full of sea water. If sea water is not available, add 2 tablespoons of salt for each quart of water. a good rule of thumb is to allow 2 1/2 quarts of water for each Lobster.
Bring the water to a boil. Put in the live Lobsters, one at a time, and let the water boil again. Lower the heat, cover the kettle, and simmer for about 15 minutes for 1 to 1 1/4 lb. hard-shell Lobsters, and about 20 minutes for 1 1/2 to 2 lb. hard-shell Lobsters. Like with steaming, soft-shell Lobsters take a little less time to cook, so reduce the cooking time by 3 minutes.
A general rule of thumb: When the antennae pull out easily, the Lobsters are done. |
