How Long Should I Cook a One and a Half Pound Lobster?

Lobsters cook quickly.

Boil a Lobster

The Lobster Institute at the University of Maine advises boiling a 1 1/2-pound lobster for 20 minutes in 2 1/2 quarts of boiled water salted with 2 1/2 tablespoons of salt. A red shell indicates that the lobster is cooked.

Grilling a Lobster

Grilling imparts a smoky taste desired by some backyard cooks. The Lobster Institute recommends boiling a 1 1/2-pound lobster for 5 minutes then plunging it into cold water. When the lobster is cool to the touch, it is sliced down the middle, organs removed, basted in butter, then grilled flesh-side down for 5 to 6 minutes. The lobster is basted again, turned over and grilled for an additional 4 to 5 minutes.

Bottom Line

Safe handling before boiling or grilling a 1 1/2-pound lobster prevents food-related illness. The Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services recommends keeping a lobster in a refrigerator set to between 34 degrees F and 40 degrees F.

References

• Lobster Institute: University of Maine
• Masssachusetts Office of Health and Human Services: Summer is Seafood Time in Massachusetts