How to Eat Lobster

By eHow Culture & Society Editor

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The shell is a small obstacle to that rich, tender lobster meat. Here's how to get at your dinner.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Skewers
  • Butter
  • Lobsters
  • Lobster Picks
  • Nutcrackers
  • Small Hammers

Step1
Allow the lobster to cool after cooking.
Step2
Remove the large claws from the body by twisting them off at the joints.
Step3
Crack the claws. A nutcracker works for this, but so does the back of a heavy chef's knife, a small hammer or even a rock.
Step4
Bend the body back from the tail - it will crack and then you can remove the tail. Break off the small flippers on the tail.
Step5
Push the tail meat out of the tail. It should come out in one piece. Remove the black vein in the tail and discard it.
Step6
Dip the lobster meat in melted butter and enjoy. Repeat as you unshell more meat.
Step7
Find the tomalley (the lobster liver; it's green) and discard it - unless you like to use it in sauces.
Step8
Note that the coral-colored roe in a female lobster is also edible, though you can discard this, too.
Step9
Crack the body apart to find the meat in four cavities where the small legs join the body.
Step10
Look for meat in the small walking legs, too, if you have a lobster weighing more than 2 lbs. Push a skewer into the legs to get the meat out.

Tips & Warnings

  • Some people eat the coral and tomalley; you can also mash them up, add a little stock or cream, and use the tomalley as a sauce. Tomalley is sometimes called for in recipes such as lobster bisque.
  • Pregnant women and nursing mothers are advised not to eat the tomalley in Maine lobster due to high dioxin levels. Others are advised to limit consumption to one meal per month.

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eHow Article:  How to Eat Lobster

eHow Culture & Society Editor

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