How to Cook Live Lobsters

Do you like lobster? Ordering lobsters in restaurants is expensive, and it is SO easy to cook your own. Follow these simple steps for how to cook live lobsters and prepare a lobster dinner in your own home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Live lobsters
• Large pot
• Butter
• Potatoes (optional)
• Freezer

1. Buy live lobsters when they are in season.
   
   Usually lobsters are best September through February.

2. Purchase your lobster alive and fresh.
   
   The reason why people like to cook their own lobsters is because it is not healthy to cook lobster once it is dead.

3. Be humane when you get ready to cook your lobsters.
   
   The most humane (but still safe for eating) way to prepare lobsters for the boiling water is to freeze the lobster for a couple minutes. This numbs and stuns the lobster before it is cooked.

4. Place the still live lobster in boiling water.
   
   It is quicker, and therefore more humane, to put lobsters in boiling water than to put it in warm water and raise the temperature gradually.

5. Steam your lobsters in salted water for 10-15 minutes. If you like, put some potatoes in the water with it. They will absorb some of the flavor and make a nice side dish.

6. Serve the lobster with melted butter. Corn on the cob also makes a tasty, traditional side dish for lobster. Good luck learning how to cook live lobsters. Enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• If you just can't deal with cooking a live lobster before you eat it, many grocery stores will steam them for you.
• The freezer is useful during cleanup as well. When you're done eating, place the shell/remains in a plastic bag and freeze it, then put it out on trash day. This will cut down on the fishy smell!

Resources

• Cooking Lobster

[jenecequa]

on 10/18/2009 Oh dear. Well, a lobster cooking I will go.. Two live ones in the vegetable crisper now. Thanks for the tip on freezing them. I'll do anything to alleviate the pain.

[QueenofMisc]

on 12/12/2008 Great article, but I just can't do it. The frozen thing sounds good, but ooooh, I just can't....but wait... did you say there would be butter too, to dip them in. I don't know. Maybe I can try it. :-)

[amberdawn]

on 12/2/2008 I'm pretty sure they do feel the cold, yes. There's no PAINLESS way to kill a lobster that I'm aware of. Certainly not one that will keep it safe for eating! But the cold is not as bad as the boiling water. And it numbs the pain of the boiling water. Also, make sure you only freeze them for a few minutes, they need to be alive and moving before they are cooked!

[ermabombeck]

on 12/2/2008 I love lobster but always feel guilty for cooking them alive. Will definitely freeze first, but do they feel the cold? 5*'s