How to Tell the Sex of a Lobster

Whether the meat of a male or female lobster tastes better is a hotly contested topic among some chefs, although many say there is absolutely no difference in taste. The biggest difference between eating a male or female lobster is that if you eat a female lobster, you may find roe -- eggs -- in the tail. This isn't an issue with male lobsters. So being able to tell the sex of a lobster is of particular use to a chef cooking lobster who might want to avoid -- or find -- lobster roe.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Turn the lobster over.

2. Locate the pair of swimmerets closest to the lobster's body. These are the small appendages on the underside of the tail.

3. Take a close look at the swimmerets. If they're hard and bony, the lobster is a male. If they're small and feathery, the lobster is a female.

Tips & Warnings

• Most of the time you can also identify the sex of a lobster by looking at the width of its tail. Female lobsters have wider tails than males to let them carry eggs.

References

• The American Lobster
• Bayley's Lobster Pound

Who Can Help Sponsored

• How to Lose 30+lbs Guaranteed. Try it Free.