How to Keep Live Lobsters
Lobsters spoil quickly, so lobster sellers must ship them live and store them in saltwater tanks. Once you've purchased live lobsters, you must store them properly and cook them promptly, or they will spoil or die. Since lobsters are saltwater creatures, leaving them in fresh water or keeping them in dry conditions will kill them. In good conditions, lobsters can live for 12 to 24 hours in your refrigerator. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Maintain proper storage when you transport the lobsters from the store to your refrigerator. "Good Eats" host Alton Brown recommends using an ice chest lined with ice packs and newspaper dampened with salt water to hold the lobsters after they come out of the tank at the seafood counter. Don't use ice unless it's in plastic bags because fresh water will kill the lobsters.
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Place the lobsters in the coldest part of your refrigerator in an open container, such as a cardboard box. Add newspaper, a cloth or seaweed that you've dampened with salt water. You want to keep the lobsters damp, but not wet. Never store lobsters in a sealed box or bag or in fresh water, as that will kill them.
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Note the condition of the lobsters. If they are lively and moving, they should survive for at least a day. If they appear sluggish, you should cook them soon, as they might not have enough stamina to survive in your refrigerator.
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Tips & Warnings
If you need lobsters for an event such as a holiday dinner, it might be better to parcook them ahead of time instead of trying to store them live. Parcooking means only partially cooking the lobsters -- a few minutes under the recommended time -- so you can finish cooking them later. Be careful not to overcook the lobster meat when you reheat it or it will get tough.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
