How to Boil 1.5 Pounds of Lobster

Cook lobster in a large pot.

The average lobster is 1.4 pounds, so a 1.5 pound lobster is slightly larger than normal. The two primary methods of cooking lobster are steaming and boiling. Boiling is considered to be the most humane way to kill and cook your lobster. To numb your 1.5 pound lobster, place it in the freezer for five minutes before dropping it in the pot of boiling water.

Things You'll Need

• Large pot
• 2 1/2 qts. water
• 4 tbsp. salt
• Lemon (optional)
• Bay Leaf (optional)
• Scissors
• Tongs

Instructions

1. Fill the pot with water to cover your entire 1.5 pounds of lobster.

2. Add salt to the pot of water. This will help preserve the flavor of the lobster meat. You can also add some lemon wedges and a bay leaf to the water for seasoning.

3. Place the pot on the stove and allow the water to come to a rolling boil.

4. Grasp the lobster behind its claws so you don't get pinched and use a pair of scissors to remove the rubber bands on its claws.

5. Drop the lobster into the pot of boiling water head first and put the lid on the pot.

6. Boil your lobster for 15 to 20 minutes. Reduce your cooking time by 3 minutes if you are cooking soft shell lobster.

7. Remove the pot from heat and remove the lobster from the pot with tongs. Serve hot.

Tips & Warnings

• When a lobster is done cooking the shell will be bright red.

• The antennae of a cooked lobster should be easy to remove.

• Cooked lobster meat is firm in texture and white in color.

• Lobster that dies before being cooked may not cook properly.

References

• The Lobster Institute: Cooking & Eating a Lobster
• Lobster Help: Boiling Lobster
• Help With Cooking: How to Cook Lobster. Including boiling, steaming, grilling and serving.
• "What's a Cook to Do?"; James Peterson; 2007