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Learn how to boil lobster and enjoy this simple and delicious seafood delicacy. With a few basic steps, you’ll have perfectly cooked, tender lobster in just 20 minutes! Serve it with melted butter and your favorite sides.
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Boiling lobster is a fuss-free cooking method that requires minimal effort and ingredients.
- Tender and Juicy: The boiling process ensures the lobster meat stays moist and flavorful.
- Versatile Serving Options: Perfect on its own with melted butter or as part of dishes like lobster rolls, salads, or pasta.
- Perfect for Special Occasions: A restaurant-quality dish that’s a favorite for celebrations, romantic dinners, or whenever you want something that’s sure to impress. I love serving boiled lobster for Valentine’s Day dinner!
Whole Lobster
I remember going to the grocery store as a kid and seeing the live lobsters swimming around in a tank with their claws closed with rubber bands. I never understood why the grocery store had lobsters as pets! Ha ha! I remember eating lobster for the first time and understanding! It was so delicious, and I was hooked!
Ingredients Needed to Boil Lobster
How to Boil Lobster
If you’ve been intimidated to make lobster, don’t be! It’s surprisingly easy and tastes just like something you’d order from a fancy restaurant. It pairs well with a ton of sides, and I especially love it with garlic butter pasta or mashed potatoes and smashed Brussels sprouts.
- Prep: Prepare the lobster by cutting and removing the rubber bands from the claws.
- Boil the Lobster: Bring the water and salt to a rolling boil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Carefully place the prepared lobster into the boiling salt water and cook for about 5 minutes per pound of lobster. I had a 3-pound lobster, and it took 15 minutes!
- Serve: Carefully remove the lobster from the water using tongs. Let it drain for a minute on a plate. Remove the meat from the lobster and dip in your favorite butter sauce!
How to Crack a Lobster?
With the right tools and technique, cracking a lobster is actually kind of fun! Here’s a simple guide with visuals so you can easily crack your lobster.
- Remove the Legs: Use kitchen shears to snip off the legs at the base near the body of the lobster. Repeat on both sides.
- Pull off the Tail: Grab the tail with your hand while holding the body of the lobster and pull the tail off of the lobster. This is where a lot of the meat is!
- Remove the Legs from the Claws: Hold the claw with one hand, then twist and remove the leg from the claw. Repeat on both sides.
- Remove the Shell: Remove the shell from the claw to reveal the meat.
- Lobster Cracker: Use a lobster cracker to crack the shell of the lobster. Crack the claw, legs, and any part of the shell to help remove the meat inside.
Tips for Boiling Lobster
This lobster recipe could not be any easier! However, here are a few tips so it turns out perfect every time you make it.
- Frozen Lobster: Whole lobster is easy to buy frozen! Simply thaw it in the fridge before boiling it. You can also use lobster tails for this recipe if you prefer.
- Butter Sauce: Try my Garlic Butter Sauce recipe for dipping! You can season the flavor in the sauce to your liking. Try adding paprika or red pepper flakes for more flavor or spice!
- Weight: It’s best to know the weight of your lobster, so you don’t over or undercook it. Remember to boil the lobster for 5 minutes per pound.
- How do I know if my lobster is done? Cooked lobster should reach an internal temperature of at least 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
Storing Leftovers
Don’t let any of that precious lobster meat go to waste! Here’s how to store it so you can add the leftovers to eggs, pasta, or salads.
- In the Refrigerator: Make sure to remove the lobster meat from the shell before storing it. Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- In the Freezer: Boil and remove the lobster meat from the shell before freezing. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months, although I recommend enjoying your lobster meat fresh!
More Lobster Recipes
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How to Boil Lobster
Ingredients
- 1 whole lobster, about 3 pounds, or 4 lobster tails
- 8-10 cups water
- 3 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Prepare 1 whole lobster, by cutting and removing the rubber bands from the claws.
- Bring the 8-10 cups water and 3 teaspoons salt to a boil in a large pot on the stove over medium-high heat.
- Carefully place the prepared lobster into the boiling water and cook about 5 minutes per pound of lobster. My 3-pound lobster took 15 minutes!
- Carefully remove the lobster from the water and let it drain for a minute on a plate. Remove the meat from the lobster and dip in your favorite butter sauce!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
