During Lobstermania, you can procure fresh, live or cooked Maine lobster while supplies last at a great price, which is quite a deal for such quality of lobster weighing in at 1.25 lbs or larger. You can buy them already steamed fresh or you can do it at home. Follow the tips below for cooking lobster, and before you know it you’ll be serving up a couple for dinner alongside corn-on-the-cob and some of our Bakery’s Herb Cheddar Biscuits! Also below, are tips for reheating your cooked lobster.

To start, if you have never handled a live lobster, keep the bands on. Also, the lobster doesn’t “scream” when you start cooking it. If you do hear a noise it’s just the steam escaping from the shell.

COOKING LOBSTER INSTRUCTIONS (LIVE)

Lobster Boiling Tips
Boiling a lobster is easy and probably the best way for cooking 4 or more at one time. Get a big pot and fill with fresh water about 2/3 full. Add 1 to 2 Tbsp of salt per gallon of water. Bring to a boil and add lobsters. Start the timer when the water comes back to a boil. You can figure 6-7 minutes for a 1.25-lb lobster, 7-9 minutes for 1.5-lb lobster, and 10-12 minutes for a 2-lb lobster.

Lobster Steaming Tips
Steaming lobster works great and tends to yield a more tender, less messy cooked lobster than boiling. Fill a large, deep pot with 2-3 inches of water. Bring to a boil, add the lobsters, cover, and steam, about 8 minutes per lb. How do you tell when it’s cooked?

Remember, sometimes the lobster may be undercooked even if the shell is entirely red. Double check that the meat is a creamy white color with no translucent areas. Give a good tug on one of the antennae and if it pops off, the lobster is done. You can also insert an instant read thermometer into the underside of the tail. It should read 135-140°F.

COOKED LOBSTER REHEATING INSTRUCTIONS

Did you skip the hassle and buy a pre-cooked lobster? No problem! Here is how you reheat when you are ready to serve. Wrap lobsters individually in foil. Place in a 350°F oven on a cooking sheet, belly up, and heat until warm. Or, place the foil-wrapped lobsters on the grill to warm.

Try some of these recipes with Lobster as the main CLAW-some ingredient!

1. Corn & Lobster Fritters

2. Connecticut-Style Lobster Roll 

3. Lobster Hushpuppies 

4. Lobster Pasta with Shallots, Tomatoes, and Basil