Live Lobster

[sh1234]

I am going to be having a dinner party soon and am planning on cooking lobsters, which I have never done before. Two questions. First, are they better boiled or steamed, and second, what are good side dishes to serve with lobster.

Thanks

 

[amber]

I prefer boiled lobster, serve with hot butter. Good sides are corn on the cob, cole slaw, and potatoe salad. Thats a typical Maine lobster dinner. Perhaps some hot rolls too. Mass people will chime in, as well as other New Englanders Oh and steamers as an appetizer, or mussells, of course with hot drawn butter.

Oh and boil them 15 minutes per pound!

 

[GB]

I prefer them steamed, but not because I think they taste better that way. I honestly think they taste the same steamed or boiled. The only reason I like steamed better is that when you crack open a steamed lobster there is a lot less water that comes pouring out. You can't go wrong with either method though.

I used to like them with clarified butter (and I still do), but I took a hint from Jasper White and tried using just melted butter instead of clarified. I really like doing this now. It adds a lot more flavor IMO.

 

[marmalady]

IMO, unless you have a professional sort of steamer, there's not much you can set up at home to do a great steaming job. Especially if you're cooking a lot of lobster. It just takes too long for the heat to er, bring the lobsters to their demise, and the racket in the pot will drive you out of the kitchen. Boiling is the way to go!

You can season the water, if you like, with some cut up lemons, peppercorns, bay leaf, and Old Bay seasoning. Put that in the water right at the beginning, and by the time the water comes to a boil, you'll have a wonderful broth to cook the critters in.

 

[AllenOK]

I agree with marmalady. Unless you have a commercial steamer at home (those things are pretty big!), you're better off boiling them.

As a side note, I think just about every restaurant that serves lobster probably steams them.

 

[GB]

I have only cooked lobster at home once, but we steamed them and had zero problems. We just took out biggest pot and put some water and put a steaming basket (you know those collapsible things) and put the lobsters in that so they were raised above the water. We slapped the lid on and that was it. They were some of the best lobsters I have ever had (and I have eaten a LOT of lobster) and could not have been easier.

 

[auntdot]

Boiling vs steaming, no question, steam. I will take a big pot and steam the critters every time.

If you are squeamish about them flailing about in the pot, just take a sturdy knife and stick it through the shell at the back of the head in the little indentation there, it sort of looks like a cross. It will kill them immediately.

Used to live in New England and have been to many lobster boils and find the boiled critters far too watery. Used to avoid the darned things as often as we could.

But you might want to consider baked stuffed lobster, our favorite. We can easily make a dozen and a half in a bit more than an hour. Could get home from work on a Friday evening with visitors coming and have a dinner ready in an hour or so.

If you have never done it before, I would give the prep a bit longer and allow about two hours.

Just Google for recipes.

Stuffings with Ritz crackers are often used.

And crab, but the phony crab works well.

Have been to a restaurant in Bar Harbor, Maine that was the choice of the locals and all the Maine folk ordered was baked stuffed.

Just my opinion, hope it helps.

 

[Constance]

I'm a Midwestern girl...I like baked potatoes and crab stuffing with my lobster... and corn on the cob with anything!

 

[sh1234]

lobster

seems like steaming is the popular answer. i have heard its a bit unsettling listening to them in the pot when they are steamed, but its probably worth it if they taste better than boiling.

 

[GB]

Yeah it is a bit unsettling listening to them in the pot. We joked about it while it was happening, but it was a bit uncomfortable listening to them move around.

Personally I do not find a difference in taste between boiled and steamed. I just like the fact that there is less water inside a steamed lobster so it doesn't come pouring out when you crack them open

 

[jennyema]

I'm with GB. I think they taste the same. (I usualy boil mine.)

Key - use salted water, either way. If you have clean seaweed, add that to the pot.

Put the critters in the freezer for 15-20 min right before you cook them -- they'll be "sleepy"

 

[foodaholic]

If I have the opportunity to eat lobster out of the shell,as in a backyard lobster boil or if I'm on the east coast I will eat it that way,but really,not a favorite preparation for me.I like to boil or steam for a minute or so and then remove the meat that is virtually uncooked and then prepare a menu.I also like Kellers approach to butter poaching,which is really like a confit technique and the result is very tender.I prefer to boil.

The problem with steam is not doing 1 or 2 lobsters but doing 10,very uneven cooking throughout the pot
from bottom to top.Like others have suggested a commercial steamer for any
type of quantity is essential.

 

[jennyema]

foodaholic ...

Thomas Keller's butter poached lobster is one thing I promised myself I'd taste before I die. I just have to save up for it.


But other than that, I like 'em steamed or boiled because I think the taste of the ocean is lost when you cook them any other way.

And I agree about uneven cooking when you steam a bunch of lobsters in the same container. But you could use more than one cooking vessel.

 

[foodaholic]

Thomas Keller's butter poached lobster is one thing I promised myself I'd taste before I die. I just have to save up for it.

Just do it. Actually the technique,I'm sure you know is just butter and a little water.

You certainly can use more vessels,but I always got the other burners going for other things generally.Make note:Need a 6 BURNER..

 

[jennyema]

Just do it. Actually the technique,I'm sure you know is just butter and a little water.

Oh no .... I want Thomas to make it for me @ The French Laundry, along with the 6 other courses in my dinner, enjoyed with $500 worth of wine and his signature coffee and doughnut dessert! Someday ......

Me, I boil myself lobsters all the time (cheaper usually than steak), which I eat with my Stop and Shop pinot grigio.

Seriously, I have thought about butter-poaching @ home and will try it sometime.

 

[foodaholic]

I had dinner there a few years ago,and it is a very special NA restaurant.I need to find a reason to go to NY some time soon and make a reso at Per Se.

 

[Constance]

Back to killing your live lobsters...I've heard of two humane methods. Conk them on the head with a wine bottle before you throw them in, or...put a cup of vodka in the boiling water and they'll die drunk and happy.

I don't care how you cook'em...just call me when they're ready!