How To Boil Lobster

Lobsters form a common delicacy at seafood restaurants and supermarkets. They are especially a favorite choice during summers. The very thought of the lobster meat dipping with hot melted butter makes our mouth water and stomach whine. The best way to cook lobster is to boil it. Boiling a lobster is a simple, straightforward process and can be done easily at home. It does not require elaborate preparation and the process is enough to bring up the sweet taste of the meat. Most importantly, boiling a lobster requires enough water and making sure that it is neither undercooked nor overcooked. The boiled lobster can be eaten by itself or used for preparing other recipes, like crepes, salads or risotto. Read on further to know how to boil lobster.

Recipe For Boiling Lobsters

Pour enough water in a large stockpot to cover the lobster.
Keep the water for boiling, on high heat.
Add salt (to taste) and lemon juice (extracted from 3 to 4 lemons).
Place the lobster, with its head first, into the boiling water.
Continue boiling the water and reduce the heat to medium.
Cover the stockpot and cook for 5 minutes, for the first pound.
Cook for an additional 3 minutes for each additional pound.
Ensure that the lobster does not overcook. When cooked, remove it immediately from the water and drain on paper towels.
Your lobster is done when an antennae or a small walking leg comes off easily on pulling.
Twist off and remove each large claw, while leaving the claw joints intact.
Using a nutcracker or mallet, crack the claw shell.
Hold the body of the lobster in a clean kitchen towel and twist off the tail with your hands.
Remove the tail shell of the lobster with your fingers and separate the meat from the shell.
The meat inside the lobster will be firm, white and opaque.

Tips

While boiling water, you can add vinegar, white wine or beer, if desired.
Refrigerate the lobsters until just before you add them to the boiling water.
Select hard shells lobsters, as they have more meat in them.
The lobster shells turn red when it is completely cooked.
When the lobster is completely boiled, it makes a high-pitched sound like that of crying, which is actually the gas being released from under its shell.
Serve the lobster hot with melted butter.

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