How to Cook and Eat

Maine Lobster -

What is the best way to cook a lobster?

If boiling a hard-shell lobster you take the weight of the lobster (w) and you add 10 to determine the boil time. (w + 10= Boil time)

How do you eat a lobster?

Once the lobster is cooked just follow these steps!

• 1. Turn the lobster so that the legs are sticking up. Holding the lobster by the back, gently pull off the legs with a twisting motion.
  
  Wait! Don't throw these away there is plenty of delicious meat inside them!

• 2. Tear off the claws by turning them at the joint that meets the body, again with a gentle twisting motion. Using a mallet, break off the tip of the large section of the claw, revealing the meat. With your forefinger, push the meat from the tip of the claw out the larger open end.

• 3. Grasp the tail portion with one hand, and the back with the other hand. Twist to separate the two sections. After that while in your hand, turn the tail over so you see the small flippers, or telsons, at the base. Then squeeze the tail until the shell cracks. Once the shell cracks grab the tail by its sides and pull apart exposing the meat. Last but not least, Peel off the top part of the tail to reveal the digestive tract, which should be removed before eating the tail meat

• 4. That's it! You can start eating!

Arguably, the best part of the lobster (the debate rages between tail lovers and claw lovers) is the tail meat.

Common Questions about Maine

lobster -

What's the green stuff?

It's the lobster's liver or more accurately, its digestive system. Although many people like to eat the "tomalley" it probably isn't a good idea because this is where pollution in the lobster's own meal choices would become concentrated in the lobster's body.

What's the red stuff?

It's the roe, the unfertilized eggs of the female. Lobster eggs were once considered a delicacy, like caviar. The roe is also called "coral" because of its bright red color.

What is the nutritional value of lobster?

Amount per serving -  Serving Size: 100 g/ 3.5 oz. (Raw)           

Calories - 90                   Fat Calories - 8.1

Total Fat - 0.9 g              Saturated Fat - 0.2 g

Cholesterol - 95 mg        Sodium - 296 mg

Protein - 19g                   Omega-3 - 0mg

                    Source: USDA

Can you eat lobster when there is a

shellfish ban?

Yes. Lobsters, unlike mussels, oysters, and clams, are not "filter feeders." Filter feeders pump sea water, and any plankton or pollution it carries, through their bodies. Any toxins in the water will be concentrated in their flesh. Meat eaters like lobsters, crabs, and fish do not filter plankton from sea water, so they are safe to eat during an outbreak of red tide.