Nothing says the taste of New England better than fresh Maine Lobster. Fresh Maine Lobster has been a staple of New Englanders for centuries. You can purchase fresh Maine Lobster for a variety of different recipes, or simply enjoy the delicious taste of a fresh Maine Lobster simply served with hot piping butter. Some of the most popular uses for fresh Maine Lobster include Lobster Salad, Lobster Bisque, Scalloped Lobster, Lobster Newburg, and Lobster Stew.

Choosing Fresh Maine Lobster

When selecting a fresh Maine Lobster, you have your choice of a hard or soft shell. The soft-shelled lobsters or as they are known by the Lobster industry, “shedders” are more easily breakable. However, some prefer the hard-shelled lobsters and they believe the hard-shelled lobsters have more meat. Many people prefer female fresh Maine Lobster tails compared to males, due to the fact that the female has a larger tail used for carrying eggs.

There isn’t much difference in taste between a small and a large fresh Maine Lobster, until they reach the weight of five to seven pounds. After that larger weight, the lobsters are said to have a stringier texture.

What is the Best Method for Cooking a Fresh Maine Lobster?

Many people have struggled with the moral ethics regarding plunging a live fresh Maine Lobster into a pot of boiling water. The ruling is that if you put your fresh Maine Lobster into the freezer, for a few minutes before boiling, the lobster will feel less pain. Now that that is out of the way, let’s discuss the best and proper method for cooking a fresh Maine Lobster.

There are two basic methods for cooking a fresh Maine Lobster; they are steam and boil. For the steam method, you begin by boiling salted water, about two inches deep, in a large kettle. When the water has come to a rolling boil, plunge the fresh Maine lobster into the water and allow the water to come to another rapid boil.

For a 1 to 1 ¼ lb. Fresh Maine Lobster, you will boil for 18 minutes (subtract three minutes for a soft shelled lobster)- Boil a 1-½ lb fresh Maine Lobster for 20 minutes.

To boil a fresh Maine Lobster, fill a large kettle with salted water. The rule of thumb is to use 2 ½ quarts of water per fresh Maine lobster. When the water has come to a rolling boil, place lobsters in the water. Bring to another boil. Now, lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes for a 1-1 ¼ lb. fresh Maine Lobster, 1 ½ - 2 lbs is 17-20 minutes, 2-3 lbs = 20 minutes, 3-6 lbs= 24-28 minutes, 6-7 lbs – 28-30 minutes.

Your fresh Maine Lobster is done when red and the antennae are easily removed. Soft shells may cook faster; reduce cooking time by three minutes for soft-shelled fresh Maine Lobsters.