Lobster - Boil or Steam?
 

Discuss

I like to boil. For no other reason than it's usually got potatoes and corn and carrots in there too. I usually boil a couple of onions, celery, and old bay to season the water first.

If it's lobsters and clams, then I'll steam them, I prefer steamed clams to boiled.

+1 for boiled lobster, I tend to put some selery, carrots, onions and herbs in the water as well when boiling it.

A vote for steam. Takes less water, ergo less time to
come to temperature. You have to cook a little longer.
as vapor isn't as efficient transferring the heat, but I
think the total time is less, and the flavor just a bit
more intense.

Missed the $6.99 per tail at wholefoods.

If your WF is like my WF thats 6.99 per 4 oz tail. That makes it something like $28/lb! And I think they're frozen/defrosted at that.

How much do you pay for lobster heads? :p

Steam, if you can.

Less water used as mentioned above. Water becomes steam at 100 C, or 212 F, and cooks quicker (at least in our experience) than the big boiling-up pot.

A few months ago we steam-cooked 9 lobster tails one night that were split with shears, and steamed with potatoes, corn, butter, and lemon in less than 20 minutes. All in one heavy oval alu-core stainless steamer, using 1 cup or less of water. The taste is better, more intense, and not washed out by boiling.

Fantastic !

LOL.

The same tails can be found at your local supermarket for less. If I buy whole live lobsters at my local Ablertsons I pay about $14/lb for heads, tails, claws and tamale. The heads and shells go into making a broth which I use for risotto and bisque.

Large (1-1.5 lb) frozen/defrosted tails can be had at Costco but I don't remember how much they cost per lb.

They were $19.99/lb for years. Last I looked a couple of months ago they were $24.99/lb in NorCal. Still, when we want lobster at home, that's the way we go every time.

Thats crazy! Coming from Boston, I just bought a few lobsters at the local supermarket for $6.99/lb.

The New England lobster market is FLOODED with lobster this year - way too much lobster, not enough people buying. Even nice restaurants that once charged $20-25 per lobster roll are rolling back to $15.

I keep hearing this but haven't seen the prices reflected in local markets out here (Santa Monica, CA). Maybe a trip to Chinatown is in order.

Cruel anyway you do it in my opinion! :0(

Someone mention the humane way to cook them is to use room temperature water with them in the water and then heat up the water on high setting.

I prefer them grilled.

I buy them live and spilt them down the middle with a chef's knife, then throw them (still moving usually) on the grill.

Judge, jury and executioner. ;)