Maine Lobster Facts, Cooking & Buying tips
Served at fine gourmet seafood restaurants around the globe, Maine lobster, also called American lobster is the most popular lobster of all. Found in the shallow waters along the Northern Atlantic coast, the average adult ranges from 20 cm to 60 cm in length and weighs 1/2 kg to 4 kg. However, they have been known to grow up to 1 meter long and weigh 20 kg, which makes them the largest crustacean in the world. If you've ever been to Las Vegas I'm sure you have seen the advertisement of the chef holding the lobster that seems to be as big as he is, that lobster is from Maine.
To ensure freshness, the best place to buy Maine lobster is online through a reputable gourmet online seafood store. When you buy live Maine lobster in a grocery store or at a seafood restaurant there is no telling how long it has been since it was caught. However when you buy online it comes direct from the ocean to your door. It's also more convenient to buy seafood online and cheaper as well because you are cutting out the distributor and retail markups.
Once you place your order, your lobster will be shipped to you overnight in a temperature controlled box which keeps it alive during shipping. It's best to time your order with the day you plan to eat it, however it will stay alive in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Although they won't be very active when you receive them, they should move slightly when poked.
To avoid food poisoning, lobsters must be kept alive until they are cooked, for this reason many restaurants, such as red lobster allow patrons to pick their live lobster out of a tank. Live Maine lobsters usually have a mottled appearance that turns bright red after cooking.
Fresh Maine lobster is normally boiled or steamed, however it can also be baked, broiled and grilled. When you order Maine lobster online it will come with a preparation guide that covers all of these cooking methods and recipes as well. For this reason I will just list the simplest cooking method here, boiling.
First of all, there has been a lot of research into the most humane way to cook a lobster, some people like to put live lobster in the freezer for 10 - 15 minutes before boiling to numb them, while others prefer to kill the lobster just before cooking with a sharp knife. Whatever method you choose it is important that the water is boiling when you put your lobster in it.
To boil a Maine lobster, pour enough water into a pot to completely submerge the lobster and bring it to a rapid boil. Add salt and lemon juice and put the fresh Maine lobsters into the water head first. When the water comes to a boil again turn the heat down to medium and cover the pot. Cook the lobster for 5 minutes for the first pound and 3 minutes for each additional pound. Lobsters cook very quickly so be sure not to over cook them.
After you remove the lobsters, use paper towels to dry them. Then twist off the claws and crack them with a mallet to gain access to the meat. Next, wrap the lobsters in paper towels and twist the tails off. You should be able to access the tail meat with your fingers.
Maine lobster is delicious all by itself with melted butter or you can use a recipe from the guide that comes with it. ENJOY!
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