Cooking a lobster require precise timing, as cooking the lobster for too long will result in tough and rubbery lobster meat. The weight of a lobster and the method used to cook the lobster will affect the cooking time. If the lobster is too large for one person to consume, the smaller lobster will cook faster.
A one-pound lobster will cook much more faster than a two-pound lobster. If the large lobster is undercooked in the center, the exterior will have cooked for too long. In this case, using a cooking time chart will help to determine how long to cook a lobster of specific weight.
How Long to Cook Lobster
There is several different methods to cook a lobster. One of the most common method is boiling. For a medium select lobster, the boiling time should be twelve minute once the water returns to a boil.
Another method is steaming. Steaming require more time than boiling. Baking and grilling the lobster will require the most time to cook the lobster meat.
The cook should split the lobster in half to allow the heat reach the lobster meat. Each method will alter the texture of the lobster meat, so you should chose the cooking method based on the available kitchen equipment. There are a couple ways to determine when the lobster is cooked.
Using a cooking probe to check the temperature of the thickest part of the lobster tail will tell you when the lobster is done at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Observing the color of the lobster shell will also show if the lobster is done. The raw lobster shell will be greenish-black when uncooked.
When cooked, the color will change from brown to orange to red. People rely on this indication alone to determine when the lobster is done cooking. Therefore, using both method will provide the best results for determining when the lobster is done.
If only specific part of a lobster are to be cooked, the cooking time will change. For example, a six ounce lobster tail will take eight minutes to boil. Claws will steam for six minutes.
If using a broiler to cook butterflied lobster tail, cooking the tails for ten minutes will result in properly cooked tails. If using frozen lobster, thaw the lobster before cooking or add four minute to the cooking time. To reheat cooked lobster meat in butter will take three minutes.
Each part of the lobster will take a different time to cook. To avoid common mistake when boiling lobster, follow a few specific steps. Add two tablespoon of salt per quart of water because the lobster meat require salt to enhance the flavor.
Use tongs to place the lobster into the pot so that the lobster does not splash the boiling water. Start the timer for cooking the lobster once the water returns to a boil. If you start the timer before the water boils, the lobster will be undercooked.
Once the lobster is done cooking, place it in an ice bath to stop the cooking process of the lobster meat. Use a deep stockpot to cook several lobsters to ensure the lobster isnt crowded together in the cooking pot. Use tools such as crackers, lobster pick, and lobster shears to remove the lobster meat from the shell.