Cooking a succulent and flavorful lobster is an art that requires both precision and attention to detail. Steaming is a cooking method that allows you to retain the natural flavors and nutrients of the lobster while creating a tender and juicy texture. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a home cook looking to impress your guests, this guide will provide you with the essential steps and tips for steaming a lobster perfectly.
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STEAMED LOBSTER
Steps:
- Gather the ingredients.
- Place a trivet or steaming basket in a large stockpot and add 1 1/2 to 2 inches of water and the salt.
- Bring the water to a full boil. Grasp a lobster around the abdomen, behind the claws, and lower it into the pot, head-first. Put the second lobster in the pot. Immediately cover the pot and let the lobsters steam for about 10 minutes for 1-pound lobsters, 12 minutes for 1 1/4 pound lobsters, or 14 minutes for 1 1/2-pound lobsters. Increase another 2 minutes for every 1/4-pound over 1 1/2 pounds.
- Remove the lobsters with tongs and let them stand for 5 minutes before cracking. Serve the lobsters with melted butter and lemon wedges, if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 230 kcal, Carbohydrate 3 g, Cholesterol 187 mg, Fiber 0 g, Protein 35 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 3728 mg, Sugar 0 g, Fat 8 g, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
STEAMED LOBSTERS
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 41m
Yield 4 lobsters
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Choose a pot with a tight-fitting lid that is large enough to fit the lobsters comfortably with enough room for the steam to circulate around them. Wrap the lid tightly with a kitchen towel. Place a steamer basket or an upturned colander in the pot, and pour in cold water to a depth of about 2 inches. Cover and bring to a boil.
- Meanwhile, put the lobsters on a cutting board. Place the tip of a large, heavy knife at the cross marks on the back of a lobster's head. In one quick motion cut down through the head to the cutting board. Repeat with the remaining lobsters.
- To keep the tails straight and ensure even cooking, slip a thin wooden skewer through the length of the lobster's tails.
- When the water is boiling, quickly add the lobsters to the pot and cover. Steam the lobsters, shaking the pot occasionally, until cooked through, about 8 minutes for 3/4 to 1 pound lobsters, about 10 minutes for 1 to 1 1/4 pound lobsters, and about 11 minutes for 1 1/2 to 2 pound lobsters.
- Remove the lobsters from the pot and, if you are serving them whole, set them aside for several minutes to rest. Using the back of the heavy knife or a mallet crack the claws. Transfer the lobsters to plates and serve with drawn butter and lobster claw crackers.
- To remove all the meat from the lobster: Transfer the lobster to a colander in the sink and rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking. Using your hands, twist the claws, knuckles, and tails off of the lobsters. Reserve the bodies for making broth.
- On a work surface, rest the tails on their sides and, using the palm of your hand, press down on them to crack the shells. Holding a tail with both hands, with the belly facing you, break the tail shell back and pop out the meat. Repeat with the remaining tails. If you have female lobsters (the swimmerets at top of the tail are soft and have hair-like wisps protruding from them), you may want to prepare coral butter, (recipe follows) with the roe. The roe are the dark green eggs located in the body and the top of the tail. Carefully cut open the top of the tail and the body and remove the roe.
- Grab the "thumb" of a lobster claw and move it back and forth. Try to wiggle the shell off of the meat while pulling out the internal piece of cartilage, leaving the meat attached to the claw (this is a tricky maneuver, if it doesn't work you should be able to shake the meat out). Place the claw horizontally upright with the curve of the claw facing up. Using the heavy part of the blade of the knife, with a short and swift motion, crack the back end of the claw. Drop the claw to its side and, with the back of the knife, crack the side of the back of the claw. Remove the cracked back end of the claw and wiggle the meat out from the shell. Repeat with the remaining claws.
- Place the knuckles on the work surface and cover with a kitchen towel. Using the back of the knife, crack the knuckles. Using your hands, remove the shell from the knuckles and carefully pick out the meat. You may also use kitchen shears to cut open the knuckles and remove the meat.
- Place the butter in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 1 minute.
- Set the saucepan aside and let the butter settle, undisturbed. The milk solids will come to the top of the butter and the watery whey will collect on the bottom. Skim off the milk solids with a spoon and pour the drawn butter into a serving bowl or several small ramekins, taking care not include the watery liquid in the bottom of the pan. Serve.
- Yield: about 1 cup
- Place the butter in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 1 minute.
- Set the saucepan aside and let the butter settle, undisturbed. The milk solids will come to the top of the butter and the watery whey will collect on the bottom. Skim off the milk solids with a spoon and pour the drawn butter into a small bowl. Wipe out the sauce and return the drawn butter to it.
- Place the roe in a medium bowl and whisk lightly to break it up. Heat the butter over medium heat until just hot. Gradually pour the warmed butter over the roe, while whisking, until the eggs turn bright red. Serve with lobster or other shellfish.
- Yield: about 1 cup
HOW TO STEAM A LOBSTER
Make and share this How to Steam a Lobster recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Andi Longmeadow Farm
Categories Lobster
Time 18m
Yield 2 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Fill pot with water to match pounds of lobster. (3 qts. per 2 pounds lobster).
- Add seasonings, vegetable, and garlic.
- Bring water to rolling boil.
- Add live lobsters one at a time (if more then one), starting to time immediately. (10 minutes per pound for first pound of lobster, 1 minute per pound thereafter = 2 pound lobster= 12 minutes).
- Do not cover.
- Stir lobster half-way through cooking time.
- Let lobster rest for a full five minutes to allow the meat to absorb the moisture from the shell.
- Carefully remove and grab a bib.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 386.3, Fat 3.5, SaturatedFat 0.9, Cholesterol 576.6, Sodium 15919.7, Carbohydrate 8.5, Fiber 1.4, Sugar 3.2, Protein 76.1
STEAMED MAINE LOBSTER
Summer is coming and this means lobster will be on the menu! Everyone should know how to cook them for the backyard cookout.
Provided by Petunia
Categories Lobster
Time 26m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- In a pot large enough to hold 2 lobsters, pour in 2 inches of seawater.
- If you don't have seawater, add 1 tsp.
- salt to plain water.
- Pour in 4 oz.
- of the beer.
- Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
- Place the 2 lobsters in the pot and cover tightly.
- Return to a boil as quickly as possible and then start counting the time.
- The 2 lb.
- lobsters should steam for 16 minutes.
- Take them out with tongs, dump the water and start over with fresh water, adding the salt if no seawater and the beer.
- Serve with individual bowls of melted butter and cracking utensils.
- If you want to cook smaller or larger lobsters: it is 13 minutes per pound, for the first pound; add 3 minutes per pound for each additional pound thereafter (Ex: a 1 1/2 lb lobster will cook for 14 1/2 minutes).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 842.7, Fat 8.2, SaturatedFat 1.6, Cholesterol 862.6, Sodium 3852.8, Carbohydrate 6.7, Protein 171
BOILED OR STEAMED LOBSTERS
Lobster may be considered a delicacy, but it's a cinch to prepare. When you visit the fish market, don't be surprised at the crustacean's black or bluish-brown color; the familiar bright-red hue comes only with cooking.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Seafood Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 2
Steps:
- To boil: Fill a very large (4-gallon) stockpot three-quarters full with cold water. Bring to rolling boil; add salt. Plunge lobsters, one at a time, headfirst into the water. Cook, uncovered, 12 to 14 minutes (from the time lobsters enter pot).
- To steam: Fit a very large stockpot with a steaming basket (or use a round wire rack or an inverted metal colander). Fill pot with cold water just to reach bottom of basket. Cover; bring to a boil. Quickly set lobsters in one layer in pot (or cook in batches). Cook, covered, 15 to 17 minutes.
STEAMED LOBSTER TAILS
Steps:
- Pour about 1 inch of water in the bottom of a large pot and bring to a boil. Add the salt and place a steamer insert inside the pot so that it is just above the water level. Put the lobster tails on the rack and cover the pot. Cover and steam for 8 minutes. And don't peek! Serve with melted butter.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 356.4 calories, Carbohydrate 0.9 g, Cholesterol 222.5 mg, Fat 24.5 g, Protein 32.2 g, SaturatedFat 14.9 g, Sodium 1986.6 mg
Tips:
- Choose the right lobster: Select a live lobster that is heavy for its size, with a hard shell and no missing claws or legs.
- Prepare the lobster: Rinse the lobster under cold water and remove the rubber bands from its claws.
- Steam the lobster: Place the lobster in a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water. Cover the pot and steam the lobster for 10-15 minutes per pound, or until the shell turns bright red.
- Chill the lobster: Once the lobster is cooked, remove it from the steamer basket and place it in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.
- Serve the lobster: Crack the lobster claws and tail with a lobster cracker and remove the meat. Serve the lobster with melted butter, lemon wedges, and your favorite sides.
Conclusion:
Steaming lobster is a simple and delicious way to cook this seafood delicacy. By following these tips, you can ensure that your lobster is cooked perfectly and that you get the most out of its flavor. Whether you are a seafood lover or just looking for a new way to prepare lobster, steaming is a great option. So next time you have the opportunity, give it a try!
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