Steaming Cooked Lobster: How Long Is Too Long?

Cooking lobster is an art, and the timing must be just right to avoid overcooking, which can make the meat tough and stringy. Steaming is a more gentle cooking technique that yields slightly more tender meat and makes it harder to overcook the lobster. The time it takes to steam a lobster depends on its size. A good rule of thumb is to steam the lobster for about 10 minutes per pound, checking that the shell has turned bright red and that the meat is cooked through.

Steaming a cooked lobster is a more gentle cooking technique

To steam a lobster, you'll need a pot large enough to hold all the lobsters comfortably. Do not crowd them. A 4- to 5-gallon pot can handle 6 to 8 pounds of lobsters. Put 2 inches of seawater or salted water in the bottom of a large kettle. Set a steaming rack inside the pot and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.

Add the live lobsters one at a time, cover the pot, and start timing. Halfway through, lift the lid and shift the lobsters around so they cook evenly. The lobsters will be done when they turn bright red and the meat is cooked through. This should take about 10 minutes per pound of lobster.

Once the lobsters are done cooking, run them under cold water or add them to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. This will also make them easier to handle when you're ready to eat. Serve the lobsters with melted butter and lemon wedges, if desired.

Enjoy your perfectly steamed lobster!

It's harder to overcook a steamed lobster

Steaming is a great way to cook lobster, and it's harder to overcook your lobster this way. While boiling can cause a mess and tends to waterlog the lobster, steaming cooks whole lobsters more slowly, reducing the chance of overcooking and giving you more control. It's also less messy!

Steaming is a more gentle method, and it's faster than boiling because you don't need to bring a huge pot of water to a boil. You will need a large pot, such as a stockpot or canning kettle, and a trivet or steaming basket to keep the lobsters out of the water (although this isn't necessary).

Here's how to do it:

First, fill your pot with 2-3 inches of water and season generously with sea salt. If you have access to seawater where you are, use that! Bring the water to a rolling boil.

Next, carefully drop your lobsters into the pot. Cover it tightly with a lid. You can add as many lobsters as your pot will allow, but make sure the lid is sealed tightly.

Now, start your timer. Let the lobsters steam for about 10 minutes per pound. Check them after 10 minutes, and if they're not bright red all over, keep checking back every 5 minutes or so. When they're bright red, they're ready.

Finally, grab the lobsters with tongs or gloves and either run them under cold water or add them to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Let them chill for 3-5 minutes before serving.

Serve your lobsters with melted butter and a few lemon wedges on the side. Enjoy!

A good gauge for steaming lobster is to cook for 10 minutes per pound

Steaming is a great way to cook lobster, and it's important to get the timing just right to avoid overcooking. A good rule of thumb is to steam your lobster for 10 minutes per pound. This timing will give you tender, sweet lobster meat.

First, fill a large pot with 2–3 inches of water and generously season with sea salt. If you're by the ocean, you can use seawater straight from the source! Add a steamer basket, or simply place the lobsters directly over the water.

Bring the water to a rolling boil. Add the lobsters to the pot and cover with a tightly fitting lid. You can add as many lobsters as your pot allows, but make sure the lid is sealed tightly.

Now, start the timer. Steam the lobsters for about 10 minutes per pound. Check them after the initial 10 minutes, and if they're not bright red all over, keep checking back every 5 minutes until they are.

Once they're bright red, your lobsters are ready! Remove them from the pot with tongs and run them under cold water or place them in an ice bath to stop the cooking process. This will also make them easier to handle when you're ready to eat.

Serve your perfectly cooked lobster with melted butter and some lemon wedges on the side. Enjoy!

Remember, it's best to use live, perky lobsters that are active and hold their claws upwards when lifted. This ensures the freshest and tastiest results.

Lobsters are cooked when their shells turn bright red

Steaming is a great way to cook lobster, and it's important not to overcook it. Lobster meat should be white and opaque, and the shell should be a bright, beautiful red.

First, fill a large pot with 2-3 inches of water and add a generous amount of sea salt. If you have access to seawater, even better! Use that instead. If you have a steamer basket, add it to the pot now. Bring the water to a rolling boil.

Next, carefully add your lobsters to the pot. Cover with a tightly fitting lid. You can cook as many lobsters as your pot allows, but make sure the lid is sealed tightly.

A good rule of thumb for timing is to steam the lobsters for about 10 minutes per pound. Check the lobsters after 10 minutes, and if they are not bright red all over, keep checking back every 5 minutes or so until they are. Remember, it's important not to overcook them!

Once the lobsters are done, run them under cold water or add them to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. This will also make them easier to handle when you're ready to eat.

Serve your perfectly cooked lobsters with melted butter and lemon wedges. Enjoy!

It's also important to use a pot that is large enough to allow for even heat circulation. Do not crowd the lobsters in the pot, as this can affect the cooking time and temperature. If you are cooking multiple lobsters, it's a good idea to open the pot halfway through the cooking process to rearrange them and ensure even cooking.

You can serve steamed lobster with melted butter

Steamed lobster is best served with melted butter, and perhaps some lemon wedges on the side. The rich, melted butter complements the fresh, delicate taste of lobster perfectly.

To make a simple melted butter dip, start by adding 2-3 inches of water to a large pot and bringing it to a rolling boil. Season the water generously with sea salt. If you have access to seawater, even better—use that instead!

If you have a steamer basket, you can add it to the pot now. If not, don't worry; the lobster can go directly into the water. Place the lobsters in the pot, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and steam for about 10 minutes per pound. You'll know the lobsters are done when they turn a bright red colour.

Once the lobsters are cooked, run them under cold water or place them in an ice bath to stop the cooking process. This will also make them easier to handle when you're ready to eat.

While the lobsters are cooling, melt some butter. You can add some lemon juice and herbs to the butter if you like, and season with salt and pepper. Serve the lobsters with the melted butter and lemon wedges, if using. Enjoy!

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