Ordering lobster from a restaurant is easy, but if youre preparing lobster at home, youll develop a whole new appreciation for professional chefs and cooks everywhere.
If youre wondering how to cook lobster, youll need to know how to tell if lobster is fully cooked, else you run the risk of serving under- or over-cooked seafood.
When cooking any type of seafood, you want to make sure its cooked all the way through. To figure out once and for all the signs when lobster is done cooking, we spoke to Natalia Levey, a professional chef and restaurateur.
Lobsters are a delightful and mysterious delicacy, cooking them to perfection is an art. Eating undercooked lobster is not only a letdown in terms of taste but it can also pose health risks. Undercooked shellfish, including lobsters, can contain harmful bacteria and parasites that may lead to foodborne illnesses.
Signs Lobster Is Cooked
Youll be able to tell if lobster is fully cooked by checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. There are also physical signs to look for that will tell you when lobster is done cooking.
How long your lobster takes to cook depends on the size and cooking method. “The average lobster size people usually work with is a pound and a quarter. This will take approximately 9 to 12 minutes to boil or steam, depending on the size and freshness of the lobster and equipment used,” Levey says.
“Think of boiling lobster like boiling pasta. The timer starts when you add the lobster to the pot of boiling water.”
What Cooked Lobster Looks Like
If you dont have a meat thermometer and must rely on your senses, Levey recommends looking for the following signs lobster is cooked:
- The shell will be bright red all over.
- Cooked lobster meat looks white, with the pink colors closest to the shell becoming a deep red.
- Just like with any protein (fish, chicken, beef, pork), as the lobster cooks, the protein will tighten and firm up.
When cooking steak, you may cut into the flesh to see if the inside is pink or red. Its the same with lobster. The flesh should be opaque, pearly white, according to FoodSafety.gov.
If youre waiting for fragrant aromas in the kitchen youre likely to keep waiting. When lobster is cooked, there is little to no odor, according to the FDA.
Big Mistakes Everyone Makes When Cooking Lobster
FAQ
What happens if I eat undercooked lobster?
How do you know if lobster is not cooked enough?
Is it OK if lobster meat is pink?
Can lobster be medium rare?
Should you overcook or undercook lobster?
This may take just a little a bit of extra work, but it’ll pay off when you finally bite into a juicy, well-prepared piece of lobster meat. Overcooking your lobster is generally more of a problem than undercooking it, as seafood cooks so quickly and can turn sadly rubbery as a result.
How do you know if a lobster is undercooked?
When lobster is undercooked, the color of the outer shell will still contain some green or black pigments, so the color is closer to that of a live, uncooked lobster. “Uncooked lobster will appear translucent toward the center and light pink closest to the shell,” Levey says. “It will be soft to the touch.”
Can you cook a lobster?
We won’t lie: Preparing and cooking a lobster can be a challenge, especially if you’re not used to cooking with seafood. But if you set your mind to it and follow all the directions for the recipe you’re cooking, you should be able to pull it off. However, that cooking process may not be as straightforward as it seems.
How do you know if lobster is cooked to a safe temperature?
This is the most accurate way to know when meat is thoroughly cooked to a safe internal temperature. “The internal temperature of cooked lobster is 140 degrees Fahrenheit,” Levey says. “Do not cook to a temperature higher than 140 F or the lobster can become tough and chewy.”