how long do you steam multiple lobsters

You have a special night planned and your brain goes to what equates to “fancy dinner”. Lobster, of course!

But there are a few things you should know before you decide to make a whole lobster for your special occasion… especially if you’ve never done it before.

I’m not trying to scare you off. I love making (and eating) whole lobster. It is a social experience and should be a fun family event. I just pride myself on being honest and I don’t want you to commit to something you might not enjoy.

Add lobsters to boiling water and cover with a tightly fitting lid. You can add in as many lobster as your pot will allow, just make sure the cover of the pot is sealed tightly. How long to steam a lobster: A good timing gauge for steaming lobster is to cook them for about 10 minutes per pound of lobster.

Before you get started…

ONE. Most lobster is sold live. Some places will steam it for you, but it is certainly best right after cooking and not reheated. This means you will be dispatching (killing) the lobster yourself.

TWO. Eating whole lobster is messy. Water from steaming (or boiling), tomalley, organs and intestines are all in there along with its buttery meat.

You know when you devein a shrimp? Well, lobsters have the same issue and some might be carrying quite the load. Not so romantic.

And then there is the fussing with shell. You’ll need some sort of pick and a cracker. I also suggest a dish towel to protect your hands while cracking. If you have picked crabs before, it is similar, but with a little more water because there is a lot more room inside the shell of a lobster.

THREE. The claws and the tail have the most meat. You can expect to get about 3/4 cup of meat out of a 1 1/2 pound live lobster.

If any of these things aren’t appealing to you, then just buy a lobster tail and be done with it. A little less presentation, but also less work. If you are in it for fun, read on!

This is the nice way of saying you are going to have to kill the lobster and if you don’t have the will to do this, I won’t judge you, but it needs to happen.

There is a lot of discussion on how to humanely kill a lobster and when it comes down to it, there are 3 ways that are considered to be acceptable, some more than others.

First, let it be known that experts believe that lobsters do not feel pain, although they do sense changes in temperature. Their nervous system is purely skeletal and resembles that of an insect. They also have no brains. You can be scared or feel pain without a place to process it.

They also do not have vocal chords, so the myth that they will scream when put in the pot is also false. There might be noise, but it is just spitting of the cold lobster going into a hot pot.

Whatever you do, keep your lobster cold in the fridge until you are ready to do it. This slows down their reflexes and keeps them calm. When making a steamed lobster or whole lobster options 1 and 2 are your best bets.

Boil. The thought of boiling something alive seems alarming, but many chefs will tell you that head first into the hot water (or steam pot) is actually the best way to go for you and the lobster. However, many folks think this is outdated and inhumane.

Knife Behind the Eyes– If you look at the back of a lobster, you’ll see a little cross in the shell. Aim there with a chef’s knife and stab in the middle. This disconnects the nervous system immediately. Some will say it is stabbing them in the brain, but they don’t have a brain so that isn’t possible.

Their legs may move around a little, this is purely reflex. They are now dead.

Cut off the Tail- Others just use a clever and cut off the tail. Other legs might move as a reflex, this is normal.

How to Cook Lobster

How long you will cook the lobster depends on how large the lobster is and what technique you are using. Here we are steaming lobster which takes a little longer than other methods, but is the most gentle and will yields sweet, delicate meat.

First, you’ll need a large, high pot about 4-5 gallons. A large stock pot or even a turkey frying pot will work. Fill the bottom with about 2-3 inches of water or other liquid options and salt. If you were on the ocean or in Maine, they would probably use sea water.

I like to use alcohol, whether it be beer, wine or sparkling wine. It can result in sweeter meat and the alcohol will burning off while cooking. If you omit this, add more water to the pot.

Place a steam basket or steaming rack at the bottom. Bring water to a boil. If you are putting live lobsters into the pot, keep the bands on its claws to protect yourself. If you stab them first, you can remove the bands before cooking.

When steaming or boiling, add lobsters, head first into the pot and cover. Cook according to chart. As you can see it is about 10 minutes plus 2 minutes for every quarter pound.

If cooking multiple and one is more on top than the other, make sure to open halfway through cooking to rearrange them so they cook evenly. This accounts individual lobster size, not total lobster size. Try to get lobsters that are similar in weight.

How long boil multiple lobsters?

FAQ

How many lobsters can I steam at once?

How long to steam 5 lobsters?

How long to cook 3 lobsters?

How long does it take to steam a lobster?

Steaming lobster is much easier than you think and only takes a few minutes. Plus, unlike boiling, there is less of a mess to clean up. In just a few easy steps you will be on your way to claw cracking and butter dipping. Cover your pot tightly and bring to a rolling boil over medium heat.

Can You overcook a steamed lobster?

It’s harder to overcook a steamed lobster. Choose 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 steaming rack inside the pot and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.

Can you cook 2 pound lobster in a steam pot?

If you come across 2-pound lobsters, don’t worry: just add 2 more minutes for a total of 16 minutes in the steam pot. The easiest and most efficient way to cook lobsters and keep all the delicious flavor is to steam them. It’s okay to boil them, but the boiling water allows some of the flavor and nutrients to escape into the water as they cook.

How do you cook lobster tails in a steamer?

Add 1-2 inches of water into the bottom of a large stockpot. Add salt and place a steamer insert inside the pot so that it is just above the water level. Bring to a boil. Arrange the lobster tails in a single layer in the steamer, standing them up with the shell curve facing down. Crowding will inhibit even cooking.