Steamed Lobsters Recipes

BOILED OR STEAMED LOBSTERS

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 LOBSTERS

Steps:

• Fill a large lobster pot with 1 inch of water. Stir in the salt, set a rack or large steamer basket in the bottom and bring the water to a boil. Add the lobsters, cover with a tight-fitting lid and return the water to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat to a gentle boil and steam the lobsters until they are bright red, about 10 minutes. Check doneness by pulling an antenna. If it comes off without resistance, the lobster is done. If not, cook for a few more minutes. Serve with melted butter and, if you choose, corn and potatoes. Remove the meat from the fifth lobster and refrigerate for use later in lobster risotto (recipe here). After eating, reserve the lobster shells for stock (recipe here). Serves 4.

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.

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.

STEAMED LOBSTER

Steps:

• Fill a large steamer or soup pot, with about 2 inches of water, add the salt and squeeze in the lemon juice; toss the halves in there too for extra flavor. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Place the lobsters in the steamer basket or directly in the pot, cover, and allow to steam until they turn bright red, about 15 minutes. Remove the lobsters from the pot and cool to room temperature, and then chill thoroughly before cracking open. Serve with lemon wedges and Lemon-Caper Mayonnaise as part of a raw shellfish bar.
• Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and blend with a wooden spoon to combine. Set aside to allow the flavors to marry. Serve as a dipping sauce with steamed lobster and poached shrimp.
• Yield: 3 cups

HOW TO STEAM A LOBSTER

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.

STEAMED MAINE LOBSTER

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).

STEAMED LOBSTER

Steps:

• Set up a collapsible steamer in a very large pot. Pour in a good inch of water and bring to a boil. Lower the lobster into the pot, on top of the steamer; slap on the lid and hold it there for the first minute or so of cooking, to keep the lobster firmly in place. Meanwhile, melt the butter slowly in a small pot, and squeeze in as much lemon juice as you like. Keep warm.
• After 10 minutes of cooking, remove the lobster with tongs, and let the water drip back into the pot. Place on a big plate, with the melted butter in a small cup alongside. If you don't have lobster-eating equipment, look in your toolbox for something to crack the tough shells, or use a nutcracker. I use poultry shears to cut through the middle from head to tail, so I can break the body open and get at the meat. Dip each bite into the melted butter, and relish the delectable sweet, sea-scented flavor. And be sure to spoon out the tomalley, now greenish in color and creamy in texture, and glorious to eat.
• Second Round
• Return the shells to the broth, and cook together for about 15 minutes, adding a little more water. You'll now have a fine broth to use in any fish soup, or for the base of a New England Bouillabaisse (page 91).