How to Steam Lobster

Making steamed lobster at home is easy to do. Steaming a lobster produces similar results to boiling, using less water and a slightly longer cooking time. It's not an efficient method if you're cooking for a crowd, however, as placing many cold lobsters in the pot will lower the temperature of the water too much. It can be a great way to prepare three or four lobsters, however. This page will help you learn how to steam lobster and make sure it's cooked through.

Steamed Lobster on Homemade Fettuccine

After you've steamed your lobster, you can eat it the traditional way, by dipping it in melted butter, or use it to create elegant dishes such as this preparation using snow peas, carrots, ginger, and fettuccine as prepared by chef Jonathan Cartwright of the White Barn Inn in Kennebunk, Maine

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Introduction
- Lobster is one of the pure simple joys of summer. It doesn't need elaborate preparation; steaming allows the sweet taste of the meat to shine on its own. Make sure you start with fresh, live lobster.
Step 1: How to Steam Lobster
- Steaming requires less water than boiling lobsters, so you'll be able to begin cooking sooner. It takes a little longer to steam a lobster, however. Some aficionados maintain that steaming produces a more tender lobster.
What You Will Need to Steam Lobster
1. Lobster pot, with a lid and a steaming rack
  1. The pot should be big enough to hold the lobsters comfortably without crowding them.
  2. Plan on a 5 gallon pot for 8 pounds of lobster.
2. Long-handled tongs
3. Potholders
4. One live 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 pound lobster per person
5. Water
6. Salt
7. 1/4 cup of melted butter per person
Steamed Lobster Instructions
1. Fill the pot with two to three inches of water.
2. Add 1/4-1/3 cup of salt per gallon of water.
3. Insert the steaming rack into the pot.
4. Bring the water to a boil.
5. Add the lobsters to the pot, cover, and begin timing
6. Place the lid on the pot and return the water to a boil.
7. Plan on 10 minutes for the first pound of lobster, and two additional minutes for every additional 1/4 pound. A 1 1/4 pound lobster will take 12 minutes, a 1 1/2 pound lobster will take 14 minutes, and a 2 pound lobster will need 18 minutes.
8. Half way through the cooking time, take the lid off and, using the tongs, rearrange the lobsters to ensure that they will cook evenly.
9. Turn the heat off after the allotted time, and remove a lobster to check if its done.
  1. The shell should be bright red.
  2. The legs will separate easily from the body when twisted.
  3. Pull the tail back until the shell cracks where the tail meats the body. The meat should be white. If it is still translucent, the lobsters are not done, and you'll want to continue steaming another 2 minutes and then check again.
10. Serve the lobsters with melted butter.
Step 2: Steamed Lobster Tips
1. Replace some of the water with beer for flavor.
2. Add seaweed to the water, if available.
3. Use sea salt instead of table salt for a more authentic ocean taste.
4. Keep a second pot of boiling water on the stove, so you can replenish the water when you check the lobsters half way through.
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