Once you have received your live lobster for delivery be sure and leave the bands on the claws as long as it is alive. These claws are very strong and with one quick snip can give you a broken finger if your not careful. The bands are to be removed as soon as the lobster is dead.
Defrosting frozen lobsters or their meats should be avoided as it detracts from their flavors when cooking. Do not overcook when heating they should only be warm not hot to the touch. The meat will become a lot tougher if it gets to hot or is cooked to long.
It is very simple to cook live lobsters and only takes about ten minutes a pound to boil. Water should immerse the entire lobster within the big deep pot.
Lobsters heads hold much of the water they were boiled in so making a slight hole in them will drain out the cooking juices and seal the flavors in. This helps the meat inside stay tender and just ripe with flavor.
Casseroles and stews are even better when you add in the water the lobster was cooked within. It will only add to the flavor of these dishes. You can also freeze the broth until it is needed.
An important thing to remember is too be sure the lobsters you are cooking is in good health. Never cook a lobster whose tail is straight this means he died in transit or before cooking. You should always take a sniff of your lobsters before cooking to make sure they all smell of freshness. If there is a strange unrecognizable scent to them then never cook them as they could make you and your family sick. They are best cooked as soon as you receive them.
The harder shelled ones still taste great but are a little tougher and they take a longer amount of time when boiling. The softer shelled are considered to be the most tender of the two.
You can also grill whole lobsters on a hot to medium hot setting. Whole lobsters are placed onto a pre-heated grill and then left on one side til it turns bright red then turned and left on opposite side until that is the same in color. Serve with delicious garlic butter and gumbo if you have it on hand.
Live lobsters for delivery can be split and cooked on the grill too. Place split sides down first and cook three minutes then turn to shell side and cook about 6 minutes longer. The shell will be the shade of bright red as it is when boiling when done. Add some lemon juice squeezed on it and of course butter and your ready to eat.
