Cooking Lobster

Humane Cooking

We always recommend that if you ordered live lobster, you cook them while they are still alive. There has been much debate outside of the industry about this.

Some have thought that it may not be humane to place live lobster in a pot of boiling hot water. This is not believed to be so within the industry however.

And if you're baking lobster, you will need to add some kind of stuffing to prevent then from drying out while in the oven. In order to do this, you usually need to split it open while its still alive.

For those concerned, there is an easy (and more humane) alternative for cooking live lobster though.

Lobsters sleep if placed on their backs. Try doing this for a few minutes. This puts them in light sleep mode (or beta state).

But lobsters will fall into an even deeper sleep mode (theta state) if the temperature suddenly changes. This is because lobsters have very small brains and primitive central nervous systems and are highly affected by these sudden temperature changes.

Directions:

If you’re looking for a more humane alternative to cooking live lobster, try either of the following 2 methods:

1. Place lobster on sink or counter on their backs (belly facing up) so they will fall into the light sleep mode (beta state).
2. Then place lobsters in a pot of cold water (instead of hot) and set heat on high. As the water heats up, the lobsters will gradually cook while continuing to sleep.

NOTE: Start timing of lobster from the time steam arises (if steaming) or water starts to boil (if boiling).

Another method which is especially good for baking (as well as boiling and steaming) is:

1. Place lobsters in a paper bag.
2. Place paper bag (with lobsters inside) in your freezer for 10 minutes.
3. Take lobsters out of freezer and bag after 10 minutes and cook as you normally would cook live lobster. This places lobster in the deeper sleep mode (theta state).

This is highly recommended for two reasons:
1. The lobster will not produce the usual release of bitter chemicals produced from the shock of being put in hot water. They will be completely in a relaxed sleep state and will feel no pain.
2. And as a result of not producing these chemicals, the meat will tend to be sweeter and more tender.

So now you can enjoy your lobsters without even a hint of guilt