Looking for an easier way to cook your lobster? Boiling lobster is quick and easy to time, making it perfect for home chefs looking to entertain friends. In fact, boiling lobster is one of the most popular ways to prepare a lobster.
Boiling lobster is the best approach when you want to serve whole lobsters or are working with a recipe that calls for fully cooked and picked lobster meat.
Want our step-by-step guide on how to boiled your lobster? Follow along below!
Steps
- SELECT YOUR POT. Your pot should be big enough to hold all of your lobsters comfortably. A 4- to 5- gallon pot can handle 6 to 8 pounds of lobster.
- ADD WATER. Add seawater or water in the bottom of the pot – about 3 quarts per 1.5-2 pounds of lobster. If you added regular water, add .25 cups of sea salt for each gallon of water.
- BOIL. Bring the water to a rolling boil and add your live lobsters one at a time. Cover and start timing immediately. Follow the cook times below!
- STIR. Stir the lobster halfway through cooking
- REMOVE. Once done, take the lobsters out and let them rest for 5 minutes or so to allow the meat to absorb the moisture in the shell.
Cooking Times
- 1 lbs – 8 minutes
- 1.25 lbs – 9-10 minutes
- 1.5 lbs – 11-12 minutes
- 1.75 lbs – 12-13 minutes
- 2 lbs – 15 minutes
- 2.25 lbs – 20 minutes
- 3 lbs – 25 minutes
- 5 lbs – 35-40 minutes
Helpful Reminder
To check if your lobster is done, crack open where the body (carapace) meets the tail. If it’s done, the meat will have changed from translucent to white. If it is not, continue to boil it until it is.
And that’s it. Be sure to check out our favorite boiled lobster recipes, instructions for steaming lobster and grilling lobster.