Bill Darden started the famous seafood chain in 1968 because he wanted everyone, not just people who lived near the coast, to be able to get seafood. First, a piece of good news: Red Lobster does not boil lobsters alive—not anymore, at least. A statement on their FAQ section reads, “Unlike some seafood restaurants, Red Lobster does not boil lobsters alive. Our culinary professionals are trained to humanely end the lobsters life moments before they are cooked. There is some disagreement about whether lobsters feel pain, but you can eat the sea creature that is at the heart of this 50-year-old seafood chain without feeling bad about it.
But you might want to think twice before you crack open those shells, drizzle that butter on top, and eat shrimp and other seafood with those famous Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Here are seven secrets Red Lobster would just as soon keep submerged.
Red Lobster is one of the most popular chain restaurants for indulging in lobster From lobster tails to whole lobsters, they have built their brand around serving up these decadent crustaceans However, a controversial practice that is common in the restaurant industry has led some diners to question how humanely Red Lobster prepares its lobsters. Specifically, does Red Lobster boil lobsters alive?
As a longtime fan of Red Lobster’s Cheddar Bay Biscuits who also wants to make ethical dining choices, I decided to investigate this issue. In this article, I’ll share what I learned about Red Lobster’s lobster preparation methods and the larger controversy surrounding boiling lobsters alive.
The Controversy Around Boiling Lobsters Alive
First, let’s provide some context around why it’s controversial to boil lobsters alive. Lobsters are often cooked by placing live lobsters directly into pots of boiling water. The belief has been that their nervous systems aren’t sophisticated enough to feel pain. However recent research has challenged this notion.
According to some scientists, lobsters do have the capacity to suffer and feel pain. Their nervous systems are rather complex compared to other invertebrates. When dropped into boiling water, lobsters display avoidance behaviors and reactions consistent with experiencing severe pain.
As evidence of lobster sentience has grown, more chefs and restaurant chains are exploring alternative cooking methods to minimize potential suffering. The Swiss government even banned boiling live lobsters based on animal welfare concerns.
So where does Red Lobster, whose business is built on serving lobster, stand on all this?
Red Lobster’s Policy on Boiling Lobsters
Many diners have wondered whether those tasty Red Lobster lobsters go from tank to pot while fully conscious. Here is the seafood chain’s official position on boiling lobsters alive:
“Unlike some seafood restaurants, Red Lobster does not boil lobsters alive. Our culinary professionals are trained to humanely end the lobster’s life moments before they are cooked.”
Red Lobster directly addresses the controversial practice, stating they do not boil lobsters alive. Their chefs are instructed to quickly kill the lobster in a humane manner right before cooking it.
While they don’t provide more detail on the exact method used, it indicates an effort to minimize any potential suffering. This shift away from boiling live lobsters is likely in response to growing public concern over the issue.
How Else Could Lobsters Be Killed Humanely?
There are a few methods considered more humane alternatives to boiling lobsters alive:
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Stunning: This involves using a sharp spike to quickly pierce the lobster’s brain before cooking. It destroys the lobster’s central nervous system instantly.
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Electrocution: Passing an electric current through the lobster destroys its nervous system and ability to feel pain.
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Freezing: Research indicates that submerging lobsters in cold water or freezing them renders them insensible to pain before cooking.
Without more specifics from Red Lobster, we don’t know if their chefs use one of these methods or something else. But stating they kill lobsters moments before cooking indicates an effort to implement more humane practices than simply boiling them alive.
How Can Consumers Make Ethical Lobster Choices?
If you want to enjoy delicious lobster but have qualms about how they are prepared, here are some tips:
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Ask restaurants, including chains like Red Lobster, about their lobster preparation methods before ordering. This pressures the industry to implement humane standards.
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Order lobster dishes made with previously frozen lobster meat rather than live lobsters. The freezing process humanely immobilizes them.
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Avoid home recipes instructing you to boil lobsters alive. There are many tasty ways to prepare pre-cooked lobster.
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Support restaurants and retailers that pledge to stun or kill lobsters humanely before cooking.
Lobster lovers can balance their cravings with compassion. While we don’t have full visibility into Red Lobster’s practices, their statement indicates a step in a more ethical direction when it comes to preparing these fascinating creatures. I know I’ll feel better enjoying their lobster going forward.
The chain has been caught selling imitation lobster
According to Inside Edition, a few years back Red Lobster was caught offering dishes that claimed to contain lobster but actually used other seafood as a substitute. Some of the dishes, the lobster bisque, in particular, had both lobster and other, cheaper seafood, called langostino, while a few lacked lobster completely. And while langostino is technically a type of lobster, it needs to be labeled as langostino lobster when used as the sole fish, according to the FDA.
The Lobsterita is insanely unhealthy
Not that you order a novelty cocktail with a name like “Lobsterita” expecting a healthful libation, but the unhealthy “qualities” of this drink are still pretty amazing. The raspberry and strawberry versions of the Red Lobster Lobsterita each pack in 500 calories, 82 grams of carbs, and 70 and 69 grams of sugar, respectively, according to nutrition info shared by the chain. And thats before you drizzle melted butter over all your food and have three servings of shrimp and biscuits.
Why Do We Boil Lobsters Alive?
Does Red Lobster boil lobsters alive?
First, a piece of good news: Red Lobster does not boil lobsters alive—not anymore, at least. A statement on their FAQ section reads, “Unlike some seafood restaurants, Red Lobster does not boil lobsters alive. Our culinary professionals are trained to humanely end the lobster’s life moments before they are cooked.”
Should you boil a lobster?
One reason we prefer this method is because boiling does a great job keeping the intense flavors of lobster in place, especially when you use sea salt in your water. Another benefit is that boiling allows meat to come out of the shell easier than steaming. Do You Boil Lobster Alive? Yes. We know it’s coming: “Why boil a lobster alive?”.
Could boiling lobsters Save Your Life?
Turns out, this seemingly barbaric way of cooking lobsters could actually save your life. Humans were boiling lobsters alive thousands of years ago. The first recorded case came from recipes attributed to the famous Roman Cook Caelius Apicius in the first century.
Why do we cook lobsters alive?
In short, we cook lobsters alive to minimize getting sick from them. According to Science Focus, the flesh of lobsters, crabs, and other shellfish is full of bacteria that can be harmful to humans if ingested. When shellfish are killed, this bacteria rapidly multiplies and toxins are released that may not be killed off during the cooking process.