Many are intimidated when it comes to cooking live lobster or seafood in general. To be honest, I believe it is easier than many other types of food, and steamed lobster is no different. Yes, steamed lobsters may be the easiest, elegant dinner of them all.
If you’re from New England, lobster in the summer is a tradition and a staple. Or maybe even year-round if you’re my family. We used to eat lobster every Christmas Eve until the party got so big that my dad had to clean the lobster off the walls. That’s what happens when you have 20 crazy people eating lobster in your dining room.
Be sure to carefully remove the rubber bands from the lobster claws before steaming. There is no need to keep them on. To avoid getting a love bite, this is best done with scissors or kitchen shears.
Steaming lobster is one of the best ways to enjoy fresh, tender, juicy meat right in your own kitchen. With just a large pot, steaming rack, and some simple prep, you can make restaurant-quality lobster at home. We’ll go over step-by-step instructions for steaming whole lobsters or just tails along with pro tips for ensuring tender, flavorful results every time.
Benefits of Steaming Lobster
Steaming is a gentle, moist-heat cooking method that keeps the lobster meat incredibly tender. It helps retain more of the natural sweet flavor compared to boiling. Steaming also makes it harder to overcook the lobster, so you get ideal texture and doneness.
Other advantages of steaming lobster at home include
- Preserves more nutrients than boiling
- Lets seasonings and aromatics infuse into the meat
- Requires minimal cleanup compared to grilling or baking
- Gives the meat a pristine white color
With just some basic equipment, steaming makes cooking lobster an easy, foolproof process.
How to Steam Whole Live Lobster
Follow these simple steps for tender, juicy steamed whole lobster with little effort:
Ingredients
- Live lobster(s), about 1-1.5 lbs each
- 2 inches water (sea water or salted water)
- Lemon wedges, for serving
- Melted butter, for serving
Instructions
-
Choose a large pot with a tight-fitting lid. A 5 gallon pot fits 2 medium lobsters.
-
Add 2 inches of water or salted water to the pot and insert a steaming rack. Bring to a boil.
-
Once boiling, carefully place live lobster(s) on the rack one at a time. Cover and steam for 7-9 minutes per pound.
-
Halfway through, check doneness by twisting an antenna. It should pull out easily when done.
-
Serve steamed lobster immediately with lemon wedges and melted butter. Enjoy!
That’s all there is to it! The key is using a large enough pot and keeping the lid sealed so the steam can work its magic.
How Long to Steam Lobster Tails
Steaming just the tails takes less time but uses the same simple process.
Ingredients:
- Lobster tails, thawed if frozen
- 1 inch water
- Old Bay seasoning or other seafood seasoning
Instructions:
-
Add 1 inch water and seasoning to a large pot fitted with a steaming rack. Bring to a boil.
-
Add lobster tails shell-side up onto the rack. Cover and steam for 6-8 minutes until opaque.
-
Check for doneness by cutting into the thickest part of a tail. Meat should be white throughout.
-
Serve warm with lemon wedges and melted butter.
The shelled tails take less time to steam since heat can penetrate the meat quicker. Adjust time as needed based on the size of tails.
Pro Tips for Steaming Lobster
Use these tips for guaranteed tender, juicy steamed lobster every time:
- Choose live lobsters or uncooked frozen tails for best results
- Use a pot large enough to avoid overcrowding
- Keep the lid tightly sealed during steaming
- Use sea water or heavily salted water for optimal flavor
- Don’t steam too long or the meat can toughen
- Check doneness early, lobster overcooks quickly
- Serve immediately for the juiciest texture
Steaming locks in moisture and brings out the sweet, delicate flavor of lobster. Follow our guide for foolproof steamed lobster worthy of fine dining right from your own kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size pot do you need to steam lobster?
Choose a 5 gallon or larger stock pot to comfortably fit 2 medium lobsters on a steaming rack. Larger pots are needed to steam more lobsters while keeping them spaced apart.
Can you steam frozen lobster tails?
Yes, steaming works well for frozen tails. Just be sure they are completely thawed before steaming to ensure even cooking.
What does undercooked lobster look like?
Undercooked lobster will have translucent flesh and the meat near the tail will be gelatinous when pierced. Overcooked lobster meat appears chalky.
How long does it take to steam a 1.5 lb lobster?
A 1.5 pound lobster takes 11-13 minutes to steam completely. The general guideline is 7-9 minutes per pound.
What is the white stuff in lobster?
The white gooey substance found in the body cavity is called tomalley. It’s the lobster’s hepatopancreas organ that filters waste and toxins from their body. It’s edible but not recommended.
Enjoy Perfectly Steamed Lobster at Home
Steaming lobster is a simple, foolproof cooking method that keeps the meat incredibly moist and tender. With the proper prep and cook times, you can easily make restaurant-quality lobster in your own kitchen. Use our tips for timing doneness perfectly every time. Soon your family will be requesting home-steamed lobster for special occasions and Sunday dinners alike.
Frequency of Entities:
lobster: 38
steam/steaming: 24
meat: 7
tender: 5
juicy: 4
pot: 4
lid: 3
water: 3
racks: 3
lemon: 3
butter: 3
boil/boiling: 3
frozen: 2
opaque: 2
overcook: 2
tail: 2
cook time: 2
pound: 2
doneness: 1
aromatics: 1
nutrients: 1
cleanup: 1
pristine: 1
shelled: 1
spacing: 1
translucent: 1
gelatinous: 1
chalky: 1
tomalley: 1
How to Steam Lobster
I can explain it in 10 seconds. Fill a large lidded pot with 1 inch of water. Add salt and the juice of one lemon to keep it fresh. Bring to a boil, then add the lobster, cover, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until the lobsters are bright red. This recipe is ideal for 1. 5-2 pound lobsters, which is the ideal size for the best-tasting lobster.
The secret element of this recipe is fresh lemon juice. It gives the lobster that subtle fresh flavor that goes so well with melted butter. You only need a pot big enough to fit all the lobsters you want to steam. You don’t need a steamer rack. If the lid fits, you’re in business.
Steamed lobster tails can be done following the same process. Since lobster tails take up much less space in the pot than full-sized lobsters, they may steam for about 10 minutes. You can also bake lobster tails. If steaming lobster tails only, you can probably get away with 1 inch of water in the pan. You don’t want to boil the lobster.
Can I Steam Frozen Lobster Tails?
In fact, this is probably how all lobster tails will start out if you buy them at the store. Just be sure to let lobster tails thaw fully before steaming. This will ensure proper cook times etc.
The best lobster meat (in my option) is the tail. You can also get delicious meat out of the claws and the arms/elbows. The legs even have tiny slivers of meat if you’re up for the challenge. I usually discard the body…although some people eat the stuff in there.
Chowhound has some good tips with pictures on how to eat and peel lobster. Don’t forget to serve with melted butter and lemon wedges.
Lastly, save some leftover lobster for lobster mac and cheese!