As a seafood lover, lobster is one of my all-time favorites. The sweet, succulent meat with a slight crunch from the shell is simply delightful. However, cooking lobster can seem daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. You don’t want to overcook it and end up with rubbery, chewy meat. But you also don’t want to undercook it because food safety. So, how long does it take to cook lobster properly?
The cooking time depends on a few key factors
Size of the Lobster
Larger lobsters take longer to cook. A 1 pound lobster takes less time than a 2 pounder. Here are approximate cooking times based on size
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1 pound lobster:
- Boil: 10 minutes
- Steam: 14 minutes
- Grill: 10 minutes
- Bake: 12 minutes
- Fry: 10 minutes
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2 pound lobster
- Boil: 13 minutes
- Steam: 17 minutes
- Grill: 13 minutes
- Bake: 15 minutes
- Fry: 13 minutes
As a rule of thumb, add about 3 minutes of cooking time for each additional pound. A 3 pound lobster will take about 16 minutes to boil, 20 minutes to steam, etc.
Cooking Method
The cooking method makes a big difference in cook times. Boiling, grilling, and frying are faster while steaming and baking take longer.
Here’s a quick overview of approximate cook times for a 1 pound lobster using various methods:
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Boiling: The fastest and most common method. Takes only 10 minutes to boil a 1 pound lobster.
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Grilling: Delicious smoky flavor. Takes 10 minutes to grill a 1 pound lobster.
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Steaming: More flavorful meat but slower. Needs 14 minutes to steam a 1 pounder.
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Baking: Fun to stuff and bake lobsters. 12 minutes for a 1 pound baked lobster.
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Frying: Crispy exterior with tender meat. Fry a 1 pound lobster in 10 minutes.
Weather and Altitude
Cooking lobster outdoors or at high altitude locations can increase cook times. Colder weather inhibits heating so keep bumping up the heat if needed. High altitude decreases boiling point of water so lobsters take longer to cook.
Pro Tips for Perfectly Cooked Lobster
Follow these tips for tender, juicy lobster every time:
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For boiling, use seawater or add salt to regular water. This seasons the lobster from inside.
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Boil large lobsters in batches to avoid overcrowding.
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Use a thermometer and stop cooking when internal temperature reaches 135°F.
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For grilling, par-cook the lobster before throwing it on the grill.
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Brush with oil or butter before grilling to prevent sticking.
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Steam above vigorously boiling water, not simmering water.
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When baking, check doneness early and tent with foil to prevent over-baking.
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Fried lobsters cook very fast. Don’t step away even for a minute.
How to Tell When Lobster is Done
Here are some ways to test doneness:
- Shell turns bright red all over
- Meat is opaque and white, not translucent
- Internal temperature reads 135°F
- Meat feels firm when pressed
- Juices run clear when pierced with a fork
When in doubt, open up the body where it meets the tail. Meat should be white, not glassy looking. Pop it back in for a minute or two if undercooked.
Cooking Lobster Parts
You can also cook lobster tails, claws, and knuckles separately. Use the same timing guidelines:
- 1 pound tails or claws:
- Boil, grill or fry for 10 minutes
- Steam for 14 minutes
- Bake for 12 minutes
- 2 pound tails or claws:
- Boil, grill or fry for 13 minutes
- Steam for 17 minutes
- Bake for 15 minutes
Check for doneness and add a minute or two if needed.
Storing and Reheating Cooked Lobster
Cooked lobster can be stored safely in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat gently either in the shell or shelled meat to prevent overcooking.
- Reheat boiled/steamed lobster by steaming briefly until hot.
- For grilled lobster, reheat on the grill or warm in the oven.
- Bake lobster dishes or add lobster meat to pasta, rice or soups.
With these handy tips on how long to cook lobster and tricks for nailing perfection every time, you can enjoy restaurant-quality seafood suppers at home. Impress your guests or treat yourself to a lobster feast without any guesswork.
BOILING: Perhaps the easiest way to cook a lobster.
- You will need a big pot with a lid to boil your lobster.
- Add enough water to the pot to cover the lobster all the way around.
- Sea salt should be added to every 2 liters (4 pints) of water.
- Bring the water to a rolling boil.
- Hold the lobster by the back and drop it into the boiling water head first.
- Once the water starts to boil again, take off the lid and start the timer.
- For the first pound of lobster, boil it for 10 minutes. For every additional pound, boil it for 3 minutes longer. It will take 13 minutes to cook a 2-pound lobster and 16 minutes to cook a 3-pound lobster.
- Once the lobster is done, drain it right away and serve it hot with melted butter on the side to dip it in.
Before you start: watch this video of our CEO/Founder, Mark Murrell unboxing our live lobsters shipped from Maine…
People who have never cooked live lobster before might think it’s hard, but it’s not if you follow a few simple rules.
How To Boil Lobster | Maine Lobster Now
How long does it take to cook a lobster?
The cooking time for a lobster depends on its weight and the chosen cooking method. You can cook lobsters by boiling, grilling, steaming, baking, or frying. Since different cooking methods require varying times, the minutes or hours spent cooking a lobster can vary.
How long do you cook lobster tails?
The cooking time for lobster tails varies depending on the method and the size of the tails. As a general guideline, for boiling, baking, and broiling, allow 1-2 minutes of cooking time per ounce of tail meat. Steaming may require slightly longer, typically 3-4 minutes per ounce. When grilling, aim for 4-5 minutes per side for each ounce of meat.
How do you cook lobster meat at home?
To cook lobster meat at home, mix 1/4 cup of salt with 1 gallon of water and stir. Add the lobster meat, bring to a boil, then let it simmer for about 10 minutes. After cooking, rinse the lobster meat in a colander and it can be stored in the refrigerator or frozen.
How long do you boil a 1 pound lobster?
Boiling is a popular method for cooking lobster, and it is relatively quick and simple. **The typical cooking time for boiling a 1-½ pound lobster is about 12-15 minutes**. Add the lobsters to a pot of boiling water and cook them until they turn bright red. However, if you have larger lobsters, add an extra 2 minutes for each additional ¼ pound.