More than half of the lobster meat you buy from Maine Lobster Now will be fresh. We now also sell frozen lobster meat. We do recommend that you cook with fresh seafood whenever possible. Because it hasn’t been changed in any way, fresh lobster is better than processed or frozen lobster.
If you do need to store, freeze, or thaw seafood, here are some safe ways to do it and keep the quality.
Few seafood lovers can resist the sweet, succulent meat of a fresh lobster But live lobsters are perishable, causing many home cooks to wonder – can I freeze this lobster to enjoy later? Freezing live lobster is possible, but also controversial This article will explore the implications of freezing live lobsters so you can make an informed decision.
Why Would You Freeze a Live Lobster?
Here are some common scenarios that prompt freezing a live lobster:
- You bought a live lobster but can’t cook it immediately
- Taking advantage of a great sale or bulk discount on live lobsters
- Wanting to stock up for a future event or holiday meal
- Planning to ship lobsters as gifts (illegal in some places)
- Intending to cook shell-on frozen lobster straight from frozen
Freezing can extend the shelf life of a fresh live lobster for weeks or months. But it comes with consequences…
The Controversy Around Freezing Live Lobsters
Freezing live lobsters evokes debate for a few key reasons
- Animal welfare – Is it humane to freeze a creature alive?
- Meat quality – Does freezing affect lobster texture and flavor?
- Safety – Are there health risks with frozen live lobsters?
Let’s analyze each issue in detail.
Animal Welfare Concerns
- Lobsters likely experience stress when frozen alive
- They cannot move or show typical escape behaviors
- Unclear if freezing causes pain or suffering
- Some consider it cruel and unethical treatment
But commercial fisheries argue:
- Freezing rapidly immobilizes and numb lobsters
- Kills them humanely if done properly
- Normal practice to preserve catch onboard ships
- No proven worse than boiling or steaming
Impact on Meat Quality
- Freezing may damage meat texture turning it mushy
- Can reduce flavor as lobsters don’t purge waste pre-freezing
- Quality loss risks with prolonged frozen storage
- Must thaw and cook properly to mitigate quality loss
But when done right, freezing can equal fresh:
- Shell protects meat from damage if frozen rapidly
- Stored at constant ultralow temps preserves quality
- Thawing gently and cooking immediately after preserves texture and taste
Food Safety Hazards
- Freezing live may not kill all bacteria within lobster
- Improper thawing raises risk of bacterial growth
- Eating contaminated frozen raw lobster can cause illness
- Must thaw and cook thoroughly to destroy pathogens
Proper handling makes frozen lobster safe:
- Rapid freezing inhibits bacteria growth
- Cooked frozen lobster same risk as cooked fresh
- Avoid cross-contamination when thawing and cooking
- Follow food safety guidelines as with fresh lobster
So while controversial, freezing live lobster is not conclusively unsafe, unethical or damaging to quality if done properly. But it requires care.
What Happens When a Live Lobster Freezes?
Here is a play-by-play of what happens when you freeze a live lobster:
- Plunge into cold water or freeze-pack to rapidly cool lobster and sedate it
- Its movements slow as body temperature drops and cold-shock anesthetizes it
- Once sedated, place lobster in air-tight freezer bag removing excess air
- Transfer to freezer, optimally -30°C or below to quickly freeze solid
- The lobster dies from hypothermia as body fluids freeze and organs fail
- Flesh freezes solid while shell protects meat from damage
- Stored at constant ultralow temperature preserves quality for months
If done right, the lobster experiences minimal pain as it swiftly becomes hypothermic. But mistakes can lead to unnecessary suffering.
Best Practices for Freezing Live Lobster
Follow these best practices to freeze live lobster humanely and safely:
- Sedate lobster in ice water for 20+ minutes before freezing
- Freeze whole lobster intact if possible to protect meat
- Double bag removing excess air to prevent freezer burn
- Freeze immediately at -30°C or below for fast freeze
- Label bag with date and species for tracking
- Store frozen for under 3 months for best quality
- Thaw overnight in fridge before cooking
- Cook thawed lobster immediately to food safe temps
- Avoid refreezing thawed lobster more than once
Taking these precautions preserves both welfare and quality when freezing live lobster.
Should You Freeze Live Lobster?
Whether to subject a creature to freezing alive comes down to personal choice. Here are some factors to consider:
Arguments For:
- Extends shelf life of expensive purchased lobsters
- Allows buying in bulk when prices are low
- Enables shipping or gifting lobsters not eaten promptly
- Can equal fresh if frozen properly with minimal suffering
Arguments Against:
- Considered inhumane by some regardless of technique
- Risk of imperfect freezing causing suffering
- Potential texture/flavor loss if mishandled
- Added hassle compared to cooking promptly
Evaluate your motivations, and weigh ethical qualms against practical incentives. An informed choice comes down to your values and priorities.
If opting to freeze, treat lobsters humanely as you would want to be treated if frozen alive yourself. Do your due diligence to maximize quality and safety. Then you can enjoy deferred lobster without regrets.
How to Freeze Live Lobster
Properly freezing and storing lobster extends the shelf life to up to 12 months. It’s important to never freeze a live lobster without taking proper steps. It also includes tips for storing lobster:
- Start with a live lobster.
- Bring the lobster to a boil and add salt to the water.
- Next, put the lobster in water with ice for twenty minutes.
- Dry the lobster with a towel.
- To freeze the lobster, put it in a bag and squeeze out as much air as you can.
- Put the lobster in a second freezer bag or wrap it in freezer wrap to protect it even more.
- Place lobster in your freezer.
How to Store Live Maine Lobsters
Can You Freeze frozen lobster?
If you don’t want to remove the meat before freezing, here’s what you can do instead: Blanch lobsters in rapidly boiling, salted water for one full minute. Chill lobsters in an ice bath for at least 15 minutes, and then pat them dry and remove excess water. Place lobsters in freezer bags, removing as much air as you can, or use vacuum-sealed bags.
How long can a lobster stay in the freezer?
The meat should be able to lay in a single layer in the freezer. Write today’s date on the bags and place them in the freezer so that air can circulate around them (in other words, don’t crowd them together or near other frozen items). Keep your freezer at 0 degrees F or colder. Lobsters can typically stay in the freezer for up to 12 months.
Is it safe to freeze and thaw live lobster?
In reality, freezing and thawing live lobsters may be safe, but it simply isn’t worth the risk of toxins developing as a result of the process. Safety aside, freezing and thawing lobster prior to cooking it will lead to enzymes leaching into the meat, resulting in a mushy, unappetizing texture.
Did frozen lobsters come back to life?
This idea was born from experiments that made a small splash in the national news about 10 years ago, in which a very small number of lobsters that were frozen solid in minus 40-degree brine and then thawed in 28-degree seawater survived the process and “came back to life.”