When Is Lobster Cooked? A Guide to Ensure Perfectly Cooked Lobster

As someone who loves cooking and eating seafood, I’m always excited to prepare lobster at home. There’s nothing quite like the sweet, tender meat from a freshly cooked lobster. However, getting the cooking time just right can be tricky, especially for beginners. Undercooked lobster tastes rubbery and translucent, while overcooked lobster can be tough and chewy. So how do you know when your lobster is perfectly cooked?

In this article I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about cooking lobster and how to tell when it’s done. I’ve cooked many lobsters over the years and made all the mistakes so hopefully my experience will help you avoid undercooked or overcooked lobster!

How to Cook Lobster

The most common cooking methods for lobster are boiling, steaming, and grilling Boiling and steaming are the easiest for beginners

Boiling

To boil lobster:

• Fill a large pot about 3⁄4 full with water and add 1 tablespoon of salt per quart of water. The water should taste salty like seawater.
• Bring the water to a rapid boil.
• Grasp the lobster body and lower it head-first into the pot.
• Cover and return to a boil. Then start timing your cook.

Steaming

To steam lobster:

• Add 2 inches of water to a large pot fitted with a steamer basket. Bring to a boil.
• Place lobster in the basket, cover, and steam for the recommended time.

How Long to Cook Lobster

Cooking time depends on the size of your lobster:

• 1 pound lobster: 7-10 minutes
• 1 1⁄4 pound lobster: 8-12 minutes
• 1 1⁄2 pound lobster: 10-14 minutes

Add 2 minutes for each additional 1⁄2 pound.

For example, if you have a 2 pound lobster, cook it for 12-16 minutes.

How to Tell When Lobster is Cooked

It can be tricky to gauge doneness just by looking. Here are some surefire ways to check if your lobster is fully cooked.

Temperature

Use an instant-read thermometer to check the thickest part of the tail. It should reach 140°F when done.

Color

The shell should turn bright red all over with no traces of the green/black color of a live lobster.

Opacity

The lobster meat should be pearly white and opaque throughout when cooked, with no translucent parts.

Firmness

Cooked lobster meat will be firm to the touch. When pressed it should not indent or seem mushy.

What Does Undercooked Lobster Look Like?

You definitely want to avoid undercooked lobster, which poses health risks and just doesn’t taste good. Here’s how to identify it:

• Shell will have green/black spots and not be uniformly red.
• Meat will be translucent and jelly-like rather than opaque.
• Flesh will be soft and mushy when pressed.

Undercooked parts near the shell may be light pink but the center should always be opaque white. If you see any translucent flesh, it needs more time.

What Does Overcooked Lobster Look Like?

It’s just as bad to overcook your lobster, which results in rubbery meat. Signs of overcooked lobster include:

• Shell and meat pulled away from the tail
• Tail meat shrinks and curls
• Meat is tough and chewy

So once the shell is bright red and the meat is firm and opaque, get it out of the pot!

Serving and Eating Cooked Lobster

Once your lobster is cooked to perfection, here are some tips for serving and getting the most meat out of your lobster:

• Let lobsters cool for 5-10 minutes before handling.
• Twist off claws and tail then use lobster crackers to open the shell.
• Use a knife or seafood fork to extract meat.
• Serve with melted butter, lemon wedges, or in lobster rolls.
• Don’t forget the tasty morsels in the legs, knuckles and body!

Common Lobster Cooking FAQs

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about cooking lobster at home:

How long can I store live lobster before cooking? Only 24-36 hours – cook as soon as possible for best flavor.

Should I cook frozen lobster tails from the frozen state? No, thaw in the refrigerator first.

Can I reheat leftover lobster? Yes, briefly steaming or sautéing is best. Avoid microwaving.

What’s the best way to kill a lobster humanely before cooking? Current research shows that freezing for 30 minutes before cooking sedates the lobster.

Key Takeaways on Cooking Lobster

• Check doneness with a thermometer (140°F), opacity, firmness and bright red shell.
• Cook time depends on size, but plan on 8-12 minutes for a 1-1.25 lb lobster.
• Don’t eat undercooked lobster, which can make you sick.
• Let lobster rest before cracking open the shell to get the meat out.
• Serve lobster with melted butter or lemon wedges.