Where To Buy A Whole Lobster: Your Guide To Getting The Freshest Catch

As a seafood lover, few culinary experiences compare to a perfectly cooked whole lobster. The sweet succulent meat paired with the fun of cracking open the shell yourself makes enjoying a whole lobster a truly memorable meal. But finding the best place to buy a fresh whole lobster isn’t always easy.

As the owner of a seafood blog I’m constantly on the hunt for the freshest and highest quality seafood available. Over the years I’ve learned where the best places are to buy whole lobster, whether you’re looking for live lobster or fresh cooked lobster meat. In this article, I’ll share my tips on the best places to buy whole lobster so you can enjoy this delicious crustacean at home.

Buy Live Lobster Online For Guaranteed Freshness

One of my top recommendations for buying whole lobster is to order live lobster online and have it shipped overnight right to your door. As a busy food blogger and mom, I don’t always have time to source seafood locally. That’s why ordering live lobster for delivery has become my go-to for quality and convenience.

I’ve ordered from a few different online seafood companies over the years, but my personal favorite is LobsterAnywhere.com. Not only do they have an incredible selection of live lobsters in various sizes, but they use advanced packing methods to ensure your lobster arrives lively and ready for cooking.

Here are some of the reasons I love ordering live lobster delivery from Lobster Anywhere:

• Overnight shipping – Place your order by 12 PM EST and your live lobster is delivered the very next day anywhere in the US.

• Direct from the source – Their live lobsters ship directly from the Maine coasts for unbeatable freshness.

• Five star reviews – With over 5,400 five star reviews, you can trust you’ll have an amazing experience.

• Specialty seafood – In addition to live lobster, you can order cooked lobster meat, lobster tails, shrimp, scallops and more.

• Free shipping – No extra fees for delivery, it’s built into the price.

For the fastest delivery of a fresh live lobster straight from the Maine coast, I highly recommend ordering from Lobster Anywhere’s website. It takes the guesswork out of sourcing quality seafood.

Check Local Seafood Markets For Fresh Options

If you’d prefer to select your live lobster or cooked lobster meat yourself, checking out local seafood markets and fishmongers is a great option. I’m fortunate to live in New England where there are some incredible local seafood shops to choose from.

When buying whole lobster from a seafood market, here are some tips to ensure freshness:

• Look for lively lobsters in tanks – avoid lethargic ones.

• Opt for hard shell over soft shell lobsters.

• Cook live lobsters within 24 hours for best flavor.

• For cooked lobster, look for good color and scent.

• Ask when and where the lobster was caught. Locally sourced is best.

It can take some searching to find a quality seafood market in your area. I recommend asking fellow foodie friends for recommendations of their go-to shops. It’s worth finding a place you trust that takes pride in offering the freshest catch.

Luke’s Lobster: Retail And Restaurant Sourcing

In addition to their nationwide restaurant locations, Luke’s Lobster also offers online ordering for shipment of their premium live Maine lobster. I’ve ordered their live lobsters on a few occasions and they always arrive super fresh and ready for cooking.

Luke’s works directly with a trusted network of lobstermen in Maine to source sustainable, delicious lobster. The ordering process on their website couldn’t be easier. Just pick your lobster quantity and delivery date at checkout.

What I love about Luke’s lobster:

• Retail offshoot of popular lobster shacks

• Direct connections with Maine lobstermen

• Carbon neutral overnight shipping

• Free shipping on all online orders

If you already love dining at Luke’s Lobster restaurants, you can now enjoy their famous lobster at home with just a few clicks. The ordering and delivery process is seamless.

Check With Local Lobstermen For Direct Sourcing

While this option takes a bit more effort, you may be able to source a whole lobster directly from local lobstermen in your area. I have a friend who lives in coastal Maine who buys her lobsters straight from the dock.

To try this method yourself:

• Look up lobster fishing co-ops in your state.

• Ask to buy direct from the boat.

• Be flexible on timing – go when they land their catch.

• Bring a cooler to transport your lobster.

• Cook it ASAP for unmatched freshness.

Sourcing lobster straight from a local lobsterman takes extra coordination but yields some of the best fresh-from-the-sea lobster you can buy. If you’re willing to put in the effort, it’s a great way to get super local seafood.

Things To Consider When Buying Whole Lobster

Now that you know the best places to buy, here are a few final tips for picking the perfect whole lobster:

• Hard shell vs soft shell – Opt for hard shell for easier handling.

• Live vs pre-cooked – Live will have the freshest flavor.

• Size – A 1-1.5 pound lobster serves 1-2 people.

• Gender – Females tend to have more tender meat.

• Price – Expect to pay $10-15/lb for live lobster.

• Shipping method – Overnight is best for live.