Lobster Question

Keith said:

Does anyone know why Lobster needs to be cooked live?

Who says you can't?

Quoted message said:

For example, why couldn't you store the lobster in the freezer and boil > it when required?

You can (and it's done commercially all the time, especially with
tails) but that would be kinda stupid after paying the higher price for
live... considering you'd need to then defrost it before cooking and
then it would be as dry and flavorless with damaged texture the same as
any other previously frozen seafood. I don't know why folks buy frozen
lobster tails, other than that they have extremely low IQs. I can
understand freezing lobster live if you happened to come into a bonanza
of freebies... but even then I'd cook them first and then freeze, tails
separately, and remove the meat from the claws and bodies... probably
prepare those parts into lobster chowder (extracting the flavor from
the shells) and freeze that... a bushel of whole lobster would
otherwise require a lot of freezer space... so haw many lobster you
talking?

Sheldon

Sheldon said:

I don't know why folks buy frozen
lobster tails, other than that they have extremely low IQs.

People don't always have the option for the best. It is only within the last ten years or so
that grocery stores around here started to offer live lobster. Until the, frozen lobster tail
was or precooked whole lobster were the only lobster we could buy in the shell. We used to be
able to get frozen canned lobster, which wasn't bad, and not too expensive.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Keith said:

Does anyone know why Lobster needs to be cooked live? For example, why
couldn't you store the lobster in the freezer and boil it when required?

Just buy a pre-cooked fresh frozen one.
That way you won't have to worry about it. ;-)

Just steam the dead cooked lobster lightly to warm it up.
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

Sheldon said:

Keith said:

For example, why couldn't you store the lobster in the freezer and
boil > it when required?

You can

(snip)
so haw many lobster you

Quoted message said:

talking?

Sheldon

Depends on how many you can fit into a bathtub. (giggling)

"Keith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know why Lobster needs to be
cooked live? For example, why couldn't you
store the lobster in the freezer and boil it when
required?

It doesn't need to be cooked live, technically -- you can kill it (inserting
a knife into its brain) and cook it immediately thereafter. Lobster
contains enzymes which start breaking down the meat immediately upon death,
which is why lobster is sold live, cooked, and uncooked/frozen.

You could *try* freezing a fresh-killed lobster tail, along with the legs,
but I don't think freezing the whole thing is a good idea. Personally, I
haven't been happy with the frozen lobster tails I've purchased, but I
haven't purchased any recently.

If you try the experiment, please post and let us know how it worked out.
-j

Keith said:

Does anyone know why Lobster needs to be cooked live? For example, why
couldn't you store the lobster in the freezer and boil it when required?

It has everything to do with freshess and flavor. I didn't cook my
own crabs until a few years ago. I'd bought from crab pots before and
was perfectly happy with that. One time, there was a killer price on
live crab and I had a pair of long tongs - so I decided to do the
dirty deed myself. I used Old Bay seasoning (dry) and followed the
package directions. YUM! It was literally a life changing exerience.

Sheldon said:

I don't know why folks buy frozen lobster tails, other than that they have extremely low IQs.

<sf is thumbing her nose at Sheldon>

That's not going to change my mind. I still think whole lobster is
more trouble than it's worth and love lobster tail - aka: salt water
crayfish.

:-P

"sf" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Keith said:

Does anyone know why Lobster needs to be cooked live? For example, why
couldn't you store the lobster in the freezer and boil it when required?

It has everything to do with freshess and flavor. I didn't cook my
own crabs until a few years ago. I'd bought from crab pots before and
was perfectly happy with that. One time, there was a killer price on
live crab and I had a pair of long tongs - so I decided to do the
dirty deed myself. I used Old Bay seasoning (dry) and followed the
package directions. YUM! It was literally a life changing exerience.

I see the women in the asian stores jumping back and dancing when they're
picking out the crabs - I expect to hear little shrieks. Maybe I should try
that.
Thanks.
Dee Dee

Hello "jacqui{JB}"

That is an interesting point. Why not insert a knife 1-1.5 inches back from
the eyes and bring it forwards to kill it just before cooking?

The RSPCA say to freeze it 2 hours before cooking, but if it is possible to
kill it instantaneously before cooking, why not do that?

I am very much a country boy, but one thing I will never do it make the
animal suffer just for human pleasure. It has to be quick and painless.
Some say that the Lobster is a basic creature, but it still has a nervous
system, even if a 'basic' one.

"jacqui{JB}" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Keith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

It doesn't need to be cooked live, technically -- you can kill it

(inserting

Quoted message said:

a knife into its brain) and cook it immediately thereafter. Lobster
contains enzymes which start breaking down the meat immediately upon

death,

Quoted message said:

which is why lobster is sold live, cooked, and uncooked/frozen.

You could *try* freezing a fresh-killed lobster tail, along with the legs,
but I don't think freezing the whole thing is a good idea. Personally, I
haven't been happy with the frozen lobster tails I've purchased, but I
haven't purchased any recently.

If you try the experiment, please post and let us know how it worked out.
-j

Fair comment, but Crab can be easily killed quickly before cooking.

"sf" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Keith said:

Does anyone know why Lobster needs to be cooked live? For example, why
couldn't you store the lobster in the freezer and boil it when

required?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

It has everything to do with freshess and flavor. I didn't cook my
own crabs until a few years ago. I'd bought from crab pots before and
was perfectly happy with that. One time, there was a killer price on
live crab and I had a pair of long tongs - so I decided to do the
dirty deed myself. I used Old Bay seasoning (dry) and followed the
package directions. YUM! It was literally a life changing exerience.

sf said:

Sheldon said:

I don't know why folks buy frozen lobster tails, other than that they have extremely low IQs.

<sf is thumbing her nose at Sheldon>

That's not going to change my mind. I still think whole lobster is
more trouble than it's worth and love lobster tail - aka: salt water
crayfish.

Back in the days when the only lobster available was the cooked and frozen variety or a trip to the
only seafood restaurant where it cost an arm and a leg, I wasn't impressed with lobster. But then I
had fresh caught lobster at a place in Bar Harbor, and that impressed me.

I think that the tastiest meat on a lobster comes from the legs, but it has to be a good sized
lobster before it is worth the work. The next best is the meat in the claws.

jacqui{JB} said:

Personally, I
haven't been happy with the frozen lobster tails I've purchased, but I
haven't purchased any recently.

I find that dead sea creatures (like shrimp) benefit from a salt water
"bath" before cooking.

"sf" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

jacqui{JB} said:

Personally, I
haven't been happy with the frozen lobster tails I've purchased, but I
haven't purchased any recently.

I find that dead sea creatures (like shrimp) benefit from a salt water
"bath" before cooking.

How would that be -- I'm imagining taken frozen shrimp out of my freezer,
putting them in a pan (in the sink) in salt water to reviven vs. letting
running water drain over them to thaw them, which is one way that I do. (I
usually only buy frozen shrimp, thinking that when I buy them unfrozen from
the grocery store, that they have been previously frozen before they put
them in the case for sale.)
Thanks,
Dee Dee

In article <[email hidden]>,

Dave Smith said:

sf said:

Sheldon said:

I don't know why folks buy frozen lobster tails, other than that they
have extremely low IQs.

<sf is thumbing her nose at Sheldon>

That's not going to change my mind. I still think whole lobster is
more trouble than it's worth and love lobster tail - aka: salt water
crayfish.

Back in the days when the only lobster available was the cooked and frozen
variety or a trip to the
only seafood restaurant where it cost an arm and a leg, I wasn't impressed
with lobster. But then I
had fresh caught lobster at a place in Bar Harbor, and that impressed me.

I think that the tastiest meat on a lobster comes from the legs, but it has
to be a good sized
lobster before it is worth the work. The next best is the meat in the claws.

Lobster is good, but IMHO King or Dungeness crab is better. ;-)
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

Keith said:

Does anyone know why Lobster needs to be cooked live? For example,
why
couldn't you store the lobster in the freezer and boil it when
required?

It is not so much necessary as better. Fresh is best. However i have
found frozen lobster to be acceptable for curries, casseroles and other
sorts of dishes where lobster is an ingredient rather than an entree.
The frozen lobster i get is cleaned and precooked and i would assume
like any other meat the lobster should be cleaned before freezing.
---
JL

Keith said:

I am very much a country boy, but one thing I will never do it make the
animal suffer just for human pleasure. It has to be quick and painless.
Some say that the Lobster is a basic creature, but it still has a nervous
system, even if a 'basic' one.

I don't eat lobster... I'm not comfortable consuming creatures that
have been crawling the earth long enough to attain greater intellect
than the majority of rfc'ers.

The typical one pound lobster can be 5-7 years old. Lobster can easily
live 30, 40, even 50 years, and they are also very social animals.
Lobster are a very important part of the planet's eco system. I see no
reason to hunt them for food... in fact on their own they don't taste
very good.... if you weren't served a cup of melted butter with your
steamed lobster you probably wouldn't eat it... after the third glass
of vino the average person wouldn't realize their lobster was switched
for steamed cod fish, so long as it were drowned in butter they'd never
realize.

Sheldon

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

Quoted message said:

I think that the tastiest meat on a lobster comes from the legs, but it has
to be a good sized
lobster before it is worth the work. The next best is the meat in the claws.

Lobster is good, but IMHO King or Dungeness crab is better. ;-)

No argument there. Most crabs are better than lobster.

"Dave Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

Quoted message said:

I think that the tastiest meat on a lobster comes from the legs, but it
has
to be a good sized
lobster before it is worth the work. The next best is the meat in the
claws.

Lobster is good, but IMHO King or Dungeness crab is better. ;-)

No argument there. Most crabs are better than lobster.

That is strictly a MOP. I like crab, but I prefer lobster.

MoM

jmcquown wrote on 27 Aug 2005 in rec.food.cooking

Quoted message said:

Sheldon said:

Keith said:

For example, why couldn't you store the lobster in the freezer and
boil > it when required?

You can

(snip)
so haw many lobster you

Quoted message said:

talking?

Sheldon

Depends on how many you can fit into a bathtub. (giggling)

Nancy will get you for that!

--
The eyes are the mirrors....
But the ears...Ah the ears.
The ears keep the hat up.