Whether you are planning a trip to a seafood restaurant to indulge in lobster or plan to cook the crustacean yourself in your own kitchen, you may be pondering a common question — is the sound a lobster makes when immersed in boiling water a scream?
To get an answer, we turned to our cooking and baking expert, Andrea Boudewijn. In addition to shedding light on the source of the sound, she also provided alternatives to cooking with live lobsters and suggested items for preparing the delicacy at home.
In this article: Farberware Classic 16-Quart Stainless Steel Stock Pot, OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Locking Tongs and DELLING Large Serving Platter Set
If you’ve ever observed live lobsters being cooked, you know that the sound that occurs when they are put in boiling water is an unpleasant one. However, according to Boudewijn, it’s not actually the lobster reacting to the hot water.
“Nope! A sound can emit from the shells of the lobsters — a high-pitched sound — but it's due to steam escaping through a fissure in the shell, not the lobsters 'screaming,'” she explained.
This doesn’t necessarily mean the cooking process is pain-free for the lobster. We asked Boudewijn if the crustaceans feel pain in this scenario.
“This is an age-old debate between animal activists and fisherfolk. Science points out that lobsters lack the neural anatomy to feel pain. I believe anything with any kind of eyes or senses, including lobsters, feels pain when immersed in boiling water,” she said.
The thought of lobsters feeling pain during the cooking process is concerning to some home chefs, especially those who are also animal lovers. Fortunately, there are alternatives. Frozen lobsters is one, Boudewijn said. “You can purchase frozen lobsters (already dead), but they're not as fresh and soft. They may still make the high-pitched noise when immersed in the boiling water.”
Boudewijn advised that other crustaceans are also good alternatives to pricey lobster.
“You can purchase a crab. These are also delicious and less expensive,” she explained, adding that crawfish are another seafood choice that mimics the lobster-eating experience.
“Crawdads, or crawfish, or mud bugs — whatever you like to call them, these smaller cousins of the lobster are a great way to get the fresh seafood-boil vibe without the expense. Boil a bunch with corn on the cob (short cobs), new potatoes, and lots of Cajun spices for an unforgettable dinner,” Boudewijn said.
She also offered a tasty option for vegans and vegetarians who want the seafood-boil experience without the sea creatures. “For those wishing to avoid the animals altogether, just cut them out. Boil a bunch of your favorite hearty veggies: Corn, potatoes, artichokes, chopped onions, and lots of spices, then dump them out on a newspaper-covered table and serve with lemon wedges. Heaven,” she said.
“Steaming and boiling are the two most common ways to cook a lobster, but they can also be grilled. All these methods work with whole lobsters or just the tail meat (this is how it's frequently sold in markets, usually in sets of two),” said Boudewijn about the best lobster cooking techniques to use at home. She also provided a list of tips to help you achieve mouthwatering results:
From a stock pot to seafood tools, Boudewijn’s recommended items can make your home lobster cooking endeavors successful.
Farberware Classic 16-quart Stainless Steel Stock Pot
A stainless steel stock pot is the perfect cookware for preparing lobster as well as many other recipes. This model does a good job maintaining cooking temperatures and features a large 16-quart design for large amounts of food.
Sold by Amazon, Macy’s and Kohl’s
OXO Good Grips 16-inch Locking Tongs
When it’s time to serve your lobster, you’ll need a durable pair of tongs. This pair is 16 inches in length, which is ideal for removing food from large pots. The slip-resistant handle provides a secure grip.
Delling Large Serving Platter Set
Large platters are better than standard plates when serving lobster. This set includes three ceramic platters that are oven, microwave and dishwasher-safe.
Sold by Amazon
Mercer Culinary 8-inch Chinese Chef Knife
A chef knife is a good kitchen tool to have on hand for cutting lobster into smaller pieces. An 8-inch blade like the one on this model is a suitable size.
Sold by Amazon
This set includes two shell cracking tools for breaking through the shells of lobsters and other seafood and six seafood forks for indulging in the meat. The handles are made to be easy to grip and are contoured for comfort.
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Toadfish Crab and Lobster Seafood Tool Set
With serrated teeth and slip-resistant handles, the two shell crackers in this set get the job done. You’ll also get four seafood forks that are slip-resistant.
Sold by Amazon
Libbey Small Glass Bowls with Lids, Set of Eight
These eight small glass bowls are ideal for placing lemon slices to squeeze onto seafood. They are also perfect for side dishes. Lids are included.
Sold by Amazon
All-Clad Three-piece Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set
Stainless steel mixing bowls come in handy for numerous tasks in the kitchen. Placing lobster and other crustacean shells during meals is another use for them every time you make seafood meals.
Eating shellfish of any kind can be messy, so it’s a great idea to keep extra dish towels on hand for each of your dinner guests. These 12 cotton towels are ideal for this purpose, plus they look nice on a table.
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Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers with Lids
Don’t forget food storage bowls like Rubbermaid’s large set for your lobster leftovers. The airtight latch lids will keep the contents from spilling.
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Jennifer Manfrin writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
