Description
Mastering the art of boiling lobster at home brings the taste of coastal dining right to your kitchen. This classic boiled lobster recipe combines traditional New England methods with precise timing for perfect results every time.
This straightforward boiled lobster recipe delivers tender, succulent meat that’s ready in under 15 minutes. The method uses simple seasonings to enhance the lobster’s natural sweetness while maintaining its pure ocean flavor.
Ingredients
- 2–4 live lobsters
- Sea salt or kosher salt (2 tablespoons per quart of water)
- Water (enough to cover lobsters)
- Optional aromatics:
- 2 large onions, quartered
- 10 garlic cloves, halved
- 2 lemons, quartered
- 5 celery stalks, quartered
Instructions
- Fill your pot 2/3 full with water
- Place pot on medium-high heat and bring to a rolling boil
- Add salt and optional aromatics
- Carefully lower lobsters headfirst into the water, one at a time
- Cover pot immediately to maintain heat
- Once water returns to boil, start your timer based on lobster size
- Halfway through cooking, stir the lobsters gently
- Check internal temperature (should reach 135-140°F)
- Remove lobsters and place in colander
- Cool under running water or in ice bath to stop cooking
Notes
– For optimal results, use the weight of individual lobsters to determine cooking time, not total weight
– Keep rubber bands on claws until cooking is complete
– Never cook dead lobsters as they can result in mushy, inedible meat
– Pierce body and tail with a sharp knife after cooking to drain excess water
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Seafood
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American