Lobster

[pippins1]

Can anyone advise me on how to cook fresh lobster please.
Many thanks

[mike11111]

Apparently you have to throw it live into a pot of boiling water. When it stops squealing and turns pink it's done.

[nungate]

Put in a pan of cold water and bring to the boil as it were - it's meant to be kinder

[pippins1]

I've been told you have to put it in the freezer first to help numb its brain?? Is this correct? and thanks for your replies

[Clanad]

It doesn't have a brain... but rather a system of nerves exiting 15 ganglia that course over its body... similar to insects. Since it has no spinal column, it has no neocortex, which, we are told, is required for the organism to feel pain.

Actually, this is a more philosphical question than scientific, in my opinion, since we are trying to correlate pain or stimuli in this type of organism to that which we ecperience which isn't possible.
A recent British study is interesting on this subject... seen here: "Nociception or Pain in a Decapod Crustacean?" That study suggests inverterbrates do respond to stimuli but not in the same way as we or other verterbrates do. So... personally, I give it no other thought than to ask for more butter please...

[EcclesCake]

Put it in the freezer to calm it down.

Bring a large pan of water to a boil. Throw in lobster cook for 15 mins for a 1 1/2 lb and add five minutes for every additional lb.

Adding lemon, and herbs to the cooking water is quite a nice touch.

It's cooked when the antennae or little legs pull of easily.

[ummmm]

Freeze it long enough to comatose it.

[Euphemia]

Consciences salved!

[ummmm]

I don't understand what you mean, Euphemia?

[pippins1]

Thanks for all your responses, i shall put it to the test. Though not looking forward to hearing it squeal :( thanks again

[mike11111]

Having only once tasted lobster I put it in the same class as veal or pheasant (both of which I have only tasted once) - overpriced tasteless sh!te whose price reflects its snob value more than its nutritional benefits. Give me a bacon sarnie any day!

[legali]

If it alive then put it in the freezer for a time to numb it before plunging it into boiling water.

[ummmm]

Lobsters don't squeal. They have no vocal chords. It's air escaping.

[Clanad]

To flog a dead lobster... they don't have vocal cords so they cannot squeal or scream. any noise made is simply steam exiting from their mouths or other small body parts...
Throw it in the darn pot and get on with the feast!

[chaptazbru]

Not looking forward to hearing it squeal - how very compassionate of you !!!

[mike11111]

"... and don't start me off about caviar!!! What a let-down that was!

[ummmm]

Mike - I love lobster but only eat it when I go abroad as it's a reasonable price.

I had a whole Lobster in Thailand for a couple of quid.

[Clanad]

Apologies ummm! Two things can occupy the same space at the same time, it seems...

[Mick-Talbot]

Throw a live lobster in the pan of hot water and you're a chef, yet ....throw a live bunny rabbit ...........................

[mike11111]

I'm glad Clanad cleared that one up. Lobsters don't squeal, they merely fart rather loudly.

[ummmm]

What's the problem Chap? We eat live mussels and oysters.