lobsters

[bobtheturkey]

are they boiled alive? if so why? and is it true that they cry out in pain? thank you

regards bob

[Dingoeater]

I boil lobsters alive, and some people don't. A lot of cooks drive a knife through the head of a lobster before boiling it. However, I've always thought that you lose some of the flavour by killing the lobster before cooking it. The most "humane" way is to put the lobsters in cold water and bring it to the boil and they (apparently) drift off to sleep. As to screaming, that noise is, so I'm told, a whistling sound produced by escaping air.

[boobesque]

when i went to Malaysia i had both, one was boiled alive, the other was killed prior to boiling and to be honest there was no difference in taste, both yummy! and the screaming is the air from the shell as dingoeater said

[brionon]

According to Descartes , only those with souls feel pain. So you can torture to your hearts content. If you are not a Filosofer, of course, you won't boil an animal alive.

[Goodsoulette]

Its alll toe-curlingly horrid to me. Knife in the head or slowly bought to the boil, I can t decide which I would prefer.

[SaxyJag]

I did see a chef on TV once who took a sharp cleaver and neatly, and very swiftly, sliced a live lobster in half lengthways.

[waimarie]

Hi bobtheturkey, Two main reasons why they should be boiled whilst alive. Firstly, if the lobster is dead when you cook it you have no idea how long it has been dead and the flesh has deteriorated.

The flesh of all shellfish deteriorates very rapidly when they die which is why they say you should never cook/eat mussels if the shells are open when you buy them.

Secondly, if you open out the tail of a lobster that has been cooked when alive it should spring back to its original shape. If it was dead the tail will remain outstretched If the tail remains stretched out this indicates the lobster was dead when cooked (this is a good way to check when buying a cooked lobster from a store, also when buying a raw one to see if it still alive,). The flesh from the cooked, live lobster will be firm whilst the second will be loose and flaky.

[allotment10]

surely you can find something better to eat ?

[Plocket]

Yuck! And people think eating veal is cruel!!!!!

[Lonnie]

As has already been said, they generally are boiled alive, and on the same vein, if you listen carefully, you can hear Cabbage scream when thats boiled alive also. and no, i'm not ready to be committed just yet.

[allotment10]

you've put me right off my veggies now!

[Lonnie]

Sorry allotment10, but I have a thing about plants and feelings, and often wonder if. eg, a carrot can feel pain while its being crunched.

[allotment10]

ohh lonnie ! i must admit when i pick my plants i wonder if they do feel it, why can't they invent a pill so's you don't have to cook or kill anything to eat? would be marvelous! :-)

[nickmo]

If you don't want to cook alive, alternative is to place in a freezer to 'stun' it then cook. Same as with crab.

Noises are from air in the carapace/shell escaping.