Get Cracking! It's National Lobster Day!

by POPSUGAR Food 5

I have a vivid junior high memory of not going out to eat dinner with my family. At the time I was okay with it, but when I found out they went for a lobster dinner, I was devastated! From that point on I vowed to eat lobster whenever I could. Unfortunately lobster is one of those foods that taste great, but are tricky to prepare. Lucky for us, there are a lot of resources to teach us how to correctly pick and cook fresh lobster. To learn a few tips I've picked up along the way, read more

The four classic ways to cook a lobster are:

• Boiling - Bring a large pot 3/4 full of salt water to boil. Put lobsters in and submerge, boil for 18-20 minutes.
• Steaming - Put lobsters in a large pot with about 2" of water, cover tightly and steam for about 20 minutes.
• Grilling - Either boil first and finish on grill (backside down) or split lobster in half and grill shell side down.
• Roasting - Quarter lobsters and saute on high heat. Put them in the oven for 2-3 minutes to finish off.

When choosing a lobster you should look for:

• One that is alive and kicking. You want to make sure it is fresh.
• The tender lobsters tend to be under 2 pounds.
• Females have a more delicate flesh and are lighter. The males have larger claws and narrower tails.
• A hard shell and long antennae.

And if you're looking for tips on how to eat it, be sure to check out this 7 step picture tutorial!

Know any great lobster tips? Let us know below!

Source: 911 Chef Eric, Criehaven and iVillage