Broil Live Lobster
Broiling is a great way to cook whole lobsters in the oven, but be careful since the tail can dry out quickly. Try to stick with good size lobsters. Smaller lobsters under 1 1/2 lbs. will dry out quickly and lobsters too big, over 2.5 lbs. will not cook properly because most home ovens do not produce enough heat.
Allow one good size lobster, 1 1/2 to 2.5 lb. large live lobster per person. Learn more about what size lobsters to get.
Broiling Instructions:
Time needed: 10 minutes
Broil halway for about 5 minutes. Remove the pan and quickly baste with butter sauce and return the pan to the oven. Turn the pan from the previous position so all parts will cook evenly. Cook until the flesh is lightly browned. Be careful not to overcook.
Remove the lobsters and place on a platter and baste with more butter. Use your own butter sauce or spice blend. Serve right away with melted butter and and lemon wedges. Alternatively, you can remove the meat and mix with a stuffing.
How Long to Broil Lobster
Begin timing as soon as the lobsters are placed in the preheated broiler. You will need to remove the pan halfway through the broiling to baste (less than 1 mintute). Reverse the direction of the pan efore putting it back in the broiler.
| Lobster Size | Broiling Cooking Times |
|---|---|
| 1.5 pounds | 8-10 minutes |
| 1.75 pounds | 11 minutes |
| 2 pounds | 13 minutes |
| 2.5 pounds | 16-17 minutes |
This will fully depend on the size of your lobster. Generally, 1.5-2 pound lobsters will broil for 8-13 minutes, but you will want to check the temperature of the meat and ensure its perfect. We have a handy chart that explains the best times for broiling live lobsters.
We recommend humanely killing the lobster in boiling water. You will turn the lobster on its back and crack the shell to ensure steam can escape, and then take steps to clean the Roe and rest from the lobster before broiling. Check out the full how-to in our article.
Yes! Broiling lobsters is a great method for cooking lobsters if yours are big enough. The main concern with Broiling is that the tail can dry out from the heat, but with proper time management it’s no problem and leaves for a delicious meal.
Looking for More Ways to Cook Lobster at Home?
Checkout our recipe How to cook Lobster Tails; we have guides for different ways of cooking live lobsters as well. There are lots of ways to prepare live lobster at home. See our succinct overview of all the best ways to cook Maine lobster.
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