splitting a lobster
 

None of my local stores will split a lobster for me, so i'll have to do it myself. This is for a lobster bisque.

Has anyone done this before? I once was going to do it, but then when I actually had the lobster in front of me I chickened out and boiled it instead. How do I do it?

Re: splitting a lobster
 

Just put it on its back and push the point of the blade into the head and chop down with the heel of the knife. Some people put them in the freezer for a few minutes to keep them from moving around.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

Freezers good, Ive also heard to put them on there back in a brown paper bag and then in the freezer...they go nite nite....

....also good if you are gonna boil because if they are awake they will release adrenaline into there system and toughen up the meat...its best if there relaxed

Re: splitting a lobster
 

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Just put it on its back and push the point of the blade into the head and chop down with the heel of the knife. Some people put them in the freezer for a few minutes to keep them from moving around.

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So if it's on it's back, you're pushing the knife basically into its face?

Also, do you need a big sharp knife?

Re: splitting a lobster
 

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[ QUOTE ]
Just put it on its back and push the point of the blade into the head and chop down with the heel of the knife. Some people put them in the freezer for a few minutes to keep them from moving around.

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So if it's on it's back, you're pushing the knife basically into its face?

Also, do you need a big sharp knife?

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nah a small dull one should do. jk. Post pics though, and recipe, I have never done a lobster before and want to sometime.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

Ugh. I dont understand how people can eat lobster. I hear it's delicious...one of the most tasty things on Earth. I just cant do it. Reading this just made me uncomfortable. I dont feel bad for them per se. It's just like taking a giant bug and sucking the meat out of it. Freaks me out. But I'm a nut.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

I have the lobster on a cutting board in normal lobster crawling position. Insert knife tip into the base of the head and neck area and slice downward to cut the head in half lengthwise. Repeat from the other direction to cut the rest of the body in half.

I usually cook the lobster right in the vegetables and water that will be the base of the bisque. All juices go into the water.

Afterwards I disassmble the lobster over a bowl/platter to capture any juices there too.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

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Ugh. I dont understand how people can eat lobster. I hear it's delicious...one of the most tasty things on Earth. I just cant do it. Reading this just made me uncomfortable. I dont feel bad for them per se. It's just like taking a giant bug and sucking the meat out of it. Freaks me out. But I'm a nut.

[/ QUOTE ]

It is a giant bug basically, more of a cockroach than anything, but covered in butter anything tastes good.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

My lobster tail thread from last week

Re: splitting a lobster
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Just put it on its back and push the point of the blade into the head and chop down with the heel of the knife. Some people put them in the freezer for a few minutes to keep them from moving around.

[/ QUOTE ]

So if it's on it's back, you're pushing the knife basically into its face?

Also, do you need a big sharp knife?

[/ QUOTE ]

nah a small dull one should do. jk. Post pics though, and recipe, I have never done a lobster before and want to sometime.

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Cooking a lobster normally is super easy. you just boil water, drop the lobster in for 12 minutes or so.

I'm going to make it into a soup, which involves cutting it in half first.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

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So if it's on it's back, you're pushing the knife basically into its face?

Also, do you need a big sharp knife?

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It doesn't really matter if its on its front or back, thats just how I do it. The idea is to kill it by stabbing it in its little tiny brain before cutting it in half.

You do need a big sharp knife, but you could also stab it with a smaller knife and cut it open with kitchen sheers.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

Don't split it. Steam it whole. Thats the best way to cook a lobster, period.

If you are in a sporting mood you can listen to it dying with a stethoscope.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

Have you ever bbq one? Can you cook it like normal fish?

Re: splitting a lobster
 

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[ QUOTE ]
Ugh. I dont understand how people can eat lobster. I hear it's delicious...one of the most tasty things on Earth. I just cant do it. Reading this just made me uncomfortable. I dont feel bad for them per se. It's just like taking a giant bug and sucking the meat out of it. Freaks me out. But I'm a nut.

[/ QUOTE ]

It is a giant bug basically, more of a cockroach than anything, but covered in butter anything tastes good.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have a horrible, paralyzing fear of bugs...I think this is why I cant do it. I dont like other seafood either...I should try to broaden my horizons, but I cant get past some things.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

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Have you ever bbq one? Can you cook it like normal fish?

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Since you really should cook it live that doesn't sound like a good idea. Dipping it in BBQ and then throwing it on flaming grill isn't going to make him happy.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

I have never bbq'd one...I've never heard of it either. I don't think you can fire up a weber and slap a lobster on it. Maybe grilled lobster tails or something. Broiling is common though.

And no, you don't treat it like a fish.

Boiling is really the best thing, if you want to cook a lobster yourself for the first time this is absolutely the way to go. Just look up online for a cooking chart to see how long to do it for (it depends on the weight). Boil water in a very big pot, and drop the lobster(s) in. When time is up they will be red and ready to eat.
Lobster tastes so good on its own, you don't need to do anything special to it.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

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Have you ever bbq one? Can you cook it like normal fish?

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I've never done it but you can grill them. I think they just get split and put shell side down on the grill with the top down.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

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Have you ever bbq one? Can you cook it like normal fish?

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Since you really should cook it live that doesn't sound like a good idea. Dipping it in BBQ and then throwing it on flaming grill isn't going to make him happy.

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But he just loves being boiled alive!

Re: splitting a lobster
 

lol

Re: splitting a lobster
 

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Don't split it. Steam it whole. Thats the best way to cook a lobster, period.



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Yep- that's what I've heard. I just can't do it. Boiling- yes. Real slow steam to death- I can't.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

It's been a long time for me, but the one thing I remember was sometimes if you're not doing it quite right, it doesn't cut easy. This is probably just general cooking stuff, but try to use a knife with a safety on the hilt to prevent your hand from sliding down. Either way, make sure you don't do anything stupid where your hand slides down the knife.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

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Just put it on its back and push the point of the blade into the head and chop down with the heel of the knife. Some people put them in the freezer for a few minutes to keep them from moving around.

[/ QUOTE ]

So if it's on it's back, you're pushing the knife basically into its face?

Also, do you need a big sharp knife?

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Quit screwing around. I'm thinking chainsaw.....

Re: splitting a lobster
 

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Don't split it. Steam it whole. Thats the best way to cook a lobster, period.



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Yep- that's what I've heard. I just can't do it. Boiling- yes. Real slow steam to death- I can't.

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Its not painful for him. He just gets real sleepy as the heat rises. Ever been in a steam room? Its just like that for him, except he dies about the same time that you go grab a towel.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

Flip the bug on its back.

Hold the claws down over its head.

See the sort flat flapper things in front of its mouth?

Take a heavy french knife and point it between those at about a 60 degree angle.

Stab straight down. hard. That stroke should kill the lobster pretty quick by splitting its brain. problem is, the brain is real small, so you might have to stab a couple of times, adjusting your angle.

Once the bug stops kicking you can slice it at your leisure.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

I don't see that much of a resemblance between a roach and a lobster; some but not alot. Btw, lobsters mate for life, right? That + boiling alive = me kinda sad.


http://octopus.gma.org/lobsters/lobsterbottomview.gif



http://yucky.kids.discovery.com/nofl...f/anatomy2.gif

Re: splitting a lobster
 

[ QUOTE ]
Flip the bug on its back.

Hold the claws down over its head.

See the sort flat flapper things in front of its mouth?

Take a heavy french knife and point it between those at about a 60 degree angle.

Stab straight down. hard. That stroke should kill the lobster pretty quick by splitting its brain. problem is, the brain is real small, so you might have to stab a couple of times, adjusting your angle.

Once the bug stops kicking you can slice it at your leisure.

[/ QUOTE ]

If OP still has an appetite after doing the above, I'd be shocked.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

[ QUOTE ]
Don't split it. Steam it whole. Thats the best way to cook a lobster, period.

If you are in a sporting mood you can listen to it dying with a stethoscope.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why is steaming it best?

Re: splitting a lobster
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Don't split it. Steam it whole. Thats the best way to cook a lobster, period.

If you are in a sporting mood you can listen to it dying with a stethoscope.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why is steaming it best?

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Texture of the meat is especially tender if steamed. Also the lobster doesn't get waterlogged like it does when boiled.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

I had no idea what it meant to "split a lobster" when I opened this thread, I would have assumed you did it after it was dead. Now that I know I think you're pretty much retarded if you do anything other than go to more stores until one will do it for you.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

op-
put the point of a large knife between it's eyes, behind the head. In one stroke, split the head in half by thrusting the knife point through the lobster and following through with the blade. This is the most humane way, because it's dead almost instantly.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

my mother makes lobster every once in a while but she does it totally different. i never knew that people just dropped them in boiling water. she cooks them in tomato sauce. the lobster comes out great and it makes the sauce taste great too.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

Someone mentioned grilled it....Ive never done an entire lobster but will boil a tail then grill it I just make sure I have some drawn butter handy to keep slapping on the meaty party

Re: splitting a lobster
 

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Someone mentioned grilled it....Ive never done an entire lobster but will boil a tail then grill it I just make sure I have some drawn butter handy to keep slapping on the meaty party

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If I had a dollar for everytime I ran out of drawn butter to slap on my meat at a meat party, Id be a billionaire.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

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my mother makes lobster every once in a while but she does it totally different. i never knew that people just dropped them in boiling water. she cooks them in tomato sauce. the lobster comes out great and it makes the sauce taste great too.

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I've done this with hardshell crabs. Delicious.

-McGee

Re: splitting a lobster
 

You can cheat, if splitting it live freaks you out. Steam it for 2 minutes, then take it out, split it, and continue with the process. For soup, this won't matter.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

Steaming is the best way, as others have said.

If you split the lobster (with lobster facing you in normal crawling position, put tip of knife in the groove above his head, then push knife down to cutting board, then finish by bificating his head. Turn it around and finish the cut line. Brought to you by Alton Brown.), you can roast your lobster. This enhances the flavor in the meat and the shells.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

This link looks pretty helpful.

http://cooking-lobster.com/graphics/kl-step-2a.jpg

Re: splitting a lobster
 

never done this, but quoting from my new favotite food book, "the professional chef", which has pictures for each step:

1) leave the bands on the lobster's claws and lay it, stomach-side down, on a work surface. insert the tip of a chef's knife into the base of the head.

2) pull the knife all the way down through the shell, splitting the head in half.

3) split the tail by reversing the direction of the lobster and positioning the tip of the knife at the point where you made your initial cut. then, cut through the shell of the tail section.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

So after I cut its head, I then cut the rest of the body while it's still on its stomach (i don't flip it over)?

I ask because I once bought a lobster and the split it for me, and what the guy did was take a live lobster, a huge knife, laid it on its back, and WHAM! one chop and it was in 2 pieces squirming away. Lobster halves were still moving when I got home half hour later.

Re: splitting a lobster
 

This is horrible. I'd rather not read threads like this because then I won't be able to eat meat anymore. Ignorance is bliss, and I doubt I could ever eat lobster bisque again.

-Michael