Depending on where you’re from, lobster can be part of your weekly grocery budget or a once in a blue moon delicacy. Whichever category you fall under, it’s still a somewhat pricy dish that nobody wants to see go to waste. So whether you’ve boxed up your leftovers at a fancy seafood restaurant or are just picking at what’s left from your family lobster bake, is there an ideal way to reheat lobster?
For whole lobsters, the easiest way to reheat them is the way they were cooked. Typically, this means tossing them in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes. If you’ve already shelled your lobster, the meat can be microwaved, baked, fried, or even eaten cold in a lobster roll or sandwich.
It’s important to note that you aren’t cooking your lobster again, just warming it. Leaving it in the boiling water too long can overcook it and cause the meat to be dry and rubbery. Here’s the easiest way to reheat a whole lobster.
Step one: Find a large pot big enough to hold your whole lobster, and fill it with water.
Step two: Bring water to a boil.
Step three: Place the whole lobster into the pot and boil on medium heat for about 5 minutes.
Step four: Using tongs, remove the lobster from the pot. Drain excess liquid.
Step five: Allow the lobster to cool for several minutes before eating.
Baking Lobster
Similar to reheating crab, lobster in the oven is perfect for whole lobsters, lobster tails, or claws still in the shell. Wrapping them in aluminum foil will prevent the shells from burning. You can also reheat just the meat in the oven, without the use of foil.
Step two: If your lobster is in the shell, wrap tightly in foil before placing it on a greased baking sheet. Otherwise, spread the meat evenly along the bottom of the pan with a couple of tablespoons of butter.
Step three: Warm the lobster in the oven until they are warm, usually 10-15 minutes.
Step four: If warming shelled lobster meat, stir the meat halfway through to allow even heating.
Step five: Allow the foil to cool before removing and placing lobster on a plate.
Reheating Lobster in the Microwave
This is not the ideal way to reheat a whole lobster, but it can certainly work in a pinch. However, using the microwave is a great option for reheating lobster dishes, such as lobster mac and cheese, lobster bisque, or lobster alfredo.
Step one: If reheating a whole lobster, wrap it in a wet paper towel and place it in the microwave.
Step two: If reheating lobster meat, or lobster pasta dishes, add a splash of water or butter to the dish.
Step three: Microwave on low-medium power for one minute, then stir, and then 30-second intervals until it is hot.
Step four: If you have a meat thermometer handy, ensure the internal temperature of the lobster is at least 165° at its thickest point. Cold spots can lead to harmful bacteria.
Conclusion
There are many ways to reheat your lobster, but these are a few of the best. The goal is to keep your lobster moist, juicy, and full of flavor. Avoid any type of reheating that may dry out the meat and cause it to be bland and tasteless. Such a fine dish choice deserves the utmost care, and being able to get 2 or three meals out of it is certainly good for your wallet.
You can reheat your lobster a couple of times, but don’t keep it in the fridge any longer than 3- 4 days to avoid spoiling. You can also freeze your lobster meat if you don’t think you will get to it in time. Remember, if reheating it seems like a hassle, you can always whip it up with some mayonnaise for a classic lobster roll.
