Boiled—or Steamed—Atlantic Lobsters

Atlantic lobsters are excellent boiled. Measure the amount of water sufficient to cover the lob-sters and bring to a “raging” boil; add 1 tablespoon salt per quart of water. You can, if you enjoy it, add a bag of shellfish “boil” (a packet of spicy seasonings) to flavor the bath. Immerse the lobsters, live, into the water head first and keep the pot on the highest possible heat, covered.

Before you immerse lobsters in water, grasp each just below the abdomen with a kitchen towel and pacify it by rubbing the top of its head with your thumb, until the critter becomes totally immobile.