Tips on Cooking Lobsters

Novice cooks usually cook lobsters by throwing them into a pot of boiling water—usually for longer than necessary—and then serve them with melted butter. This method is straightforward and gives satisfactory results, but unfortunately many of the lobsters’ flavorful juices are released in the boiling water during cooking and never recovered. Melted butter contributes flavor and richness but does little to underline or accent the natural flavors of the lobster. If you want to boil the lobsters—which is, after all, the simplest method—boil only for 4 minutes, following the directions on Four-Minute Lobster with a Sauce Made from Its Coral.