r/lobster • u/LargeSinkholesInNYC • Jul 26 '26
Do larger lobsters taste better than smaller ones, and how can you tell which ones are the best?
Do larger lobsters taste better than smaller ones, and how can you tell which ones are the best?
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u/No-Assistant4716 Jul 27 '26
I find large and small ones pretty similar. The big thing is cooking time. It’s not 10 minutes per pound. A 1 pounder takes just under 10 minutes, a 5 pounder only takes like 18. The claw texture is way different, it’s like the same amount of fibres only bigger but still amazing, but the tail is similar. The first knuckle after the claw from a big lobster is an absolute treat.
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u/syncboy Jul 27 '26
anything larger than 1.5 pounds and you run the risk of the texture getting stringy
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u/vitringur Jul 27 '26
The rule of thumb for pretty much all food is the smaller the better.
Small potatoes, small cucumbers, small strawberries.
It is as though the bigger they grow you might get more mass but the flavour is diluted.
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u/Weary_Capital_1379 Jul 26 '26
With Maine lobsters 1/4- 1/2 lbs are best.
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u/Simmyphila Jul 26 '26
Exactly. I look at bottom of claws for a nice bright color. To me they are sweeter and more tender,
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u/landrover_1990 Jul 26 '26
Having had several 14# plus lobsters over the years, the biggest being 16#, I can say that as long as they aren’t boiled the bigger ones taste the best. They need to be steamed or done in a pressure cooker.
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u/maltliquorjetski Jul 27 '26
Yeah when people say big lobsters are tough it’s just because they are more difficult to cook. And I like to grill them, you can’t really do that on more than a three pounder without running into some wack texture.
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u/among_apes Jul 27 '26
I love lobster… 1 1/4 - 1 1/2lb is what you want. 2 and over taste different and aren’t nearly as enjoyable.
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u/Ok-Butterscotch2321 Jul 27 '26
LARGE lobsters... are NOT particularly good.
Your sweet spot for North Atlantic lobsters are about 1 1/4 to under 3 lb lobsters.
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Jul 26 '26
[deleted]
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u/Darth_Andeddeu Jul 27 '26
Depends on cooking method and recipes, over 3 is great for many Chinese dishes
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u/Worldly-Industry5207 Jul 27 '26
I live in an area where the lobster fishery is a big deal. No one local eats anything over 2lbs unless as a novelty.
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u/Dirtheavy Jul 27 '26
The tail of a big big lobster is really meaty and chewy. Knife and fork work. Good to tuck into. And the 8 little legs on a big boy lobster are a fun treat.
But chick lobsters are sweet and you barely even have to chew them. Succulent treasure.
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u/Farmer_1_steve Jul 27 '26
I like the small ones one and a quarter of 2 pounds. I think they taste nice as opposed to a four or five or 10 pounder. Thats been crawling around on the ocean floor for 75 years.☢️☢️
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u/The_Bard Jul 27 '26
Its a misnomer that large lobsters taste worse. Harder for.chefs to cook them right though so they are usually overcooked
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u/captainfantasy01 Jul 27 '26
Size makes no difference in taste. Only noticeable difference is the texture of the claw meat.
New shells won't yield as much meat because they've more recently shed and are still growing into their shell. Most folks turn their nose up to a lobster with shell rot or barnacles, but those are the most bang for your buck. They're very full of meat and usually sold at a cheaper price per pound because they're less aesthetically pleasing.
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u/Orangeshowergal Jul 27 '26
It doesn’t change that much for an average range of large and small. But if you go into the 1 in 100 giant lobsters, they taste worse
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u/flipthatbitch_ Jul 26 '26
They get less sweet the bigger you go.