Okay, about these lobsters.

[hippywife]

I placed the order today. They will be arriving tomorrow at work (I'm off, a decision I made after I placed the order) but will go in and pick them up when they arrive.

From what I'm reading, they really do need to be killed and cooked ASAP as I do not have a saltwater tank to keep them alive until Friday afternoon when we are planning to have Bill's mom and sister for dinner.

So, unless someone has a better idea, it sounds like we will have to kill them tomorrow and pick all the meat out and chill it until we're ready to use it.

Does this sound correct?

[Stinky The Clown]

1. We used to keep them in the walk-in for three or four days, buried in seaweed

Do you know how fresh they'll be when you get them? I'd say another day in your refrig won't hurt them.

[hippywife]

2. I have no idea how fresh they will be.

I was going by what it said on their website:

http://lobsters-online.com/docs/lobsterinfo.htm

Lobsters must be cooked soon after they are purchased. They will die in fresh water, so they must either be kept in seawater, wrapped in a wet cloth or seaweed and stored for no more than a few hours on a bed of ice in the refrigerator. All lobsters must either be cooked live or killed immediately prior to cooking. They may be cleaned before or after cooking, depending on the cooking method and the way in which they are to be used.

from THE FOOD LOVER'S COMPANION, 2nd edition, by Sharon Tyler Herbst, Barron's Educational Services, Inc.


I had to have the order in by 2 p.m. eastern time today and when I tried to call an hour before that, I had a devil of a time getting through. They lines were busy, busy, busy! I'm hoping that is a really good sign.

[pengillian101]

4. The Lobster Guy has this on their site:

We catch our lobsters and keep them in our specially designed refrigerated tanks (this allows the lobsters to remain in their natural cool habitat). Every lobster you order from www.TheLobsterGuy.com will be shipped "ice cold" in styrofoam containers with icy cold gel packs. If you decide not to cook your lobsters upon arrival, they will be fine stored in your refrigerator overnight...BE SURE TO KEEP THEM COLD AND DRY and DO NOT IMMERSE THE LOBSTERS IN ANY KIND OF WATER! REMEMBER,COLD AND DRY!

http://www.thelobsterguy.com/aboutlobsters.html

Hope that helps. They will be like dormant from the cold shipment and have rubber bands on their claws.

Enoy! y-u-m.

:hi:

[hippywife]

5. Thanx, gilli.

I imagine it'll be about the same set up. :hi:

[hippywife]

3. The website also says:

Quality and Freshness
All our lobsters are right off the boat, on to the dock and into our giant, new facilities. Since we sell direct, no other online service can match Lobsters-Online for freshness, quality and price. Because we ship with FedEx, you can order online and enjoy beautiful, select grade lobster the very next day.

It doesn't say how long they stay in the facility before shipping so :shrug:

[Tesha]

6. They keep them in huge tanks...

... in very close to natural living conditions.


Cold sea water is filtered and kept moving through the tanks - it's optimum - it'd be foolish of them to do less, right?
It's their business to keep them as perfect as possible.

You order - they pack - they ship - you receive - and enjoy!

What will it be then? Oh, and don't forget to save the shells for bisque!

[hippywife]

7. That's really good to know.

I never would have done this, and I kinda wish he hadn't sent the gift certificate. But it was an incredibly nice gesture on his part. :hi:

[elleng]

8. Baked stuffed, please!

:toast:

[tigereye]

15. my parents always kept them in a styrofoam container on ice

you can tell how fresh they are by how long their antennas are, if they were kept in a crowded tank they apparently tend to bite each other's antenna off, unfortunately.


My dad is from New England and he loves having them for special occasions. Happy eating!

[hippywife]

21. Hey, tiger!

All their antennae are nice and long. They were pretty active. Scared the daylights outta the kitties! :rofl:

:hi:

[tigereye]

35. hope you enjoy and Happy New Year, HW!

:hi:

[Tesha]

68. They'd be scarier if you took off the rubber bands! ;-)

Important disclaimer: Do not actually try this at home
unless you're thoroughly familiar with and welcome that
sort of pain. Perhaps if you keep parrots?

Tesha

[hippywife]

69. Well, I did remove the bands but

I clipped them with scissors while Bill held them. We were standing in front of the stove and right into the pot they went from there. LOL

[Warpy]

9. You can keep them in a paper bag in the fridge for a day or two

Keeping them cold is key. You don't want to keep them wet.

They'll be alive but very unhappy on Friday. The pot of boiling water will come as a relief.

[katkat]

10. Somehow I doubt that n/t

[Tab]

13. True and not true

Not sure what you're saying which you doubt...

- Can stay in the fridge for a day or two: TRUE
- Boiling water will come as a relief: Probably FALSE

[hippywife]

16. She's saying

the latter. katkat is a vegetarian.

[babylonsister]

73. Agreed. My mom used to do this; one day one wound up in the pea

soup (don't ask). But they stayed alive and kicking until the inevitable.

[hippywife]

11. The lobster have landed!

Fedx just arrived with the lobstahs.

The box says they came from this place: http://www.thelobstertrap.com/

The Fedx driver was very funny. He walked up to the house wearing shorts for one thing and it's freezing cold out with ice and snow on the ground.

He said: "Ma'am, has our company contacted you?"
Me: "No, why?"
Him: "Well we've recently become concerned for the safety of our customers and...
Me: "You want to test those out for me, don't you?"

He was pretty funny, and what a hunka! Oh, to be young again! Whew! He hung around and we talked for a few about the lobster. He asked what time he should be here for dinner.

The box is sitting on the table and I can hear them moving around in there. The driver told me he had heard them when he was enroute, too.

I guess I'm going to unpack the box and make sure they're all alive and okay, and then store them outside in Bill's workshop where it's unheated and very cold since I don't have room for all of this in my fridge.

ETA: Can't wait til the cats see them! :rofl:

[Phentex]

12. Do they know they're on death row?

This has the making for a Twilight Zone tale. The lobsters escape and you and Bill awaken to find yourselves in a pot of boiling water... }(

I love lobster! Can't wait to hear how this all pans out.

Enjoy!

[hippywife]

14. I'm waiting for Bill to

get back in the house. He's out taking care of the chickens. Then we'll open it. The cats have been roaming around the box and sniffing it, only because it's a new item in the house, and not necessarily because of the sound.

You have a very active imagination. :rofl:

I can't wait to see how all this pans out, either. It's probably going to be akin to an I Love Lucy episode. :eyes:

[elleng]

37. A reminder!

In high school, got some. Mom and I decided to wait for my b/f to 'murder' them! (He's a Presby minister now!)

[pengillian101]

17. What a little stinker you are!

"He was pretty funny, and what a hunka! Oh, to be young again! Whew! He hung around and we talked for a few about the lobster. He asked what time he should be here for dinner."

Our UPS guy is also funny and he ain't so bad looking either ;-)

[hippywife]

20. Oh, heck honey!

He was sooooo cute. If I didn't love Bill so much, I'd have invited him to eat lobster with me tonight. He was tall, had like a swimmers or volleyball players build, dark hair and mustache, part Native American. And did I mention he was wearing shorts????? :rofl:

I told Bill he asked what time he should be here for dinner and told him I should have invited him...for his sister. LOL He said we didn't have enough lobster. :rofl:

[pengillian101]

24. Oh, you are almost naughty!

"I told Bill he asked what time he should be here for dinner and told him I should have invited him...for his sister. LOL He said we didn't have enough lobster. :rofl:


I take it he doesn't read around C&B, eh? :rofl: x2

My UPS guy shows up only when the regular UPS gal is off, so it's a hit and a miss if he shows up. But he's a cutie alright, and not too young, :-).

FedEx rarely delivers around here in northern MN. They drop off shipments to the regular Post Office, but seldom do door-to-door - now how weird is that?

[hippywife]

25. As far as I know he doesn't read around here. LOL

But he is a member, so who knows? :shrug: :rofl:

I'm telling you, this guy had legs clear up to his ass! Whoa!

I'm just in a silly mood tonight. Don't take me seriously on this at all. ;)

[pengillian101]

32. Me too --- silly today.

"this guy had legs clear up to his ass!"

That really had me laughing myself silly. :silly:



You do have a little naughty streak, don't ya, and who ever complains about that?

[hippywife]

33. Oh you should have known me back in the day.

I used to go see Steppenwolf every time they came to town just so I could watch John Kay in person. Another one with legs clear up to his ass.

It's okay to have a little naughty streak. Life would be boring if we didn't. :P

Time for me to head off to bed with my book. Have a good evening. :hi: :hug:

[tigereye]

43. to quote a cliche, "just cuz you're in a diet, doesn't mean you can't look at

the menu!"


That's how I feel when I watch Torchwood and see John Barrowman. (fans self, whew) :rofl:

[Arkansas Granny]

39. I wouldn't worry about young or not too young. It's surprising how your

perception of "young" changes as you grow older. To tell the truth, 50 is looking younger every day to me.

[hippywife]

40. Since I'm now

51 it's looking younger to me all the time, too. :rofl:

Happy New Year, Granny. :hug: :hi:

[Arkansas Granny]

41. Happy New Year to you too.

Enjoy those lobsters. :hi:

[pengillian101]

22. PS --- from your source just in case you missed it. It was rather hidden.

Storing live Lobster

Refrigerate in open bag or box
Original plastic bag is okay.
DO NOT PUT IN WATER - as they will die almost instantly!

Cooking Instructions

Live Lobster
Place lobster into boiling salted (optional) water.
Cover; Boil 10-15 minutes for 1st pound and 1 minute for each additional 1/4 lb. The shell will appear bright red when done.
Options: Add peppercorns or lemon wedges to boiling water.

How to eat a Lobster

Prof. Honer S Amercanus

1. Twist off claws
2. Clack each claw
3. Seperate tail from body
4. Break off tail flippers
5. Push tail meat out with fork
6. Break off small claws and suck out meat as you would with a straw
7. In a lobster over 1.5 lbs. can be found in the raggged body






http://www.thelobstertrap.com/cookinginst.asp

[hippywife]

23. I'm pretty sure they'll be fine but

I really don't know if I can try the tomalley. Remember, I don't drink anymore. There was a time I would have tried it after a couple or three glasses of vino.

[katkat]

38. directions

Re: "DO NOT PUT IN WATER - as they will die almost instantly!"

Why is that? Do they mean boiling water? Fresh vs.salt water? (In my fantasies I was snipping off the elastics and releasing them into the cove after I'd made sure it was a good environment for them. It would be a downer if they died instantly after being put in the cove water.)

[tigereye]

44. no, they are saltwater creatures, would die in freshwater

[Warpy]

46. Even releasing them into shallow water is iffy

since there's so much there that eats them. Renting a boat and releasing them into deep water is better, but likely they've been weakened so much by cold storage out of water that their life expectancy isn't much.

[katkat]

55. okay, I've revised my fantasy

After removing the elastics, I take the container out to the end of the breakwater and let them go. This is salt water and that's pretty deep.

[tigereye]

42. he probably doesn't get to deliver live critters than often!

again, I always think of the scene in Annie Hall. Hilarious.

[hippywife]

66. I'm not familiar with that scene.

I don't think I ever saw that movie. Can you explain it to me? :hi:

[tigereye]

74. oh, it's a great movie, you should see it - let's just say Diane Keaton and

Woody are on one of their early dates involving cooking, and this illustrates their sympatico. I don't want to explain it, since the fun of it is seeing it.


You might be able to see the scene on Youtube, but I'd recommend seeing the whole movie, it's hilarious and sweet.

[NashVegas]

18. Oh You Lucky Thang

We used to just get them wrapped in newspapers and stash them in the fridge till we were ready.

[hippywife]

19. We just opened up

the styrofoam and made sure they were all alive and in good shape, scared the kitties with them, and then put them back in and put it out in Bill's woodworking shop outside. It's really cold here and the low tonight is expected to be 18. So they won't get toooo cold but they will be dry and cool all night. We're gonna eat them at about 2 p.m. tomorrow.

:hi:

[pengillian101]

26. Too cold maybe?

"It's really cold here and the low tonight is expected to be 18. So they won't get toooo cold but they will be dry and cool all night"

Well stuff freezes at 32 degrees, so outdoors is probably too cold and the cooler - will that insulate it enough so it doesn't freeze? I wonder, but I don't know.

Can you put the cooler inside the front door or something? It would be a damn shame if they froze to death.

UufdaMinnesota : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5QLtPLBAWk

[hippywife]

27. It's not outside.

The styrofoam box has a few small ice packs in it and is inside a cardboard box, which is inside an unheated building. I'm thinking the boxes will protect them against the extreme exterior temps while maintaining the interior temp. Does that sound reasonable?

[pengillian101]

28. Honestly I don't know. I worry too much. I'd call and ask - here's their number.

The Lobster Trap | Live, Fresh, Maine Lobsters and Seafood Shipped to You!

Phone: [phone] | Fax: [phone]



Copyright 2002 © by The Lobster Trap. Website Development and Website Hosting by LogicalSolutions.net. Please read our Privacy Policy.

[hippywife]

29. Honestly, I think you worry more than I do. LOL

I really think they'll be okay, gilli.

Just so you'll feel better, Bill's going out to get them and put them in the back bedroom. It's very cool in there and we have the heat vent closed.

ETA: They're still moving around quite a lot.

[pengillian101]

30. OK - it's good then! Thanks and I will sleep tonight!

:silly:

[hippywife]

31. You're just a silly little nutcase. LOL

But I'm glad you'll sleep well tonight. :)

[pengillian101]

34. "You're just a silly little nutcase."

I know. :blush:

[Warpy]

36. Yes, your garage might get down to freezing but it won't go below it

These lobsters likely spent their lives in deep waters off the coast of Maine, where summer water temperatures are in the 40s. They'll be happy even if the temperature goes a bit below freezing. Remember, they're not pure water and they need to get really cold to freeze solid.

On cooking: when they hit the water, they will snap their tails, either to get away through the water (lobsters are not smart and won't realize the confines of the pot until it's too late) or as a reflex as their brains are nearly instantaneously cooked. You might hear a whistling noise. That's the air trapped under the shells coming out. Lobsters do not have vocal cords and don't scream. They also don't have structures in their brains to interpret pain, although they will try to flee noxious stimuli.

I'm almost envious, but I ran into the prawn and king crab sale at Costco yesterday. My salmon will be crabmeat stuffed and the side will be peas.

[tigereye]

45. mmm, stuffed salmon, wish I had thought of that when I was shopping

earlier this week - we had salmon on Wednesday night.


I suppose I can just make kotopita tonight, or spanakopita.

[Warpy]

47. Mmmm, spanakopita

I should get some phyllo and do spanakopita "pillows," they freeze well and two or three bites makes for a nice lunch with a salad.

Gawd, it's been years.

[tigereye]

48. I had always avoided it until I realized how easy it was, once you get the

phyllo - brushing part down.


I love it, can't get enough.

[hippywife]

49. Lobstah dinner.

Bill was taking pics before I had everything on the table, but he did the lobster and the clams while I made the sides.

[Stinky The Clown]

50. ::::droooool::::::

I actually like clams even more than I like lobstah ...... and I *L*O*V*E* lobstah.

[hippywife]

51. You know

the clams were very gritty. No one ate much of them, I ate about a half dozen. The lobster was very filling. I'm going to make chowder with them tomorrow.

Had a nice pink grapefruit granita for dessert to clear all the butter.

How's your day been? :hi:

[Tesha]

52. if I'd known you were having the clams...

I would have given you some advice... they're always gritty until you "dip" them.

"Take a clam from the bucket, open it completely, and lift out the meat with your fingers. The "neck" is black and covered with a disgusting wrinkled black membrane. Shuck the membrane off by holding the clam in one hand and slipping the membrane with the other (you pick up the knack for this by about the fifth clam).

Holding the clam by its black "neck," dip it several times in the clam broth. The "broth" is strictly for dipping, by the way, not for sipping. The dipping washes sand off the clam and imparts the tang of the sea.

Dip the clam in the melted butter and pop the whole thing in your mouth."


but they'll make great chowder - just rinse them well in the broth!

[hippywife]

53. I hate to tell you this

but Bill dumped the clams into the colander broth and all. We're such noobs to this we didn't think about saving it. I really should have thought of it, but so much was going on at the time.

[hippywife]

57. The instructions we got with it

said to dip in broth or butter. It said nothing at all about rinsing it in the broth then in the butter and nothing at all about using the broth to clear any grit. It mentioned nothing about grit at all. Not ever having lived by the ocean, we had no idea what to expect from them at all.

Any suggestions on what to do with the clams now? I was going to go ahead and rinse them of the grit and make a chowder, but with the broth gone can't do that. Maybe lightly saute them in some butter and garlic? I dunno. :shrug:

[Tesha]

64. rinse them well under water

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/304607

oh, there are lots of links to ideas!


I keep some better than bullion in the fridge - lobster flavor. If I was next door I'd bring it over!

[hippywife]

65. Thank you. That's such a sweet offer.

Your help is always appreciated.

I think I've pretty much decided to rinse them well, saute them with shallots and garlic, and serve over pasta. Sort of like a scampi just with clams.

Does that sound reasonable to you?

[Tesha]

70. Sure, just be sure not to overcook them 'cause like so many shellfish (etc.), they'll...

toughen up if over-cooked.

Tesha

[hippywife]

71. That's what I figured.

Was planning on just melting the butter and throwing in the shallots and garlic to heat, and then the clams just to warm them very quickly.

Thanx, Tesh! :hug:

[Stinky The Clown]

67. Make your chowder with chicken stock.

It will work. Unless you can find some canned clams or clam juice at the grocery store. You could even use Clamato and make sort of Manhattan chowder.

[hippywife]

72. I considered that, too.

I have turkey stock in the freezer. Still, more of a scampi style dish over pasta sounds appealing. With the cold weather we're having, a nice pot of NE chowder would have been very desirable had things been different.

Happy New Year to you and Sparkly! :hi:

[NashVegas]

56. Those Are Boston Steamers!

You need to have a cup of hot water to rinse them in on the way to the butter.

We get steamers down here about once every five years, it seems. I miss them.

[hippywife]

58. Hi, Nash.

As I just responded to Tesha, there were instructions for cooking and eating them but the instructions didn't include what you just said. Even the friend who sent them apologized for not telling us that. It was our first experience with them, so it just didn't go very well.

[NashVegas]

59. Sorry

There are some foods that you probably need to have the friend who turns you on, demonstrates how to eat. I guess steamers are one.

Maybe you can find something else to do with them, like make a fish sauce and store it.

[hippywife]

60. You're definitely right about that.

I do think I should contact the company and let them know that their instructions were very unclear so no one else experiencing this for the first time has the same problem.

Maybe next time you can drive over and join us. :hi:

[NashVegas]

62. It'd Be Nice

Maybe to include a video link. I'd never have known to peel the neck out of the muscle tissue if I hadn't been shown.

And I'll be right there.

[hippywife]

63. I was able to figure that out

but others were having problems with it. Come on out and help me do something with the rest of them. :D

[Phentex]

54. It looks fabulous!

Sorry 'bout the clams. But, wow, what a feast.

I love to have a bowl of olives like that. :)

[hippywife]

61. Thanx, Phentex.

The lobsters were good, as were the sides. Those olives were just canned ones I threw on the table when I put out the smoked salmon spread for Bill, his mom, and sister to snack on while the lobsters and clams were boiling. Since it was a late lunch/early dinner thing I knew everyone would be hungry.

:hi:

[pengillian101]

75. Looks wonderful!

Did you have any leftover lobster and if so, whatcha making?

We had leftover crab so I made crab cakes with a new recipe - should have stuck to my regular one. They were just okay.

[hippywife]

76. Leftover lobster?

What's that? :rofl:

[CTyankee]

77. Just call up Legal Seafoods and ask them! They have the BEST lobsters by far!

We plan our shipments strategically for exactly when we will be cooking them. They come in styrofoam containers, chilled, and we steam them live ASAP which is usually within a few hours.

It only takes a little planning...New Englanders are used to this but some people think you can shop for a week and keep stuff that long...not so with fresh lobsters. Make the adjustment.