How to prepare a cooked lobster

Barney from the BBC Good Food team gives expert advice on how to get all the meat from the shell of a cooked lobster.

The king of the crustaceans, lobster is a delicacy that commands a very high price, with white, firm meat that is sweet and succulent.
Before it is cooked, lobster shell has a very dark colour, with tints that range from blue/green to red/purple - it gains its distinctive deep red brick colour only when it's cooked.

You'll need a large bowl for the shells, a lobster pick or skewer, kitchen scissors, something heavy like a rolling pin or handle of a large knife, plus lots of kitchen paper.

Don't throw away the shells as they can be used to make delicious stock! They also freeze really well so you don't have to use them straight away.

[BobBobOnYouTube]

Finally someone mentions removing the digestive tract. I’ve watched several videos like this and you’re the first to say to remove it. This video should be first in the search results!

[Chuck-kgfe]

...the rolling pin trick to remove the meat from the small legs is an absolutely brilliant idea!

[wendymaddock]

Amalthea way you prepared the lobster especially the little legs with a rolling pen thought that was amazing thankyou

[morrit]

I was always taught that lobster shells retain so much flavour they can be boiled several times for stock, found this to be very true!

[maribellenahan]

Gracias John so well explained my first time preparing a cooked lobster 😊

[sylviafrue]

This is the best video I have seen how to prepare a cook lobster, Thanks Barney.

[peteradamson]

Excellent. prepared a lobster before and this video made it easy - it all went exactly as on the video. First class help without the frills. Thanks

[macalauresmuse]

Have just prepared lobsters after watching this video - nice clear instructions and it was very easy to do. Thanks :)

[patriciadonnelly]

very clear instructions - thank you so much

[grahamlack]

Thank you for posting this clear demonstration.

[cyndygray]

We used your video this evening to prepare our lobster! Thank you very much!

[tituscrow]

I’m going for it this Xmas but I feared the de shelling stuff. I feel better now. Thanks 👊🏻

[PaulandAnthonyShow]

As a pro you make it look so easy....Thank you indeed for this presentation - John

[PeterWTaylor]

Take care with your hands. Broken lobster shell can be sharp as a knife so don't grab it by the edges.

[jimcool]

Never ever prepared until today well done with that video spot on

[AskWhyNotNotWhy]

If it's frozen pre-cooked lobster that you've defrosted, is it ok to refreeze the shells for a broth? and if so, for how long?

[tiffanybrown]

Will the meat come out as easy if the cooked lobster has been refrigerated? Should I warm it first?

[donnagambrell]

Thank You So Much For Sharing This Video!! I Truly Appreciate The Mentioning Of Removing That Vein With-In The Tail!! I Honestly Never Knew About That Regarding A Lobster; However, I Do Know About The Vein With-In Shrimps; As I'm Accustom To Cleaning Them. I've Watched Many Videos On How To Cook/Clean/Separate A Lobster, However, Your Video Was The First I've Watched That Mentioned That Vein That's There!! And Just To Think, Millions Of People Have Eaten It, Because They Did Not Know It Was There Either; And I'm Sure I Was One, LOL!! Again, I Know!! Excellent Demo/Information!! No More Eating The Poop Of A Lobster!! Two Huge Thumbs Way Up!!

[barmanfreeman-lbdp]

After 8 minutes to 10 minutes of Hot water Bath, you pulled off the Legs and claws . Got it

[zexyclix]

Just so you know I liked the video but you are better than Gordon Ramsay’s lobster doings