How to Cook Lobster Claws? How Long Does It Take?

The claw meat is one of the best parts of a lobster. But to truly enjoy it, it is important to cook them not too long or too short. How to cook lobster claws? How long to cook lobster claws?

Below is the estimated time to cook a one-pound lobster claw (still in the shell) using different cooking methods. Add 3 minutes for every extra pound you cook.

1. Boiled: 13 minutes
2. Grilled: 20 minutes
3. Steamed: 10 minutes
4. Baked: 13 minutes
5. Fried: 10 minutes

The most common way to cook lobster claws is by boiling them. The simplest boiled lobster claw recipe is as follows:

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil.
2. Season the water with salt & pepper.
3. Add the cleaned lobster claws to the pot.
4. When the water starts boiling again, set a timer for 13 minutes.
5. When the timer goes off, remove the claws and serve.

So it takes about 13 minutes to boil one pound of lobster claws. For each additional pound, add three minutes of boiling time.

Read on to learn more about how to cook lobster claws including how long it takes to cook them.

How to Cook Lobster Claws? How Long Does It Take?

Boiling lobster claws is the most popular cooking method, but there are other ways that can be just as good. If you are wondering how to cook frozen lobster claws, the same steps below apply – just thaw the claw out fully before cooking them.

The average time to cook a lobster claw varies a little bit for each of the methods below.

1. How to Boil Lobster Claws

Boiling is considered the most common and easiest method to cook lobster claws. You don’t need other cooking utensils except for a large pot containing your lobster claws.

It takes about 13 minutes to boil one pound of lobster claw; extend three minutes for each added pound. 

How to boil lobster claws? Follow the easy steps below:

1. If you have a frozen lobster claw, you have to thaw it thoroughly before boiling. You can do this by taking it out from the freezer and allowing it to stay at lower temperatures in the fridge. You could also take it out and put it under running water for 30 minutes or more until it is ready.
2. Fill in a deep pot with enough water to submerge the whole claw. 
3. You could add some seasoning to the water, such as salt, pepper, paprika, and minced garlic.
4. Bring the water to a full boil. 
5. Wash the lobster claw thoroughly and drop it in and cover.
6. When the water starts boiling again, start timing it for 13 minutes. 
7. When cooked, transfer the lobster claw to an appropriate container, drain and cool.
8. Serve with your favorite side dish. 

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2. How to Grill Lobster Claws

Grilling is another healthy way to cook your lobster claws. With the right and stable temperature, the claw meat will retain its natural, pure flavor.

It takes about 20 minutes to grill one pound of lobster claw; extend three minutes for each added pound.

How to grill lobster claws? Follow the easy steps below:

1. If frozen, allow the lobster claw to thaw thoroughly.
2. Wash it thoroughly.
3. Rub some salt and splash some lemon.
4. While preparing your lobster claw, you can start heating the grill. 
5. With a foil, wrap the lobster claw carefully. Wrap it twice to ensure it doesn’t spill. 
6. After you have pre-warmed the grill, place the wrapped lobster claw at the upper tier.
7. Close the grill. Then, set the timer for 20 minutes.
8. Add three minutes for every additional pound of a lobster claw. 
9. Remove from grill using safety measures. Allow cooling before cracking.

3. How to Steam Lobster Claws

Steaming the lobster claw brings out its natural flavor and allows proper cooking without worrying about burning it. It’s also a lower-fat cooking method because you don’t need to add oil.

It takes about 10 minutes to steam one pound of lobster claw; extend three minutes for each added pound. 

How to steam lobster claws? Follow the easy steps below:

1. If frozen, allow the lobster to thaw fully.
2. Wash it thoroughly.
3. Sprinkle some salt and spices you want to add. You can glaze it with lemon juice too.
4. Place in appropriate streamer and cover.
5. Heat the steamer using medium fire.
6. Steam for 8 to 10 minutes. You can steam it longer if you want.
7. For each additional pound of lobster claw, add three more minutes of cooking time.
8. When cooked, place in an appropriate container and allow cooling before eating.

4. How to Bake Lobster Claws

Using the oven is convenient because you can set the temperature and leave it without constantly checking it. 

It takes about 13 minutes to bake one pound of lobster claw; extend three minutes for each added pound.

How to bake lobster claws? Follow the easy steps below:

1. Preheat the oven to 360 °F.
2. If frozen, thaw the lobster claw and wash it thoroughly.
3. Place the lobster claw on an oven-safe container lined with foil. You can sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder on the claw. 
4. Put the lobster claw in the oven and set the timer for 13 minutes. Add three minutes more for each pound.
5. When cooked, remove from oven and allow cooling.
6. Serve with soy sauce and lemon dipping, or with any potato salad, coleslaw, fresh salad, pasta salad, or steamed clams. 

5. How to Fry Lobster Claws

Yes, you can fry your lobster, if you have a suitable large skillet. Here’s one recipe on deep frying your lobster claws.

Prepare the lobster claw for frying by glazing it with lemon juice and rubbing some salt, onion, and garlic powder. The flavor will naturally seep in if you allow it to sit for 30 minutes.

It takes about 10 minutes to fry one pound of lobster claw; extend three minutes for each added pound.

How to fry lobster claws? Follow the easy steps below:

1. Preheat a large deep skillet up to 360 °F.
2. Add enough vegetable oil and heat for another 5 to 10 minutes. 
3. Put the lobster claw in and fry using medium fire. Ensure that you have immersed the whole claw in the cooking oil.
4. Turn it over after five to seven minutes. Cover, and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes.
5. When the lobster claw turns golden brown, that means you can turn off the fire.
6. Using tongs, draw out the lobster and place it in a container lined with paper towel or foil. 
7. Allow to cool and serve with potato chips, rice, mashed potato, or your favorite side dish. 

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Factors That Affect How Long It Takes to Cook Lobster Claws

1. Size of the Lobster Claw

The bigger the size, the longer it will take you to cook the lobster claw. Each pound of the lobster claw is ready for around 10 minutes. 

2. Temperature

The right temperature is crucial in cooking. You can cook it at high temperatures, but ascertain that you turn off the temperature as soon as they changed color to prevent burning the lobster claw.

3. Method of Cooking

Your method of cooking would affect too the length of the cooking time. Deep frying seems to be the shortest way to cook lobster claws. This result may be because the hot cooking oil can penetrate the claw making it quicker to cook.

4. Weather

It can be slower during cold weather to cook your lobster claws because cold temperatures can deter heat. You would have to increase the temperature of your cooking pot or pan.

5. Humidity

Higher humidity prevents evaporation of water from the food and thus may lengthen cooking. This event can happen if the oven’s humidity is too high. In some instances, it can also speed up cooking if the oven temperature is high enough to defeat humidity.

To further learn how to cook lobster claws and to learn how long it takes to cook lobster claws, see the recipes below.

Lobster Claw Recipes

Here are two easy and quick recipes you can use for cooking lobster claws at home. Also, if you are wondering where to find one-pound lobster claws, Costco is a great source. I have found most of my lobster claws, including giant one-pound lobster claws, from Costco.

1. Deep-fried Lobster Claw

Ingredients

• One cup all-purpose flour
• Three pounds lobster claw (washed and halved)
• Paprika about 1/2 tsp
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• Ground cayenne powder, 1/2 tsp
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 cups of vegetable oil

Steps

1. Wash the lobster claw thoroughly and cut each in half. Don’t remove the shell. Tip: Wash first before you cut.
2. In a plastic bag, put all the ingredients except the vegetable oil and shake well.
3. Heat a deep skillet or fryer to 360 °F.
4. Pour in the vegetable oil.
5. Heat the oil for 5 to 10 minutes. While waiting, place one piece of the lobster claw inside the plastic bag and shake it with the ingredients until it is coated well.
6. Drop it in the skillet, and shake all the other pieces inside the bag.
7. Place just enough lobster claw pieces in the skillet. Do not overcrowd.
8. Turn over the piece once it has turned light brown, and cook the other side.
9. Do this step with all the other pieces.
10. Draw out the cooked pieces and drain them on a plate using paper towels.
11. Serve with a side dish. This dish is good for about three to four people.

2. Lobster Claw Cakes

Ingredients

• Three pounds lobster claw (washed, and then halved with the meat scrape off)
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon rosemary, minced
• One teaspoon parsley, chopped
• ½ teaspoon thyme, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ½ cup melted butter

Steps

1. Mix all ingredients in a big bowl, except the melted butter.
2. Place one tablespoon each in oven-safe small containers lined with melted butter,
3. Preheat the oven to 375 °F.
4. Place the containers at the middle rack.
5. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes. 
6. When cooked, allow cooling for a few minutes before serving. 
7. You could also broil this preparation if you want.
8. If you prefer broiling it, you can top it with melted butter afterward before serving.

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Tips for Cooking Lobster Claws

1. When buying your lobster claws, ensure that the seller is legitimate and has not added sodium tripolyphosphate or trisodium phosphate. These substances are harmless when taken in small amounts, but they could impair your kidneys’ function when ingesting them in excess. So, beware of preserved lobster claws using large quantities of this substance. If you are uncertain of the seller, don’t buy it. Buy from reputable stores.

2. Use tongs or protective gear when drawing out the lobster claw after cooking. The shell would be hotter than you expect. 

3. The lobster claw is good for your health, as it’s a rich source of phosphorous, magnesium, and other essential minerals and nutrients that your body needs.

4. You can add veggies to the water used to boil your lobster claw and turn it into vegetable soup. That’s why you have to wash the lobster claws well to remove dirt and foreign substances.

5. Fully thaw the lobster claw and wash thoroughly before cooking. You can cook the unthawed lobster directly, but the abrupt change in temperature could toughen the meat. 

6. Boiling, steaming, broiling and grilling are healthy ways to cook your lobster claws as you don’t need to add oil. Non-vegetable oils are unhealthy and increase your risk of cardiovascular disorders. Take note that butter is also fat. 

7. Lobster claws can go well with fresh salad, potato salad, pasta salad, corn, rice, steamed mussels, steamed clams, clam chowder, mashed potatoes, spaghetti, and toasted bread.

8. Drain and cool the lobster claw before cracking. Use a lobster or nut-cracker to facilitate the process.

9. Don’t overcrowd your cooking pot. If you have more than one lobster claw, you can use a bigger pot to adequately accommodate all the claws, or cook the claws one by one.

Conclusion – How to Cook Lobster Claws? How Long to Cook Lobster Claws?

See below for how long to cook a one-pound lobster claw (still in the shell). Add 3 minutes for every extra pound you cook.

1. Boiled: 13 minutes
2. Grilled: 20 minutes
3. Steamed: 10 minutes
4. Baked: 13 minutes
5. Fried: 10 minutes

The most common way to cook lobster claws is by boiling them. The simplest boiled lobster claw recipe is as follows:

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil.
2. Season the water with salt & pepper.
3. Add the cleaned lobster claws to the pot.
4. When the water starts boiling again, set a timer for 13 minutes.
5. When the timer goes off, pull the claws and serve.

If you are wondering how to cook frozen lobster claws, the same steps apply – just remember to fully thaw out the lobster claw before cooking it.

The most popular way to cook lobster claws is by boiling them. How long to boil lobster claws? It will take you around 10 to 13 minutes on average to boil one pound of a lobster claw. For each additional pound, you have to add three more minutes of cooking time.

The lobster claw’s meat is soft and tender and easy to cook. What makes the cooking time longer is the hard shell protecting the meat. Once heated, the shell will help cook the meat quicker. Any of the above cooking methods are easy to follow and don’t take too long.

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