Can You Eat Raw Lobster?

When it comes to eating food, there are two usual ways you can eat it. Either you cook it and then eat it, or you just eat it raw.

However, not all foods are created equal, meaning not all of them can be eaten raw. It does depend on the food.

One kind of food people might eat raw or cooked is lobster. In this article, we will discuss whether it’s possible to eat raw lobster and what benefits and risks can come about when eating it raw.

By the end, you will be very informed! We promise you that.

Is It Possible To Eat Raw Lobster?

We will get straight to the point. It’s not recommended that you eat lobster raw because of bacteria as well as other issues like food poisoning, which we will touch on later.

The same goes for eating undercooked lobster. It just shouldn’t be done under any circumstances.

According to the USDA, the best way to eat lobster is to cook it and have its internal temperature reach a total of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. This can easily be figured out by using a meat thermometer.

Cooking lobster is pretty easy to do, but we will touch on this later. The first thing we want to address is the general risks of eating raw lobster so we can prove to you the risks outweigh the benefits.

What Are the Risks of Eating Raw Lobster?

We have narrowed down about five big risks of eating raw lobster. These include:

• Food poisoning is one issue that can come with eating raw lobster. Most of the time, food poisoning is not something that can cause any serious issues. What you’ll end up having is cramps, vomiting/nausea, diarrhea, and other GI issues for a few days. After that period, they should pass.
• Lobsters can have bacteria, and if you eat them raw or undercooked, then that can pass on to you. Two specific bacteria found in lobsters are called Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus, and if you get these in your system, it can lead to vibriosis. Symptoms usually show up in 24 hours, and sometimes death can even happen as a result of getting this bacteria.
• Believe it or not, you can even get hepatitis by eating raw lobster! This can lead to you having liver damage and put your life at risk.
• Eating raw lobster can lead to you getting a parasite like roundworms or tapeworms. Common symptoms include diarrhea, stomach issues, constipation, bloating, and anemia.
• Finally, eating raw lobster could lead to you eating toxic algae. Symptoms usually show up around 24 hours later, and they include vomiting/diarrhea, headache/memory loss, and fever.

These are the biggest issues with eating raw lobster. The best way to prevent yourself from contracting any of these illnesses is to just cook your lobster to the correct temperature!

How to Safely Store Raw Lobster

Besides not eating raw or undercooked lobster, you can also safely store raw lobster so you can further make sure you don’t get sick. You can do this by:

• Assuming you have live lobster, it can be kept in the freezer if you feel like you can stomach it. It’s best to put them in an open container because they are alive and need to breathe. Don’t use anything sealed or closed because then they will suffocate to death.
• Lobsters should be stored in a fridge at around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep in mind that you can’t put live lobsters in the freezer because it’s just too cold for them.
• Another way to store lobsters, believe it or not, is by storing them in a tank. This can be an expensive method, so not everyone can do this. However, if you want to, then make sure that you do your research because it takes a lot of knowledge and work.

By following these methods, you’ll be able to safely store your raw lobster until you are ready to cook it.

Don’t wait too long because if you do, then the lobster is going to go bad, and you will have wasted all that money for nothing.

How To Cook Lobster

The best way to eat lobster is to cook it first, and don’t worry because we have narrowed down the best ways to cook your lobster. These methods include:

• First way to cook a lobster is to boil it. First, you boil some water after throwing about ¼ cup of salt into it. Once the water is boiling, put the lobster inside and make sure that the lobster is completely submerged in the water. The amount of time to boil depends on the size of the lobster. You’ll know the lobster is done once it is a bright red color.
• Lobster can be cooked on the grill. This is especially true for the tails and claws. Twist them off and then cut down the center of it. Use whatever seasoning you prefer to use. Heat the grill and then grill for 10 to 12 minutes. Once it’s done, add some butter.
• The final way to cook lobster is to steam it. All you have to do is fill a pot with 2 inches of water and some salt. Once the water boils, put the lobsters in claw down. Cover with a lid and steam them for 9 minutes or more, depending on the size of the lobster.

These are the best ways to cook lobsters. If cooking a live lobster bothers you, well, you can always just go out and order some lobster!

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, all your lobster lovers out there. Even though lobster is delicious, you can’t eat it raw due to all the risks that are involved. The best way to eat lobster is by cooking it first.

It can seem daunting to cook a lobster, but once you do it a few times, you’ll get used to it. In no time, you’ll be an expert at cooking lobster, which will let you enjoy this delicious seafood.

You might also be interested in the following:

• Can You Eat Raw Octopus?
• Can You Eat Raw Scallops?
• Can You Eat Raw Shrimp?
• Can You Eat Raw Crab?
• Can You Eat Raw Tuna?
• Can You Eat Raw Salmon?
• Can You Eat Raw Fish?

William Thomas

I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.