How To Kill A Lobster Without Feeling Bad About It - LobsterAnywhere

For many people, food is dead, processed, and packaged by the time it reaches them. We know that our chicken breasts came from a chicken or that a piece of cod was once swimming around somewhere. Live lobsters are a unique food in that they must be cooked or processed quickly soon after they are out of their cold seawater medium.

But the tradition of cooking lobsters alive disturbs people. The idea of plunging the creature into a boiling pot of water to meet a painful death can be a bit off-putting, but it might not be the whole story. Here’s how to kill a lobster without feeling bad about it.

Page Contents

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• The Best Way to Kill a Lobster
• Basics of Lobster Anatomy
• Do Lobsters Really Feel Pain?
  • Do Lobsters have a Brain?
• How to Kill a Lobster Humanely
  • Keep them Cold, Very Cold
  • Head First into Boiling Water
  • Blade Right Between the Eyes
  • Stun the Lobster
• How to Put a Lobster To Sleep and Other Unusual Approaches
  • Get Lobster High on Marijuana Before Killing It
• Conclusion: How to Quickly & Humainly Kill a Lobster
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • Are Lobsters Hard to Kill?
  • Is It Legal to Boil Lobsters Alive?
  • What Is the Most Inhumane Way to Kill a Lobster?
  • Should You Kill a Lobster Before Boiling It?

The Best Way to Kill a Lobster

There is no shortage of ideas about whether lobsters feel pain or not. Lobstermen refer to them as ‘bugs’ because they are much the same as insects, and we don’t worry about squashing them. The truth is it may be a long time before we really understand the lobster’s nervous system.

In the meantime, if you still want to cook lobster, use a humane and proven approach to quickly dispatch the lobster and enjoy your lobster dinner.

Basics of Lobster Anatomy

To better understand lobster anatomy, it is worth knowing that they are in the same group of species as insects, crabs, barnacles, and shrimp. Lobsters have a hard outer shell called an exoskeleton but don’t have an inner skeleton or bones like a mammal.

They also have blue blood due to the presence of copper in it. Another interesting fact is that their nervous system is simpler than that of an insect. Neither insects nor lobsters have a brain. And they have around 100,000 neurons – compare this to 100 billion in a human being.

Neurons are the basic building blocks of the brain and nervous system. They are used to do everything from responding to our environment to telling our muscles to work. The fewer neurons, the less aware and intelligent a species is.

Do Lobsters Really Feel Pain?

The big question, then, is this – do lobsters really feel pain? One of the reasons that people are so concerned with the common ways to kill lobsters for cooking is the idea that you are causing pain to the creature. But can it actually feel pain?

Boston biologist Joseph Ayers, who studies lobster neurobiology at Northeastern University, says crustaceans lack the neural anatomy to feel pain. We know their nervous system is like an insect’s, and we know they are very much less likely to feel pain than a mammal.

The Lobster Institute of Maine, for example, says that while a lobster might twitch its tail when placed in boiling water, it is a reaction to sudden stimulus (movement) rather than suddenly feeling pain from the hot water. As far as humanely killing a lobster, Ayers believes plunging a lobster headfirst into boiling water is the best method.

Do Lobsters have a Brain?

A lobster is not brainless but possesses segmented ganglia (nerve clusters) to control most of its overt behaviors. It does not have a true centralized brain, and it is not comparable to the brains of mammals—especially humans. Interestingly enough, there are a few animals that function without a brain.

The neuron count of a human is 100 billion; insects, for instance, have about 100,000. If you cut the head off some insects, the segmented ganglia can still function. The human brain can process information, have long-term memory, multi-task, and more. The Lobster Institute suggests that lobsters do not have complex brains that allow them to think and process pain.

A study from Norway in 2005 found that they couldn’t feel pain because they didn’t have anything to feel it with. Think about it – when you stub your toe, your brain tells you it hurts. You couldn’t process that signal if you didn’t have a brain.

Another thing lobsters don’t have are vocal chords – so the story about lobsters screaming when being cooked is an urban myth! In fact, the noise is more likely caused by air escaping from their bodies than anything.

That hasn’t stopped Switzerland, however, which has introduced a complete ban on cooking lobsters alive. To comply with the new laws, lobster sellers and chefs must either put the lobster to death or knock it out before cooking. Parts of Italy have a similar rule, backed by a fine of around 500 euros for anyone caught breaking it.

How to Kill a Lobster Humanely

Whether you think that a lack of brain means no pain or are a little more concerned that this might not be the whole story, there are ways to kill a lobster quickly and efficiently. In fact, there are several answers to the question of how to kill a lobster humanely.

Keep them Cold, Very Cold

Lobsters live and thrive in cold water. These sea creatures are poikilotherms, meaning they cannot regulate their body temperatures. So, they migrate to warmer, deeper offshore waters in the winter months. When lobsters are most active in the summer months, they migrate inshore and get stuck in traps searching for food. This is why summertime is often considered the peak lobster season.

Keep the cantankerous crustaceans very cold on ice or in the fridge to quiet them. For example, a lobster held at 48° F is fairly active. Yet at 40° F, its metabolism slows down and becomes considerably less active. Sluggish, inactive lobsters are easier and safer to handle. Therefore, keep lobsters in the coldest part of your refrigerator before cooking. To sedate or even dispatch a lobster, chill it in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.

Head First into Boiling Water

This is one of the most commonly used solutions on how to dispatch a live lobster. The key to this process is to have the water to boiling point before you begin. Hold the lobster around the middle to avoid those claws and put it head first into the water. It will die quickly. Boiling water is also the best way to cook the lobster, so you can leave it in there and carry on the cooking process. If you’re a newbie, keeping the elastic bands on the claws to protect yourself is a good idea.

See our guide for more tips on handling and storing live lobsters.

Blade Right Between the Eyes

The other common way to kill a live lobster is with a very sharp knife. This method instantly kills the creature with one swift cut before cooking. As mentioned above, storing the lobster in the freezer will keep it dormant, making it easier and safer to handle.

1. Place lobster on a flat surface or cutting board. Use a ribbed sheet pan to catch any liquid that spills out. Quickly plunge the tip of a sharp chef’s knife right below its eyes. You will see a cross or X.
2. Cut through the head and continue cutting through the tail to split the entire lobster. Alternatively, you can simply remove the tail. Don’t worry if the legs keep moving for a little while afterward; this is an involuntary reflex.
3. Remove the small sac at the base of the head and the digestive tract running along the center of the tail. Clean out the dark coral or roe, present only in female lobsters.
4. Clean out the tomalley (liver and pancreas), the light green, runny material present in the lobster head, and, in some cases, on the exposed flesh of the tail.

Stun the Lobster

One of the newer ways to kill a lobster humanely is with a specially designed device called a CrustaStun. The idea is simple – it uses a strong electrical charge that electrocutes the lobster and kills it in seconds. British lawyer Simon Buckhaven invented the crustacean zapper in 2006.

With a price tag of about $3000, it’s unlikely to make it on the shelves of Bed, Bad, and Beyond. A jolt of electricity is favored by some ethical treatment of animal groups who see it as a better option than boiling or the knife.

How to Put a Lobster To Sleep and Other Unusual Approaches

As with every dilemma, there are people who find somewhat novel approaches to the topic. One example is the idea of hypnotizing the lobster. That’s right – you stand the live lobster on its head and rub between the eyes up and down constantly.

This puts it in a ‘hypnotic state’ that will leave it standing on its head without you holding it. You can then take a knife and split it down the middle without it ever waking up. Or so we have been told.

Get Lobster High on Marijuana Before Killing It

The latest approach to the question of humanely killing a lobster is a theory that marijuana somehow lessens the lobster’s pain. A Maine restaurateur thinks so. She used pot smoke in an attempt to ‘medicate’ the lobster before it hit the hot water bath and floated to death in a gentle, drug-induced haze!

Can lobsters get high? For people, cannabis has been shown to relieve pain, but lobster is not people. The Maine state health department did not think it was a good idea to sell lobsters tainted with marijuana and put the kibosh on the ‘lobster pot dispensary’.

Conclusion: How to Quickly & Humainly Kill a Lobster

For seafood lovers who are conscientious about their food choices, it’s important to know how to kill a lobster properly without feeling remorse. The freezer method, which is outlined in this article, is a humane and effective way to ensure that the lobster meets a quick and painless death.

By using this approach, not only can ethical concerns be addressed, but the lobster’s flavor and texture can also be preserved, enhancing the overall dining experience. So, the next time you prepare lobster, remember to follow these steps to enjoy a delectable meal with a clear conscience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Lobsters Hard to Kill?

Lobsters have a strong exoskeleton and muscular tails, but they rely on a delicate balance of temperature regulation to survive. They also possess a complex nervous system that makes them sensitive to pain and discomfort. Considering this, it’s important to use humane methods when killing them.

Is It Legal to Boil Lobsters Alive?

Boiling lobsters alive is a controversial topic with varying laws and regulations by jurisdiction. Some countries like Switzerland and New Zealand explicitly ban boiling lobsters alive and require that they are humanely stunned or killed before cooking.

There may not be explicit laws in other regions like the United States and Canada, but general animal cruelty laws may apply. It is important to stay informed about local legislation regarding lobster welfare and make conscious choices accordingly to contribute to a more compassionate treatment of these creatures.

What Is the Most Inhumane Way to Kill a Lobster?

The most controversial methods of killing a lobster are freezing and boiling. Freezing is considered inhumane because lobsters can endure extreme temperatures, and boiling is criticized for causing immense suffering due to the intense heat.

Opinions vary on what is the most inhumane method, but minimizing suffering should guide our approach toward ending a lobster’s life humanely.

Should You Kill a Lobster Before Boiling It?

The topic of killing lobsters before boiling them raises questions about humane treatment and its potential impact on taste and texture. Some believe it’s more humane to quickly end their lives through methods such as stabbing or splitting their heads, while others argue against it, saying it may negatively affect the meat.