Lobster is a seafood delicacy that many people enjoy steamed, boiled, grilled, stuffed or baked. The lobsters from Maine in the United States are popular, with the coast of Maine providing a very good habitat for lobsters --- cold and clean sea water and abundant food from its rocky bottom. Crabs are related to lobsters, with some of the best blue crabs coming from Louisiana, North Carolina and Chesapeake Bay, where the sweet meat of the crabs are sought by seafood lovers.
Best Time for Lobsters and Crabs
Summer is the time when lobsters and crabs are plentiful and this is one of the best times to enjoy these delicacies. By summer, they are fully grown and you can fully savor their tender and sweet meat. While you can enjoy crabs and lobsters boiled or broiled over an open fire, you can make a summer gathering more festive by having a lobster and crab bake.
Summer is not the only time that you can have a lobster and crab bake, though. The marine industry is regulated and these products from the sea are available any time of the year.
Good Choices
Living along the coast has an advantage because you may be able to buy freshly caught crabs and lobsters from the docks. If you are going to buy from a supermarket, choose those that are active and lively. Check also that the crabs and lobsters have unblemished shells.
Dungeness crabs and the Chesapeake Bay blue crabs are popular among gourmets and seafood lovers. The lobsters from Maine are among the best in the U.S. because the state's lobsters are farmed and harvested under strict conditions. It takes seven years for a lobster to reach maturity; still, the lobster farms in Maine ensures that the supply is year-round. Dungeness and blue crabs are harvested when they crabs are about 2 years old.
Types of Lobster and Crab Bakes
You can prepare lobster and crab bakes in different ways. You can stuff lobster halves with prepared crab meat and bake them with fresh herbs, spices, butter and crushed crackers. This is an entrée dish that you can serve your guests if you are having a sit-down dinner. Use bigger lobsters, such as those that weigh about 2 to 3 lbs. each, if you are going to bake stuffed lobsters with crab meat.
New England Style
New Englanders traditionally do lobster and crab bakes similar to a New England clam bake. This is a way to enjoy fresh seafood while having a family gathering at the beach, such as during the July 4 holiday. You can dig a shallow pit and bake the crabs and lobsters wrapped in foil and cooked over hot stones and seaweeds. You can add other seafood and shellfish, potatoes and corn and bake them with the seafood. Lemon-butter will be a fitting dip for this type of lobster and crab baking.
Select smaller lobsters, called chickens, if you are baking them in a pit at an event with several children in attendance. The best weight will be about 1 to 1 1/2 lbs. If more adults are present, look for lobsters that are about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 lbs.
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