What is the most humane way to kill a lobster?

Question

I am cooking lobster thermidor next week and have to kill 2 lobsters. Is the boiling method the best way or knife down the head?

Answer 1

Most scientists agree that lobsters likely feel no pain:

http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/ap_lobster_pain_050214.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/PainManagement/story?id=722163&page=1

But, then, you have the other opinions:

http://www.lobsterlib.com/lobstersfeelpain.html

http://www.all-creatures.org/aip/nl-29oct2002-lobsters.html

So, the choice of killing method is yours, though many cooks recommend killing them before boiling. Here is an illustrated guide, with pics & instructions on the best and most humane way to kill a lobster:

http://www.secretlifeoflobsters.com/blog/2005/12/how-to-kill-lobster-dedicated-to-david.asp

Personally, I don't want to take any chances. I'd kill the lobster first. That's just me. I'd feel absolutely terrible if, 10 years from now, some study came out that showed proof that they DO feel pain.

The choice is yours.

Polly

p.s. No matter what method you choose, you should chill the animal first.

Answer 2

Most research study shows that lobster most likely feel no pain.

Yeah most likely - which means no one knows for sure.

Using a knife would be the quickest and least painful way if they do infact feel some form of pain.



THEY DO FEEL PAIN
A zoologist with The Humane Society of the United States made a written declaration that lobsters can feel pain after a chef dismembered and sauteed a live lobster to prepare a Lobster Fra Diavolo dish on NBC's "Today'' show in 1994.

THEY DO NOT FEEL PAIN
"It's a semantic thing: No brain, no pain,'' said Loughlin, who now works as a biologist at the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission.



See - people, even experts, will apparently always debate if they do or do not.

Answer 3

"Some cooks are concerned about humanity issues of cooking a live lobster. In fact, research indicates the lobster has no central nervous system or cerebral cortex to register stimuli, thus mostly likely can feel no pain. Killing the lobster just before cooking is the preferred method. There are several ways to accomplish this. Putting the lobster in the freezer an hour before cooking will do the trick. Quicker yet is to plunge the tip of a sharp knife straight down right behind the lobster's eyes."

Answer 4

I learned this from a fishmonger: fill the sink with lukewarm water and a small handfull of salt. While you are heating the kettle with boiling water, submerge the live lobster in the salted warm water and it literally goes numb--it is like anesthetized, and will not feel the shock of the plunge when you put it in the kettle.
I also look the lobster in the eye first, stroke it (yup!), and talk to it gently, thanking it for offering itself up for my meal, and explaining that SOMEONE was going to buy and eat it, and it is good that it was me because I am grateful to the lobster for offering it's life for my good health! :)

Answer 5

You should worry more about the results than the humanity of the lobster killing. Lobsters have very primitive nervous systems, they aren't capable of feeling pain, since they don't have a complex central nervous system to process the sensation. Any movements or reactions it has during boiling are completely reflexive, it doesn't know why it's doing it or that it's demise is rapidly approaching.
I know it can feel like you're hurting them, but just know that they don't feel it.

Answer 6

Seriously knife through the head is the quickest and least painful way...boiling is very painful because the lobsters have a nerve system. My husband is a chef and thats how he does it.

Answer 7

I'd say knife down the head less time consuming for the poor lobster! less painful death

Answer 8

Just throw it in the boiling water. I am told that it does hurt them, but only for a few seconds and no method of killing them is painless. Just be prepared that they will scream and try to scramble out of the pot for a few seconds. It is kinda sad, but after all, they are our food. We are at the top of the food chain and to eat it, we must kill it. (PETA members are freaking out right now) Oh, well. Lobster is yummy.

Answer 9

you could positioned a knife interior the pinnacle, yet i do unlike that concept the two. I in many cases positioned them interior the freezer for a pair of hours. to no longer freeze them annoying, even though it is going to decelerate their metabolism and that they flow to a deep sleep. Then, I in simple terms drop them interior the boiling water. it works for me!

Answer 10

Boiling water most likely. Just be sure the water is at a FULL rolling boil....