What type of lobster should you buy? The American lobster, also known as the Maine and the Northern is the one with the claws and is thought to have meat which is slightly sweeter and more tender than its cousin, the spiny lobster. The spiny lobster, also known as rock lobster or langouste, has no claws and tends to grow larger than the Northern. Availability will depend on season, harvest (although there are some lobster farms out there now) and your location.
Now is as good a time as any for a little lobster anatomy. Why do you have to be able to tell a girl lobster from a boy lobster? Because female lobsters contain the flavorful coral, a sort of lobster red caviar. Look at the small legs (called swimmerets) under the lobster’s tail. If they are soft and flexible, then congratulations, it’s a girl! If the swimmerets are hard and inflexible, you’ve got the male of the species. This, of course, only works with live, whole lobsters (just thought we’d mention it).
If fresh lobster is not on the horizon, then chose frozen raw or cooked lobster meat -- very versatile, easy to keep on hand. You can purchase frozen shell on or shell off whole tails, claws and lobster meat. Handle this as you would any frozen product -- use FIFO (first in , first out rotation), ensure that the lobster is held at the correct temperature, and thawed quickly (under refrigeration). Canned lobster is also available and can be used as an ingredient in sauces, soups and fillings (as in seafood crepes or omelets).