Rock Lobster vs Maine Lobster: Whats in a Name? It is October 1, the first day of recreational spiny lobster season this year. Last updated by Patrick Bennett on 09/26/2022. When it comes to eating lobster at home, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Do spiny lobster taste like Maine lobster? You may see rock lobsters called: Rock lobsters are noticeably less sweet than Maine lobsters. The shell of this type of lobster is usually shiny and has a characteristic color of blue with green. Theres plenty on the menu, but be sure to catch some lobster while youre there. One look at both of these species side by side and you will be able to tell the difference. Sometimes, this antenna can be longer than the body. Unlike rock lobsters where you can only cook the tail, the claws and knuckles of Maine lobster are prized for their sweet, succulent flavor and texture. 2. If you want lobster to be a small part of a larger dish, theyll work well. Caribbean lobsters are smaller and not as tasty in the 4-5 times we have had them over the years. Florida lobsters are a type of Spiny lobster, so all the differences noted above between Maine Lobster and Spiny (or Rock Lobster) hold true for Florida lobster. Reef These lobsters have claws; however, they are not termed clawed lobsters. In this post, youll find out what makes our lobster so good. Spiny vs Maine lobster. What's the difference? - Food52 To be certain, they do indeed have claws, but they are so insignificant in size that they are discarded in restaurants. If you really want to get everything you can out of the lobster, youll have to head into the body cavity. Usually, Maine lobsters are considered tastier than spiny lobsters because of their colder habitat. Their diet consists primarily of small crustaceans, mollusks, fish, snails, decayed plants, shrimp, mussels, and clams on the sea bottom. Though we don't get any bugs, there are still plenty of other fish in the sea. The important thing is that they have differences in the taste of lobster meat. The best lobsters are those that are about three years old. And thats what makes spiny lobster without claws the most delicious type of lobster on the planet At least at the moment youre eating it. Slipper lobsters are instantly recognisable by their enlarged antennae . Because of their high value and nutrition, they are often sold fresh. Lobsters grow by molting, which is a version of growing that replaces an old and raggedy exoskeleton with a new, larger one. The Atlantic Ocean, the Coast of Asia, the Caribbean Sea, and the South of Brazil. at the most vs. on a Maine . So if you are in a tropical warm water area you know with out a doubt that there will not be any Maine Lobster around. Theyre also known as North American and Atlantic lobsters because they live throughout the icy cold waters of the northeast. Spiny lobsters, also known as langustas, langouste, or rock lobsters, are a family (Palinuridae) of about 60 species of achelate crustaceans, in the Decapoda Reptantia.Spiny lobsters are also, especially in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, and The Bahamas, called crayfish, sea crayfish, or crawfish ("kreef" in South Africa), terms which elsewhere are reserved for freshwater crayfish. you . It all starts with a name. $250 vs $29 Lobster Dinner: Pro Chef & Home Cook Swap Ingredients Spiny lobsters have very little meat and are smaller than Northern lobsters. This will depend on where you buy them. What is the difference between Maine lobsters and Florida lobsters? Incredibly, both lobsters serve as food for humans. The smaller front claw is also used for directing food into the mouth. Answer (1 of 2): I don't disagree with you although I'm confident everybody in Massachusetts and Maine won't feel that way. Lobster Animal Facts | Nephropidae - AZ Animals Once that is done, youll be able to see little bits of meat here and there. It makes a great lobster roll, lobster bisque, and lobster salad. Rock vs Maine Lobster: Whats The Difference? Spiny lobsters have small pointing spines covering their bodies for protection against predators, from which their name originated. Lobster are also referred to as "bugs" in the lobster diving world. The daily bag limit is seven per person and a license is required. Read on to learn more about how to tell the difference between these types of Lobster. - Spiny lobsters have a smaller size than Alaska lobster but larger than baby lobster, blue lobster. Spiny lobsters also often have white or black spots on their shell and their tails are often ringed with darker colors. On the other hand, the Maine lobster (Homarus americanus) is a crustacean with two large, strong, and unequal-sized claws for feeding. Fresh-from-the-ocean lobster has its own unique flavor and aroma that cant be found anywhere else in the country (or even the world). Another favorite way to eat Maine lobster is with Saltine crackers. The large tails are perfect for grilling. You can even pick your delivery date when ordering. Saut onion, jerk seasoning, and sweet pepper in remaining melted butter and cook until onion turns translucent. For this crustacean, the only edible part is the tail. The lobster image that comes to mind for most people is the hard-shelled, giant-clawed, long-tailed sea creature that's often depicted as bright red-orange in color. In general, lobster from the Atlantic Ocean will have a stronger flavor than that from the Pacific or other warmer waters. The older they get, the bigger they get! The smaller front claw is also used for directing food into the mouth. Lastly, if youre eating at home, you can eat it like a pro! Forks and anything that will crack the shell will do. Does the restaurant offer a view of the water? Some refer to them as American lobster or Northern lobster, but as expected by their most common name, they are plentiful in the northeastern coastal waters, from Canada to North Carolina, with their numbers drastically dwindling the further south they go. There are many types of lobsters. If you spotted them both separately underwater, you'd probably know you were looking at lobsters, even though there are some significant differences between them. Season with salt and pepper. Poaching in butter was wonderful ! There are two things to look at on the tail of the Lobster in order to identify them correctly. This Caribbean lobster recipe with rum-jerk butter comes from the fine folks at Mount Gay Rum from Barbados,which also happens to be home to the excellent Lobster Alive. One of the claws is very sharp and used for tearing prey into smaller pieces, while the other is used for crushing the shells of mollusks. If the overall dish is your goal and not the standout sweet and succulent flavor of naturally buttery Maine lobster, then rock lobster may be a good choice. 2 Tbsp - Butter, plus enough to butter the bread. They have no claws, and usually occur in warm sub tropical to tropical waters and usually have enlarged antennae. Spiny Lobster vs Maine Lobster: What Are The Differences. Let LobsterBox show you some useful information about lobsters! You may have another species of lobster as there are about 60 species of Spiny Lobster around the world. .mobile-top-content a:hover { color: #fff; text-decoration: underline; }, @media (max-width: 480px) { Spiny lobsters do not have claws, but long antennae and legs protruding from their bodies. Maine lobsters can escape backward from predators by flapping their tails for a quick burst of speed. Some people have virtually nothing left but shell and a few scraps, while others never venture into the body. Spiny lobsters are warm water creatures. With a knife, cut into the tail. That's how passionate he is about buying local.". This distinction is thanks to the efforts of Art Taylor. Their texture is succulent and meaty, never dry or grainy. Add lobster pieces and saut 5 minutes, or until mostly cooked through. Maine lobsters are generally a greenish-brown or black color when alive. Here are seven reasons good reasons (especially if youre eating it in Maine): Lobsters are marine creatures, but not all coastal waters are created equal. The porbeagle is one of the few sharks that jumps out of the water. Crayfish vs Lobster: 5 Key Differences Explained - AZ Animals This narrative of domestic seafood being shipped to other countries isn't just limited to spiny lobsters. No one knows because it doesnt happen. We see this most clearly in the types of lobsters that youll find in restaurants. "The first bite is slightly chewy. It is all of this plentiful meat that makes them, generally, the preferred type amongst lobster aficionados. While there is no official ranking list for the best lobster shacks in the state, there are a few key indicators that you can watch out for: Is the restaurant located close to the ocean? Lets begin! One of the claws is very sharp and used for tearing prey into smaller pieces, while the other is used for crushing the shells of mollusks. Big, strong, Claws. Tucked right into the bay at Island Harbour, this bar and restaurant on a tiny coral cay is the perfect spot for a day of fun, food, and friends. Maine Lobster vs. Spiny Lobster March 24, 2007 In a no holds barred cage match, Captain Spiny would crush Maine Man. It is estimated that less than 1% of all of the eggs released from the female will make it to legal size. Add lobster meat in a mound next to the shell opening and place lobster tails on a plate. Maine lobsters, on the other hand, inhabit the Western Atlantic Coast of North America, from Canada to North Carolina. Learn more about us and how we do this on our About Us page. The Chinese, she says, aren't privy to clawed crustaceans and tend to prefer spiny ones. Every week, he flies himself to Bequia in the nearby Grenadines. Their shell has green, black, and brown spots. Now that you know all about our lobster, check out our newest obsessionour coffee, or an old standby, sea urchin. The light, buttery claw and tail meat is also delicious paired with steak or chicken for surf and turf at home. For us, though, one of the best places to sample some is Scilly Cay. Atlantic lobsters also have a naturally sweeter flavor that needs little to no seasoning to shine on the plate. Are there lots of lobster traps outside? Keep the body shell for plating your dishes. Lobsters can live to be 50 years old or older. To begin with, if you love the succulent lobster claw, your only option is the Atlantic lobster from the north. Cold water has more minerals in it, which makes for better-tasting meat. We had pinned some down underwater but they ended up being too small. Next, find the claws. Live lobsters are caught daily and shipped to you the next day. This article will uncover all you need to know about both species of lobster, including their diets, preferred habitats, tastes, and behaviors. That said, wonderful spiny lobster can be found on plates all over the island. Some may possess a blue shell when born. Well, youve come to the right place. If you can find a freshly caught lobster and you cook it in a pot of seawater over a fire on the beach, cracking it with rocks, well, thats the best way you will ever have it! But in most cases, youre going to want something more flavorful to really bring the seafood to life. If you really want to impress your family and friends invite them over and cook up the freshest of the fresh live Maine lobsters. In California they are trucked to Los Angeles, where they are packaged up, and flown straight east. Every year, he'll come out from North Carolina to California just to grab some bugs. Place a bed of greens on each plate. Its the biggest festival in Maine and the longest-running culinary festival in the U.S. "The minimum size limit for California spiny lobster is three and one-fourth inches, from the horn of the lobster to the rear edge of the body shell," Thomas Templar, a scuba instructor at Ocean Safari, says. Maine lobsters carry more meat in their robust claws and knuckles, which spiny lobsters are lacking entirely. So, the next time you see a package of lobster tails for sale at your local supermarket, chances are it's spiny lobster. Even though they lack pincers, i.e., they do not have claws, they have a longer and spiny antenna relative to Maine lobsters. It's true that spiny lobsters don't have large pincer claws. In terms of taste, Maine lobsters are known for their succulent, buttery flavor, while rock lobsters have more of a mild, slightly sweet taste. They can both be used in a number of ways to make a perfect dish. See a Gator Bite an Electric Eel With 860 Volts, See Dominator The Largest Crocodile In The World, And As Big As A Rhino, Discover the Largest Sea-Dwelling Crocodile Ever Found (Bigger than a Great White! Now you can pull the little claw off and find a tiny strip of meat in it. Spiny lobsters are warm water creatures. Spiny lobsters can live for 50 years or more, while Maine lobsters can live for about 100 years. If the meat is white, it is done. While it's perfectly fine to substitute spiny lobster for Maine lobster, Oceanfood Sales Limitedsuggests that some find spiny lobster meat less succulent and tender than Maine lobster. Your email address will not be published. Throughout the trip, I pop scallops and uni, freshly cracked open and picked out from the ocean floor, into my mouth like candy. Parfitt caught a three-pounder on the first dive in the morning; he says he hasn't missed a season in 40 years. These species of Lobsters have a sweet and peculiar taste that differs depending on habitat. Perfect locations for spiny lobster traps! Editor's note: The Crucian Contessa is back with a lobster salad treat for us to try our hands at mastering to bring a taste of the West Indies to our homes! Rock Lobsters or Spiny Lobsters do not have large edible claws like Maine lobster, but only tiny claws, which don't have any edible meat. The type of eater you are and the setting in which youll be eating your lobster will determine what you do with yours. Of course, if youre not near the Caribbean sea, you can still spice your meal with nostalgic memories of time spent in the sunny islands by picking up some spiny live lobsters of your own and fixing up some at home. The most important difference for people who plan on eating, and not studying the lobsters, is that the spiny lobster does not have any claws! Maine Lobster vs Other Lobster: What Is The Difference? As the lobster grows, there is space between its shell and the meat which gets filled with ocean water. The most obvious and well-known difference is the taste. You should think about them for your next meal because they both have a sweet and highly flavored briny taste. These true lobsters are the most sought-after crustaceans on the market for a reason: Now that youve got the run down on rock vs. Maine lobster, we know the craving is real! By the time youre done reading this youll be able to dazzle your friends with all of the lobster facts while serving up piled high buttery Lobster Rolls. The first is freshness and the second is a more nebulous spice that at times could be called authenticity, or nostalgia, or even an experiential quality. They have strong claws used for feeding. Youll likely find rock lobster also called spiny lobster. Scientists believe it's 140 years old. It will go from done to rubber quickly. The clawless species known as slipper lobsters (family Scyllaridae) differ significantly from spiny lobsters. Boothbay Harbor has an actual lobster pier and there are restaurants on it. This is why some lobster shells will be so hard and thick, while others are almost pliable. Spiny lobsters have the capability to grow up to 20 pounds but are usually harvested. What Size Insulated Fish Bag Should I Buy? The common names of both rock lobsters and Maine lobsters are the first indicator to not only their preferred habitats, but also what makes them unique. 9 Types of Lobsters: For Delicious Year-Round Seafood Right on the northern corner of Pigeon Point, Bumpkins brings a local vibe that ensures youre in for a real Antiguan vibe. Some people suck or chew the meat out. Maine Lobster have a more fanned out rounded off tail where as. Both spiny lobsters and Maine lobsters are omnivorous and share the same diet. They vary in color from nearly white to dark red or brown, and they often have dark-colored spots on their tail. Why? Overnight delivery. Norway lobster is often sold as a premium . They are available all year round. They are about 8 to 24 inches in length and may have a mass of over 20kg (44lbs). They also have what look like molars on their claws that aid in crushing crab and mussel shells. Learn how you can do the same on our Resources page. Florida's Spiny Lobster Season - Edible Orlando Lobsters are much larger and are typically between 8 and 20 inches long, but some can even be up to several feet in length. On the other hand, Maine lobster is more delicate in both flavor and texture with a sweet, clean flavor. We think the best things in life are often those that are simple. "I would be very happy to sell all those lobsters to the United States," says Dave Rudie, the owner of Catalina Offshore Products, one of the largest seafood import and export companies in California. There are massive differences from both the portions prepared to the texture, and finally the flavor. They are also a little more camouflaged so they can blend into the rocks and reefs that they live in. You basically get a tail, about 1/2 of a lb. Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Maine lobster vs. caribbean lobster The meat percentages change based on the season, with the Grade A lobsters of the fall and winter containing the most meat. Those creatures commonly called squat lobsters also possess claws but they are much smaller and differ significantly from the animals specialists describe as lobsters. For that reason they are about 3 times as expensive as Maine lobster. Also called Rock lobster, the Spiny lobster also has an antenna much longer than its Maine counterpart. So which one tastes better? Usually in holes in rocks and reefs. Maine lobster is caught in much the same way that it was when the fishery first started but with a few modern technologies. On that morning divemy first attempt at the art of lobster huntingI had spotted one underneath a den staring back at me, waving its long, pointy antennas. Grab the tail in one hand and the lobster in the other and twist to pull the tail off the body. They are about 8 to 24 inches in length and may have a mass of over 20kg (44lbs). /*height: 60px; "As local divers, there's a value that comes from eating in your own backyard," Garrett Lu, a scuba instructor from Ocean Safari, says. Maine lobsters are generally a greenish-brown or black color when alive.