While it’s true that you can get lobster at grocery stores and seafood markets, there’s nothing better than fresh lobsters directly sourced from Maine and shipped to your door. But it’s not like you can just leave and fly to New England whenever you’re craving succulent and sweet lobsters. Luckily, fresh lobster delivery services are available to ship the shellfish right to your door. Then, all you need to do is cook them and enjoy. With so many lobster delivery services on the market, though, it can be tough to choose which one is best for you. To make your search easier, we’ve compiled a list of the best lobster delivery services out there right now. We looked at dozens of companies and evaluated their offerings based on cost, variety, and of course excellent lobster. You Bring the Butter—These Delivery Services Will Provide the Lobster You Bring the Butter—These Delivery Services Will Provide the Lobster Final Verdict Compare the Best Lobster Delivery Services FAQs Methodology Key Specs Why You Should Try It LobsterAnywhere offers plenty of choices for fresh and frozen Grade A lobsters, mostly from Maine, and guarantees overnight shipping. Pros and Cons Pros Fast shipping Variety of choices Quantity discounts Cons More expensive than other services Sunday and Monday delivery not available Overview LobsterAnywhere wins the top spot for fresh lobster delivery. When you place an order before the daily cutoff time, live lobsters are taken fresh off the boats of local lobstermen, hand-selected, graded for their hard-shell quality, and shipped the same day. Lobsters come in various sizes and weights—live whole lobsters can go up to six pounds, while lobster tails can go up to 20 ounces. The company also delivers lobster dinners, featuring surf and turf combinations for up to four people. If you’re a repeat customer, register for the Sand Dollar Rewards program to earn discounts on future purchases. Pricing and Plans Key Specs Why You Should Try It Captain Tim Handrigan, the man behind The Lobster Guy, and his team catch live Maine lobsters and ship them directly to you at affordable prices. Pros and Cons Pros Lower prices than other online retailers Varied options and serving sizes Allows rescheduling delivery Cons Must order by 7 p.m. Visually busy website Overview It’s not easy to find affordable Maine lobsters, but The Lobster Guy makes it happen. When you visit the site, live lobsters—caught by Captain Tim Handrigan himself and his team—are offered in sizes of up to 6-plus pounds and quantities of up to 24. With plenty of options to choose from, it’s no wonder The Lobster Guy is the best place to order live lobster online. If cooking isn’t your thing, opt for dinner sets featuring lobsters, steaks, clambakes, and shellfish, available for up to six people. Every order includes a personalized message from Captain Tim and detailed instructions on how to cook lobsters. If your order is sold elsewhere for less, just call The Lobster Guy and the company will match the price for you. Pricing and Plans Key Specs Why You Should Try It Luke’s Lobster places traceability as a priority in all of its seafood products, ensuring regulations are met and sustainable harvesting methods are practiced. Pros and Cons Pros Committed to sustainable practices Free shipping Bulk discounts Cons Higher costs than other retailers Lobsters are served by pack, not pounds Overview Since 2009, family-owned Luke’s Lobster has served seafood harvested with sustainable methods. And even after launching its online seafood market in 2020, the company is still committed to sustainability, tracing all of its seafood back to the harbor from which it came to ensure sustainable harvesting regulations were met. These harvesting methods include requiring lobster traps to have juvenile vents and throwing back female lobsters bearing eggs, among others. Additionally, Luke’s Lobster went through the arduous process of gaining a B Corp certification to prove it achieved social and environmental good—and not just profit. Pricing and Plans Key Specs Why You Should Try It Lobster makes a creative and thoughtful gift, and you can give your loved ones a lobster dinner, a seafood basket, or even a gift certificate through Lobster Gram. Pros and Cons Pros Offers different types of lobster tails Gift certificates of up to $1,000 are available Online chat support Cons Additional shipping costs Sunday and Monday delivery not available Overview This Chicago-based company offers gift ideas categorized by different occasions to make it easy for you to choose the perfect one. For live Maine lobsters, the Original Lobster Gram is an excellent option, allowing you to order lobsters up to two pounds each for up to ten people. (It can also be shipped overnight by UPS.) If you want to surprise someone with a lobster feast, you can order ready-to-serve dishes like Lobster Thermidor and Lobster Mac ’n’ Cheese—all you have to do is thaw, remove the film, and heat them in the oven before enjoying. There is also a range of other foods, including paella, steaks, and desserts, so you have the choice to create a multicourse meal for your giftee. And if gift certificates are more your speed, you can order them in increments of up to $1,000. Pricing and Plans Key Specs Why You Should Try It This online marketplace features more than 100 creative lobster dishes from restaurants across the U.S. Pros and Cons Pros Great variety of dishes available Easy to schedule delivery E-gifts available, with no shipping address required Cons Shipping cost varies for each restaurant Orders can’t be customized No small portions Overview A simple search for “lobster” on Goldbelly brings you to a smorgasbord of dishes from notable restaurants and family-owned bakeries across the U.S. offering unique lobster creations. Think lobster pot pie from Hanco*ck Gourmet Lobster Co. in Topsham, Maine, lobster tail pastries from New York City’s iconic Ferrara Bakery, and lobster pot stickers from James Beard-winning Summer Shack in Boston. While many dishes are featured, you can filter your search by diet, region, dish style, and price. Once you’ve decided what to order, you can choose your delivery date, up to about two months in advance. Keep in mind that the dishes are meant for sharing, so ordering for just one person may not be ideal. Pricing and Plans Pricing will largely depend on what you order and which restaurant it’s from. Here’s an idea of price points for various lobster dishes: Key Specs Why You Should Try It With Get Maine Lobster, you can receive additional discounts on monthly subscription boxes and save more on wild-caught lobsters. Pros and Cons Pros Free shipping Access to benefits like private sales and promotions No commitment required Cons Limited number of delivery times Does not cater to small groups Overview Get Maine Lobster’s subscription boxes, including—Captain’s Mystery Box, Mystery Box, and Lobster Tail Lovers’ Box—are great for groups who love eating lobster regularly. Whatever box you choose, you’ll get flash-frozen lobsters ready to thaw, cook, and enjoy. When you choose the Mystery Box, seasonal products like pre-seasoned salmon and whoopie pies are added. The Captain’s Mystery Box includes a preselected assortment of lobster and various seasonal items, with extra goodies valued at $50 or more. Lobster home deliveries arrive monthly and if you want to take a break and change up the menu, you can modify or cancel your subscription anytime. Pricing and Plans Our top pick for lobster delivery, LobsterAnywhere, provides Maine-caught lobsters of the highest quality, and orders are delivered within 24 hours. The site is also service-oriented for even the most novice cooks, providing detailed information coupled with elegant illustrations to help you feel confident in your lobster purchase. Steaming and boiling are the two best ways to cook lobster. Steaming cooks the lobster slowly and offers more control to minimize the chance of overcooking. Meanwhile, boiling cooks lobster faster under high, intense heat. Many people think bigger is better when it comes to lobsters, but it’s the opposite. Smaller lobsters, between 1.25 and 2 pounds, tend to be juicier and sweeter in flavor. They also have roughly 4 to 6.4 ounces of lobster meat in them. Each lobster delivery service packs its products differently. Live lobsters are usually packed in a reusable polystyrene cooler with ice-cold gel packs to retain the cold temperature. UPS and FedEx are often used as carriers. It depends on how many lobsters you order. The more you order, the more money you’ll often save. With that said, lobster delivery services aren't cheap, and you’re pretty much paying for the convenience of having it shipped directly to you. It’s best to cook live lobsters the day they arrive. If you’re not eating it on that day, you can store the lobster for up to two days in the refrigerator. To store your lobsters, simply wrap them in damp seaweed or newspaper and put ice packs around them, or place them in the refrigerator and keep them as cold as possible. Do not freeze live lobsters. We looked at more than 24 seafood companies and narrowed our list down to the six best lobster delivery services. We based our comparison on the cost of live lobsters and each company’s shipping fees, availability, product quality, and customer experience. We also considered how websites are easy to navigate, clear shipping and refund policies, and value.The 6 Best Lobster Delivery Services of 2024
Best Overall : LobsterAnywhere
Best for Live Lobsters : The Lobster Guy
Best for Sustainability : Luke's Lobster
Best for Gifts : Lobster Gram
Best for Prepared Lobster Dishes : Goldbelly
Best Lobster Subscription : Get Maine Lobster
Final Verdict
Compare the Best Lobster Delivery Services
Company Starting Price (Based on 1.25 pounds of lobster) Delivery Area Products Arrive Customers Can Choose Delivery Date Free Shipping Best Overall LobsterAnywhere $46 50 states Both fresh and frozen Yes Yes (except for some perishable lobsters) Best for Live Lobsters The Lobster Guy $23.99 48 states Both fresh and frozen Yes No Best for Sustainability Luke’s Lobster $105 50 states Both fresh and frozen Yes Yes Best for Gifts Lobster Gram $105 50 states Both fresh and frozen Yes No Best for Prepared Lobster Dishes Goldbelly $110 (for 1.5 pounds) 50 states Both fresh and frozen Yes Varies by supplier Best Lobster Subscription Get Maine Lobster $79.99 50 states Both fresh and frozen Yes Yes What Are the Best Ways to Cook Lobster?
What Is the Best Size of Lobster to Eat?
How Do Lobster Delivery Services Ship Live Lobsters?
Are Lobster Delivery Services a Cost-Effective Option for Lobsters?
How Soon Should I Cook the Lobster From a Lobster Delivery Service?
Methodology
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FAQs
Do you eat butter with lobster? ›
A classic side dish to serve with lobster is drawn butter. Drawn butter is a simple sauce made by melting butter and adding a little bit of lemon juice for added flavor. It is often served on the side and can be used as a dip for the lobster.
Were lobsters used to be for the poor? ›However, we didn't always look at lobster as a gourmet piece of meat. Before the late 19th century, lobster was reserved for the bellies of criminals, the poor, and slaves, as these crustaceans would wash up on New England beaches by the heaps.
Are frozen lobster tails safe to eat? ›Frozen Lobster Meat
If it's warmer than -18°C (0°F) it may be compromised, but as long as it stays under -26 to -30°C (-15 to -20°F), frozen lobster can be stored with no quality loss for up to nine months.
The cold water not only slows the growth rate of the lobsters but also prevents salt water from permeating the meat, rendering it firm and tender with a luxurious texture and unmatched succulence. Certainly, few would argue that fresh lobster is considered of higher quality than frozen lobster.
What not to eat from lobster? ›Avoid eating the tail vein, as well as any cartilage or portions of the shell. Lastly, while the tomalley—the soft green paste in the body cavity—is technically edible, current guidance says you should refrain from eating it because it may contain high levels of toxins.
When should you not eat a lobster tail? ›Take a good look at your lobster. If the meat is discolored, turning gray, brown, or green in places, it's definitely gone bad.
What is butter for lobster called? ›If you're indulging in a fresh seafood meal that includes those shellfish, clarified butter - also known as drawn butter - is a must. Clarified butter is known as a "clean" butter in that certain solids are removed to leave only the pure butterfat.
Why did slaves eat lobster? ›Lobsters were considered the “poor man's chicken” and primarily used for fertilizer or fed to prisoners and slaves. Some indentures servants even revolted against being forced to eat the meat and the colony agreed that they would not be fed lobster meat more than three times a week.
How are lobsters killed for eating? ›Freeze the lobster for 30 to 60 minutes, then put it in the pot of boiling water head-first. While the boiling water, rather than the freezer, will kill it almost instantly, the cold will immobilize the lobster so it won't thrash about.
Why is lobster a luxury food? ›They eventually became a delicacy.
Prices immediately began to rise. Because lobster was considered a delicacy when World War II began, it was not rationed. The booming wartime economy allowed wealthy cravers of crustaceans to consume them at unprecedented rates.
What is the reason not to eat lobster? ›
However, you are more likely to get a foodborne illness from eating raw or undercooked lobster. Some of the most common disease-causing bacteria linked to improperly handled crustaceans — and raw seafood in general — are Vibrio species, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella species, and Shigella species ( 1 ).
Is eating lobster messy? ›Eating a lobster can get a little messy! But that's half the fun, right? When it comes to eating lobster, you can't be afraid to roll up your sleeves and dig in. If you don't know exactly what you're doing, it can be a little intimidating to be served a whole lobster.
Can you eat lobster eggs? ›The eggs should be a vibrant red when edible. While caviar must come from a sturgeon and go through a salt brine to earn its name, lobster roe is quite versatile in its processing. You can simply eat the row as you're enjoying the tail, or you can save the eggs and add them to butter or sauces.
When receiving seafood What should you look for? ›Fresh fillets should have firm flesh and red blood lines, or red flesh if fresh tuna. The flesh should spring back when pressed. Fish fillets should display no discoloration, darkening, or drying around the edges. Shrimp, scallop, and lobster flesh should be clear with a pearl-like color and little or no odor.
How to check lobster quality? ›Look at the Shell and Antennas
A shell that has moss or seaweed growing on it belongs to a lobster that's definitely not fresh. Lobsters with antennas that are bent, damaged, or missing parts have been in a tank with other lobsters for quite some time.
The main message of Consider the Lobster is to question our ethical treatment of animals and consider their capacity to suffer.