Lobsters are large marine crustaceans and considered economically important seafood. Although once considered a poor man's food, it is now relished and enjoyed by the elite all over the world. Lobsters are dropped into boiling water while they are still alive, and many people feel uncomfortable with this practice. They consider this a cruelty and discourage capturing lobsters for food.

Lobster lives on rocky, sandy or muddy bottoms of the shoreline. Most of lobsters are caught from the northeastern coast of North America. The State of Maine is one of the largest producers of lobster. Lobsters are caught with the help of lobster traps. These devices are made in such a way that they allow a lobster to enter, but make it impossible for them to exit. This method helps capture live lobsters. They are segregated as male, female, green, red, soft shell or hard shell lobsters.

Since lobster meat can stale quickly, it is necessary to cook a lobster while it's still alive. It is recommended that they be put in the freezer for few minutes before immersing them in boiling water for cooking. They can be steamed in seawater or salted water for 10-15 minutes, and are often eaten plain, with butter, lemon juice, white vinegar or vegetables. There are a number of recipes available for cooking lobster dishes.

Eating lobsters is a slow process, especially for novices because of its shell. A number of implements including nutcrackers, forks, picks and a plastic bibs are recommended accessories.

The majority of a lobster's meat is in the tail and the two front claws, although smaller quantities can be found in the legs and torso. One should be careful of the sharp edges of the lobster's shell when breaking it apart. Depending on the season, lobsters are generally quite expensive and are available at local seafood stores or on the Internet.