Is it cruel to throw live lobsters in boiling water ?

[Lamp]

Do you like lobster ?
Ever heard one scream as its thrown into boiling water ?
Do you think its cruel ?
Is it any different to anything else when you think about it ?
Man catches animal - man kills animal - man eats animal.

Personally, I don't care. Yes, I've heard one scream before it was served to me. At least I'm 80% sure it was a lobster screaming. Anyway, it was delicious.

The issue of whether or not lobsters experience pain is contested. A Norwegian study released in February 2005 suggested that lobsters were unable to feel pain, while a Scottish study released in the same year concluded that lobsters probably can feel pain.

The most common way of killing a lobster is by placing it in boiling water. This method is controversial because some people believe that the lobster suffers. Some people de-sensitize the lobster beforehand by placing it in a freezer for some time. Boiling lobsters alive is illegal in some places, such as in Reggio Emilia, Italy, where offenders face fines of up to €495. The Norwegian study states that the lobster may be de-sensitized by placing it in a salt-solution 15 minutes before killing it. The quickest way to kill a lobster may be to insert a knife into its head and cleave the head in two, thereby destroying two of the most important nerve clusters of the lobster. Some feel that this is more humane than placing the live lobster into boiling water. Freezing the lobster for 15 minutes to 2 hours before boiling may de-sensitize the lobster, although no proof of this exists. In addition, this freezing will delay the preparation of a lobster dish in the restaurant.

Some stores will kill a lobster upon purchase by microwaving it. Whether or not death occurs more quickly than when the lobster is dropped in boiling water is not clear.

 

[Huntingtons]

freezing death isnt fun, getting dried out by salt isnt either. boiling could take long, i dont know how its structurized (the lobster that is), so its hard to say how long it suffers... if i can see it feel pain and it makes ME uncomfortable i wouldnt do it. but im not much of an ethic man

 

[crispy]

I like me meat better when it has suffered, you can really taste the pain soak into the meat

 

[MaCaBr3]

Does it matter, they taste great.

 

[swords]

I thought it was air escaping which caused the 'screaming'?

 

[Lamp]

I thought it was air escaping which caused the 'screaming'?

Aye. Thats why gaenocologists wear ear plugs when they see patients over 70

 

[Ingafgrinn Macabre]

I don't know if this is true, but I found this googling for lobster screaming:

Screaming Lobsters
For those of you who are concerned about cooking screaming lobsters, here are the facts. The nervous system of a lobster is decentralized and has been compared to that of a grasshopper. From what we know, this means they probably feel little or no pain. They also have no vocal chords. The sound you may hear is actually steam escaping from the shell as the lobster cooks. If you're still concerned about hurting the lobster, begin to cook it in cold water instead of hot. As the temperature rises, it will put the lobster to sleep. So will laying it on its back for a few minutes.

But well, I don't eat 'em anyway... too much work, and I'm lazy

 

[old.Tohtori]

I like me meat better when it has suffered, you can really taste the pain soak into the meat

A quote from the upcoming movie: Cannibal Crispy by George Romero

 

[Gins]

I thought it was air escaping which caused the 'screaming'?

your right, a lobster doesn't scream at all.

On topic i would think its a rather unpleasant experiance for the lobster but its not like it takes to long for it to die.. worse things are done to animals.
And it tastes great!

 

[Laddey]

Never tried or seen a lobster being cooked. I prefer dolphin tbh!

 

[tris-]

just about everything humans do to animals is cruel in some way, so i dont think it matters

 

[Thadius]

My Dad told me the most humane way to cook lobster is to put the lobsters in the water when its very cold. Then, warm it up gently till they fall alseep. Then crank up the heat!

 

[DocWolfe]

They get eaten alive in the wild... I'd say I'm doing them a favour.

 

[- English -]

would never have a lobster, pre killed, cooked or whatever, its just wrong!

 

[Thadius]

would never have a lobster, pre killed, cooked or whatever, its just wrong!

True, they are just a bigger version of the things that roam about on Gamah's nutsack!

 

[Olgaline]

well, having grown up by the shores of the indian ocean, I've had my share of lobsters, og crayfish or whatever you want to call them. They are alot cheaper if you catch them your self "somehow taste better as well"
but to the point, I cant see how it takes anything away from the final product if you just stab a knife down it's skull, to me at least they taste the same, yeye the shell wont be "perfect" but who the hell notices a little dark line along it's head? now personally I've never heard one actually scream, they cant, but i know about the sound referd to as screaming, "it's not the lobster saying owie! but thats how i've always done it, and the only reason has been a case of "just incase" as i see no reason not to kill it first!

 

[Olgaline]

ps: that noise, as long as the lobster is fresh, it might make that sound when put into boiling water, how dead or alive it is has no barring on that.

 

[Olgaline]

lobster thermidor (my fav dish) yum

 

[tris-]

well thats some hardcore lobster lovin right there

 

[Ezteq]

Aye. Thats why gaenocologists wear ear plugs when they see patients over 70

aw dude

*shudders*


thats just, wrong, funny but so very very wrong.

i think the lobster thing a knife in the ack of its head is the way to go, like i always say if you have to kill something do it quickly.

 

[- English -]

lobster thermidor (my fav dish) yum

/shudders

 

[Lamp]

I prefer my lobster unfilled - just with salt, pepper, lemon juice, and garlic butter. Serve with Californian Zinfandel (white). Superb.

 

[crispy]

Zinfandel?

Aint that another name for the Primitivo wine?

(which makes you go primitivo also :>)

 

[Olgaline]

American whine is overrated thease days, it's just as hyped as the european ones, wich wasent the case 5-10 years ago,

if you want quality whine for a desent price today you have to look towards south america and south africa.

not that europe and usa dont make good or even great wines, they do!
but if you wish to compare price vs quality...then the above mentioned are the way to go.

 

[Lamp]

If I'm eating red meat, I'll try to order an Aloxe Corton, or Chateauneuf du Pape. I prefer red wine, but a nice light white is perfect with fish. There are nice wines to be found in the Americas, Australia, NZ, and all over Europe.

 

[crispy]

I like wine too.

And if you keep away from the cheapest shit you usually end up with one that tastes 'ok' which is good enough for me, can't really tell wines from each other but i figure if they taste good they are good...

After all, a glass a day keeps the doctor a day?

 

[Huntingtons]

if you can cut his eyes out with the shards from the glass it does

 

[Lamp]

After all, a glass a day keeps the doctor a day?

I think a glass a day IS supposed to be healthy. Red wine. Red wine with high berry content. Apparently contains antioxidants, which beat up free radicals, which can cause cancer.

 

[Ezteq]

i love wine but does anyone else find wine from screw top bottle tastes metallic?? (i know i know but it has lost the stigma now and is apparantly acceptable to drink screw top wine but for me it just doesnt taste as nice)

 

[DocWolfe]

wine is for fags and hags