ShelfLife
How long does lobster last?
A live lobster should be cooked the day you buy it, while it's still alive. Cooked lobster tails keep 2 to 3 days in the fridge, and cooked lobster meat 3 to 4 days. Frozen raw lobster tails keep about 8 months in the freezer.
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Live whole lobsterDon't cook and eat a whole lobster that was dead before cooking. | 1 dayfrom purchase | Not recommended |
| Cooked lobster tails | 2–3 daysfrom purchase | 2–4 weeksfrom purchase |
| Frozen raw lobster tailsFridge time is after cooking. Keep frozen; cook as directed. | 3–4 days | 8 monthsfrom purchase |
Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.
How to tell if lobster has gone bad
- A live lobster that no longer moves or curls its tail when picked up may be dead: the USDA says not to cook and eat a whole lobster that died before cooking.
- Cooked lobster with an ammonia or sour smell, or mushy, slimy meat.
- Discolored or grayish meat, or a cottage-cheese texture in cooked lobster.
How to store lobster
- Keep live lobsters in the fridge, in their bag or covered with a damp cloth or newspaper, never in fresh water or a sealed container.
- Cook them the same day.
- Refrigerate cooked lobster within 2 hours, in or out of the shell, in a sealed container.
- Keep frozen tails frozen until you cook them, and thaw them in the fridge.
Can you freeze lobster?
Freeze lobster cooked, or buy frozen raw tails, which keep about 8 months. Cooked lobster meat freezes for 2 to 4 weeks for best quality; wrap it tightly. The USDA doesn't recommend freezing a whole live lobster.
Questions
Why can't you cook a dead lobster?
Once a lobster dies, bacteria in its body multiply quickly and its flesh breaks down. That's why lobsters are sold live and cooked alive, or cooked and frozen right away.
How long does cooked lobster last?
2 to 3 days for cooked tails, according to FoodKeeper, and 3 to 4 days for cooked shellfish leftovers.
How can you tell when lobster is cooked?
The shell turns bright red and the meat is opaque and white. Cook it to 63 °C (145 °F).
Add seafood to ShelfLife the day you buy it.
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Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.