Are You Really From Maine if You Don’t Know How to Put Lobsters to Sleep?

I don't remember the first time I had lobster.

We've been eating lobster in my family forever. I don't remember a time when we didn't. In fact, I remember one summer when it was super cheap, I actually asked my mother if we could have something else because we'd had it so much. Not that I was sick of it per se, but I'd definitely had my fill by that point. Like, just gimme a burger already, hahaha.

It's funny though, after years in the restaurant business, I became a bit more empathetic about the inevitable plight of the lobster. While I understand that their nervous system is so primitive they don't really feel any pain when cooked, I still just felt awkward throwing live lobsters right into the boiling water. So I started putting them to sleep.

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It's wicked easy, and kids love the trick.

I remember being shown the trick when I was a kid. I thought it was so neat that you could basically take this thrashy claw machine, and render it completely motionless. So as an adult cooking bugs for a living, I started putting them to sleep. It's actually super easy.

In a nutshell, you tip the lobster up on it's nose, almost upside down, but it's being balanced on the other end by its tail. I just gently stroke the top part of it's "nose", which is that spine that runs along its head, above its eyes. Some people will tell you that you have to hum to the lobster to make it work, but I've never done that at work. Definitely do it for the kids though, it adds to the mystery of the trick.

Since it's hard to describe in words, I figure it's easier of you just check out this video from Jacob Knowles. He's a Maine lobsterman on YouTube with toooooons of followers. He does the humming thing, but I assure you that you don't have to. But again, for the kids... Go for it! Scope the video...

For the love of god though, don't do these things...