The simple way I determine whether or not a lobster is fresh is by the vein in the tail, when I eat it. I think most of us know it isn’t a vein, it is more like an intestine or bowel.
If this tube, for a more generic and non-professional description is suitable, has anything in it, which is generally “black” it means that the lobster has been fed, or has eaten in the past few days.
If this tube is totally transparent, then it has not had food for a while, so it has been stored for a short period of time. Generally I start finding dead lobsters that I store in crates or cars that are stored under water, on the bottom, for about 5 days.
I do generally feed them but have heard conflicting reports on whether this is good or bad. Overall I find if lobsters are stored for more than a few days I find partially eaten lobsters or just dead lobsters.
If there are dead lobsters in the storage container, do not eat dead lobsters, that are lively and you cook them, there will be some of the black in the vein in the tail. Therefore, I believe from my personal experience, not a textbook, that a lobster is relatively fresh if the vein has some color in it, because they are transparent or translucent if the lobster has been stored and has had a chance to flush out his digestive system.
I don’t know that this is very scientific, but it is based on fact from what I have personally seen.
Tags: determing if a lobster is fresh, fresh, Lobstering In Maine