Rock lobsters and Maine lobsters differ greatly in both habitat and appearance.
There are two primary types of lobster available for purchase in the United States: the Maine lobster or the rock lobster. Although you'd think they would be closely related, they are actually quite different, although both yield a tender meat that is prized by shellfish fans the world over. The differences between Maine and rock lobster are notable, and easy to identify.
Appearance and Habitat
Although both rock and Maine lobster are prized for their tender meat, they have significant differences in appearance and habitat. The Maine lobster is a reddish-orange crustacean with large prominent claws at the front of its body. It is smooth in appearance and resides the cold water along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. Maine lobsters prefer to live on the rocky bottom of the ocean or in very dense seaweed. They can grow to extraordinary lengths, the largest on record being 43 lbs. and 100 years old. They have a predominant right claw that is used for crushing food or for defense.
Rock lobsters have no claws and are darker and bumpier in appearance than the Maine lobster. They have noticeably longer antennae on which their eyes rest. They come in several varieties, including the western, eastern and southern rock lobster, the first two of which inhabit the waters around Australia. The rock lobster prefers reefs and pristine waters, and can be found in abundance in the Southern hemisphere. They can live in very deep water of up to 600 feet and live to be about 20 years old.
Taste Differences
As could be expected, lobsters from such diverse places do not taste the same. The rock lobster can live in warm waters, such as around the Caribbean, with the result that its tail meat is a bit tougher. It has a salty flavor that seems a bit more fish-like than the Maine lobster. The cold waters of the North Atlantic keep the Maine lobster from absorbing as much of the salt in the water and keep the meat tender. This gives the Maine lobster a sweet flavor and also gives the meat a whiter appearance.
Primarily, tails of the Maine lobster weigh more than rock lobster tails, and Maine lobsters come with the additional plus of having meat in their claws, so they often are preferred pound-for-pound over rock lobsters.
Advantages
According to the food website TheReluctantGourmet.com, cold-water lobster tails are generally better to use for cooking, as they are less likely to be mushy or impart an ammonia-like odor. However, Chef Lee Lippert of Lobstergram.com notes that while individual rock lobster tails are available for purchase, Maine lobsters are sold in their entirety because it is too expensive to only sell the tails of Maine lobster. This is because the Maine lobster outgrows its tail meat after reaching one pound. The larger the Maine lobster's overall weight, the less tail meat there is. He estimates in a 1 lb. lobster, there are 6 ounces of meat in the Maine lobster tail, while the rock lobster tail would have about 7.5 ounces.
Preparation
Cooking Maine and rock lobsters depends greatly on your personal preferences. By and large, most people choose to steam lobsters and eat the tail with butter.
They can be prepared many ways, however, including soups and stews, sandwiches (known as lobster rolls) and bisques. Lobster is quite versatile, and may be incorporated into chili, quiches and omelets. If you're a bit squeamish about killing a live lobster in boiling water, look for instructions on painlessly kill a lobster by using a knife.
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