Preparing a seafood feast is a great way to impress your friends, and it’s easier than you may think. Start with the freshest seafood possible. Check with the fishmonger at the fish counter of your local store to find out the delivery schedule so you’ll always know when products are freshest. Most stores will even help with prepping your seafood or lobster for little or no cost. Once home, you can boil, steam, grill or bake your seafood. Be aware that seafood comes in all different shapes and sizes, which will mean different cooking times.
Boiling
Step 1
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season the water with 1 tbsp. of salt. You can also season your cooking water with lemons, peppercorns, garlic or a store-bought seafood seasoning mix.
Step 2
Place your seafood into the boiling water, starting with the lobsters since they are usually the largest and require the longest cooking time. Lobsters take between 10 and 15 minutes per pound. After a few minutes, add the crabs, which require only 10 to 12 minutes to cook through. When there is only three to five minutes left on the cooking time for your lobsters, add shrimp. They are small and require only a few minutes. When lobsters and crab are done, the meat will be firm to the touch and opaque. When your shrimp are pink and slightly curled, you will know they are ready to eat.
Step 3
Serve on newspapers laid out on your table for easy cleanup.
Steaming
Step 1
Heat a large pot with 2 inches of water to a simmer. You do not need to season the water when steaming lobsters or crabs. Place your steamer basket above, not touching, the water.
Step 2
Steam lobsters for 13 to 16 minutes per pound; the shells will turn bright red when they are cooked through. Steam crabs for 20 to 30 minutes; look for bright orange shells when they are ready to eat.
Step 3
Season the seafood with either salt and pepper or a store-bought seafood seasoning.
Step 4
Steam mussels and clams in wine for five to seven minutes or until their shells open wide. If a mussel or clam shell does not open, throw it out.
Grilling
Step 1
Heat your grill to high. The best seafood to grill is shrimp and scallops. Season lightly with salt, pepper and olive oil.
Step 2
Thread the shrimp and scallops onto skewers. This allows you to turn the seafood on the grill easily and prevents it from falling through the grates.
Step 3
Cook the shrimp and scallops for three to five minutes per side. The scallops will become opaque, and the shrimp will turn pink when cooked through.
Baking
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Drizzle your seafood with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Step 2
Bake lobsters for 17 to 20 minutes per pound, scallops for 8 to 11 minutes, and shrimp for five to seven minutes.
Step 3
Bake different types of seafood separately. Since they require such different cooking times, it is your easiest option. All types of seafood can be served at room temperature, so cooking separately should not hinder your end result.
WarningsAlways check you seafood and lobster to see that it has reached the required degree of doneness. Consuming underdone food can result in illness.