The Absolute Best Way To Store Cooked Lobster

Although it was once considered a "poor man's protein," used as fertilizer or fish bait, and served to prisoners until the 1880s (via History), these days, lobster is a high-end gourmet delicacy. A favorite of seafood lovers, lobster can be enjoyed in so many different ways, including steamed, boiled, broiled, grilled, sautéed, and baked, or in a soup, salad, pasta, pie, tacos, or the classic lobster roll. Whether you're enjoying your lobster dish while dining out in a restaurant, or you've picked up a few live lobsters to prepare at home, chances are, it was not cheap.

Lobster's typically hefty price tag means that you're going to want to savor every last bite of it. Luckily, you can save that delicious cooked lobster to enjoy another day, so there's no need to force yourself to finish everything all in one sitting, especially if you are already stuffed. In fact, when stored properly, cooked lobster will be good for several days. 

To store your cooked lobster, place it in a shallow airtight container, or wrap it tightly in heavy-duty aluminum foil or saran wrap, advises Still Tasty. You can store the lobster either with or without its shell. Cooked lobster still in the shell is usually good for up to three days, while cooked lobster without the shell can be good for up to four days, according to the Lobster Council Canada. It's important to place your cooked lobster in the refrigerator as soon as possible, especially if you enjoyed it at a restaurant. Cooked lobster is only good at room temperature for two hours. Make sure your refrigerator is set to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.

If you don't think you can finish the cooked lobster in the three to four days that it's good for in the refrigerator, you should freeze it instead. It's best to freeze cooked lobster still in the shell, but if that's not an option, try soaking the lobster meat in milk before freezing — both methods help prevent freezer burn and minimize changes to texture, according to Food How. Frozen lobster will stay at its best quality for up to three months in the freezer, though it will still be safe to eat beyond that time (via Still Tasty). Once you are ready to consume your leftover lobster, be sure to use one of the best ways to reheat lobster for the best results.