Market Basket advertising new shell lobsters at $4.99

[mcel215]

In their flyer. I buy them every year from MB when they are this cheap and
they are great. They don't just sell chix usually, just ask the salesperson if there are any larger ones in the tank. Sometimes they do, while other times, they don't.

[galleygirl]

Thanks, picked some up at the Ashland store yesterday; they only had chix :(
But they were great; full of meat, and not watery at all. I love shedders, becasue they're so much easier to eat...
Hargau mentioned that 95% of the lobsters up in Maine were shedders last week, and that's becasue they can't ship them more than 200 miles or so, becasue of the delicate shells..We win!

[Pegmeister]

I picked some up last weekend, and while I prefer hard shell, the soft shell are perfectly fine as long as you are careful not to overcook.

[hargau]

exactly. If you cook them proper they are fine. I just returned from a weekend in Maine and 95% of all lobsters at all restaurants and shacks we went to were soft shell. Nothing wrong with them. I think the meat tastes sweeter personally and prefer the soft shell. Ok so you get 10-20% less meat but they cost 40-50% less money... you do the math...

[mcel215]

ditto...

[Tedmom]

I bought 2 yesterday at MB in Rindge, NH and had them steamed there. They were cooked perfectly. It only took 12 minutes and they were ready when I finished the rest of my shopping.

[mcel215]

I cook mine for 12 minutes too, nice to know. Thanks.

[galleygirl]

Uh, they may have them ready for you in 12 minutes, but that's a long time to steam a lobster, IMHO, at least for a chix size...

[mcel215]

I got two 1&1/2lb lobsters. I steamed them for 12 minutes, they were perfect. Corn on the cob, baked potato......melted butter, yum.

[Infomaniac]

I got a close to 6 lb. one at one of the Haverhill locations yesterday and they steamed it for me too. Even at $5.99 which they usually charge it's a deal.

[mcel215]

That's great to know, the largest I ever got was 1-3/4lb. It sure was good though!

[sysco kid]

Great marketing..."new shell" is a soft shell lobster.
The lobsters recently molted and the meat will be much less in ratio to a hard shell.
Expect 10-20% less meat between the two.
Softer meat an lighter color.

[treb]

The meat is usually a bit mushy and watery as well.

[greygarious]

Be watchful of the bagging - at my local MB, I arrived home to find the hot lobster atop the fresh tilapia, which I had to hurriedly cook in order to salvage it. It was nearly closing time and I did not feel like a special trip to return it the next day. I called the manager immediately to describe the bagger in need of remedial training, but the overall performance of their baggers is still terrible. I generally re-bag before heading home but in this case had only a dozen items so didn't bother.

[Infomaniac]

Ya...I watch the bagger more than I watch the price on the register. There are only a few baggers I trust at my MB but this lobster was so big it needed its own bag.

[mcel215]

I never have MB cook my lobster, it's usually a long wait (2 hours), so I guess most people do have them steam/boil them. Have you ever had them overcooked from MB?
I guess I don't trust them cooking them, lol!

[Infomaniac]

My experiences with MB steaming my lobster is if they are not busy, I will have them do it and it's not more than a 10 to 15 min. wait and I only live a mile away. I've never had them overcooked.
If it's busy and a long wait I'll cook at home.