Best Maine Lobster Roll Recipe (Authentic) (2024)

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Best Maine Lobster Roll Recipe – There’s nothing quite like a buttery toasted Lobster Roll Recipe with plump juicy lobster salad piled high. Learn how to make them at home just like they are made in Maine!

Best Maine Lobster Roll Recipe (Authentic) (1)

Best Lobster Rolls In Maine?

One of our favorite family vacations was a road trip we took up the coast of Maine several years ago. We spent two weeks taste-testing lobster rolls in every little harbor town we could find, trying to pinpoint the Best Lobster Rolls in Maine.

All our favorite lobster rolls had the same two iconic elements:

  • Plump tender claw and knuckle meat dressed very lightly so the Maine lobster meat can shine.
  • Soft New-England style rolls, heavily buttered and toasted on both sides.

Mainers know good lobster rolls should be all about the lobster and butter… All other ingredients are possible distractions.

Therefore, the lobster should only be kissed with seasoning, not drenched in it.

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Skip the Tails, Go with Claws

Most Maine lobster roll shacks use claw, arm, and knuckle meat, because it’s bright red, already portioned into big chunks, and softer than tail meat.

Lobster tails are usually reserved for seafood platters and are grilled, broiled, or stuffed and baked.

Depending on where you live, you might not be able to purchase cooked lobster claw meat. (It usually comes frozen here in the Blue Ridge.) Yet you can buy cooked Maine lobster claw meat online!)

However, you can certainly steam whole fresh Maine lobsters. Then serve the tails one night and save the claw meat for lobster rolls later in the week.

Or you can steam fresh Maine lobsters, then chop the tail meat for the lobster rolls as well… It’s just not the traditional method.

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What Kind Of Bread Do You Use For Lobster Rolls?

After the lobster meat, the second important element in a Maine Lobster Roll is the buttery toasted New-England style bread rolls. These are basically hotdog buns, with exposed (cut) sides, so they are perfect for buttering and toasting on the griddle.

If you cannot find these rolls, you can buy regular hot dog buns and trim the sides with a serrated knife, so they have a flat surface for buttering. Or you can serve your lobster rolls on buttery griddled Texas toast.

Basically, you just need soft thick white bread with flat sides, and lots of butter for flavor and crunch.

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Maine Lobster Rolls Ingredients Checklist

To make lobster rolls just like they do in Maine, you will need…

For the Lobster Salad

  • Cooked Maine Lobster Claw MeatThis is usually sold in packs of claw, arm, knuckle meat.
  • MayonnaiseJust a little.
  • Fresh HerbsDill and Parsley.
  • Garlic PowderAgain, just a little.
  • Salt and Pepper – Always

For the Toasted Rolls

  • New England Style Frankfurter Buns
  • Butter
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How To Make Lobster Rolls

Making lobster rolls is so easy… Especially if you start with cooked claw meat that has already been removed from the shells.

  1. Drain: Place the cooked lobster meat in a colander for 5 minutes. Set out a large mixing bowl. Then chop the fresh herbs.
  2. Mix: Move the lobster meat to the mixing bowl and add the mayonnaise, dill, parsley, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  3. Chill: Keep the lobster salad cool while toasting the buns.
  4. Toast: Spread both flat sides of the New England rolls with a generous amount of butter. Toast for 1-3 minutes per side, until golden brown.
  5. Fill: Fill the toasted rolls with lots of lobster salad.

This lobster roll recipe makes about 10 rolls, piled high with meat, or 12 with less filling. The rolls are smaller so most people can eat two rolls each.

Get the Full (Printable) Best Maine Lobster Roll Recipe Below. Enjoy!

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Can’t Find Cooked Lobster Claw Meat Near You?

Don’t worry, you’ve got options…

  1. You can order lobster meat from one of many Maine Lobster Delivery services.
  2. You can use cooked lobster tail meat, from your local grocery store, and chop it.
  3. Or you can steam fresh lobsters and use the claw and tail meat in your lobster rolls.

How To Steam Lobsters

  • Choose a pot large enough to hold all the lobsters.
  • Put 2 inches of salted water in the bottom of a large kettle. Then place a steaming basket inside the pot.
  • Bring the water to a boil. Add the live lobsters one at a time. Cover the pot, and start timing. Steam for 10 minutes per pound.
  • Halfway through steaming, lift the lid and move the lobsters around so they cook evenly.
  • Once cooked, remove and cool before removing the meat from the shells.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Can These Rolls Last In The Fridge?

The fully cooked lobster salad can last in the fridge for 2 to 3 days in a shallow airtight container.

How Much Lobster Is On A Lobster Roll?

Usually, most lobster rolls hold 3-3.5 ounces of lobster meat, using the standard New England bun. However, you can pile the buns as high as you like.

What Goes With Lobster Rolls?

Potato chips and pickles are traditional to serve with these easy homemade lobster rolls. Although, you can find some restaurants that serve lobster rolls with fries and chowder.

Can I Change Up The Flavors?

Yes you can! You can add hot sauce or sriracha for a spicier lobster roll, or serve them Connecticut style, which is warm lobster meat cooked in melted butter, parsley, salt, and pepper.

Also try this as a lobster BLT sandwich by adding bacon, lettuce, and tomato to the roll. If you are not a fan of lobster or have a hard time finding it, try using cooked shrimp instead.

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Best Maine Lobster Roll Recipe (Authentic) (10)

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Best Maine Lobster Roll Recipe (Authentic)

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 6 minutes minutes

Total Time: 21 minutes minutes

There's nothing quite like buttery toasted Lobster Roll with plump juicy lobster salad piled high. Learn how to make them at home just like they do in Maine!

Servings: 10 small rolls

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

For the Lobster Salad –

For the Rolls –

Instructions

  • For the Lobster Salad: Drain the cooked lobster meat in a colander for 5 minutes. Set out a large mixing bowl. Then chop the fresh herbs.

  • If using claw meat, there is no need to chop it, but you can if you want smaller pieces. (If using lobster tails, chop it into bite-size pieces.) Move the lobster meat to the mixing bowl and add the mayonnaise, dill, parsley, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Mix well.

  • Cover and chill under ready to serve.

  • For the Toasted Rolls: Spread both flat sides of the New England rolls with a generous amount of butter.

  • Heat a large skillet (or griddle) to medium heat. Place the rolls flat-side-down in the skillet. Toast for 1-3 minutes until golden-brown. Then flip and toast the other side for 1-3 minutes. Remove and repeat as needed.

  • Once all of the rolls are perfectly toasted, load them with lobster salad and serve!

Video

Notes

How To Steam Lobsters:

  • Choose a pot large enough to hold all the lobsters.
  • Put 2 inches of salted water in the bottom of a large kettle. Then place a steaming basket inside the pot.
  • Bring the water to a boil. Add the live lobsters one at a time, cover the pot, and start timing. Steam for 10 minutes per pound.
  • Halfway through steaming, lift the lid and move the lobsters around so they cook evenly.
  • Once cooked, remove and cool before removing the meat from the shells.

Nutrition

Serving: 1roll, Calories: 227kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 50mg, Sodium: 522mg, Potassium: 105mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 209IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 97mg, Iron: 2mg

Course: Main Course, Sandwiches

Cuisine: American

Author: Sommer Collier

Making this recipe?Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!

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Best Maine Lobster Roll Recipe (Authentic) (2024)

FAQs

Is a lobster roll better with butter or mayo? ›

Some lobster lovers may prefer the cool and refreshing taste of chilled lobster with a touch of mayo, lemon juice, salt and pepper, and seasoning on a buttered and freshly toasted bun. Others may favor warm, succulent lobster meat doused in drawn butter and served on a fluffy, slightly crunchy toasted bun.

What is a traditional lobster roll? ›

Lobster Rolls Mean Summertime

New Englanders are an understated lot, and you'll see that reflected in this classic summer feast. Just a few ingredients: large chunks of lobster, mayonnaise, and celery, stuffed into a grilled hot dog bun and eaten on a dock near water on a sparkling day!

What is the difference between a Maine lobster roll and a New England lobster roll? ›

What's the difference between a Maine lobster roll and a Connecticut lobster roll? A Maine lobster roll is served with the lobster meat chilled and dressed in mayo with some crunchy greens like chives, celery, and/or scallions. A Connecticut lobster roll is served warm, dunked in butter, on a toasted bun.

What type of bread is used for a lobster roll? ›

Buns: New England Style Bread Rolls are traditional for Lobster Rolls. They are slit at the top, and the sides of the bun are flat, convenient for laying them flat to toast. If you can't find New England Style Buns, choose good quality soft, buttery buns—top sliced if you can find them, like these .

What is the difference between Maine style and Connecticut-style lobster roll? ›

While Maine rolls are served with chilled mayo-coated lobster salad on toasted split-top rolls, Connecticut-style rolls are warm and dripping with savory melted butter.

What is a lobster roll with butter called? ›

Essentially, there is none with a Connecticut roll — just a side of melted butter that's used to douse the lobster meat right before taking the first bite. Like the sound of warm, buttered lobster meat? Try Food Network Magazine's Connecticut-Style Lobster Rolls with Butter.

What is Connecticut style lobster roll? ›

Unlike the classic New England lobster roll (made up of cold lobster salad in a bun), the CT version is comprised of a top-split hot-dog bun stuffed with warm lobster tossed with a little melted butter.

Why are lobster rolls so expensive? ›

Morander pointed to many reasons for the price hikes (the current cost of a Lobster Landing roll is $26.50), but emphasized three: the quality of the meat, sourcing challenges, and the labor-intensive nature or roll-making.

How many pounds of lobster do I need for a lobster roll? ›

And if you want an overflowing lobster roll you can eat with a fork, plan on one 1¼ pound lobster per roll. And if at all possible, make sure you use New England style split-top hot dog buns (with the cut sides) as the roll's flavor explodes when toasted on a grill or skillet.

What state makes the best lobster roll? ›

The Best Lobster Rolls In The US, According To Reviews
  • Bite into Maine: Portland, Maine. ...
  • Guilford Lobster Pound: Guilford, Connecticut. ...
  • The Clam Shack: Kennebunkport, Maine. ...
  • McLoon's Lobster Shack: South Thomaston, Maine. ...
  • Twelve: Portland, Maine. ...
  • New England Lobster Market & Eatery: Burlingame, California.
Jan 24, 2024

What state is best known for lobster rolls? ›

Hands down, lobster meat is the essential part of the sandwich. It's the star attraction that draws people to New England's famous restaurants and lobster shacks dotting the coastline. To make a proper lobster roll, you need succulent meat, freshly harvested at just the right time from the waters of Maine.

Is a lobster roll better warm or cold? ›

Hands down it is a cold lobster roll. To me, nothing says summer in New England like a cold lobster roll with a touch of lemon, celery and a little mayonnaise, served in a toasted buttered roll with a side of French fries.

What is the best bun for a lobster roll? ›

You can't just stick lobster meat in any old bun and call it a lobster roll! It must be a top-split, white-bread hot dog bun, slowly toasted on both sides in plenty of butter.

Do Maine lobster rolls have mayo? ›

To make Maine Lobster Rolls, steamed lobster meat is cooled and lightly-dressed with mayonnaise. The lobster salad is served chilled, piled into a griddled hotdog bun. (On some menus, the lobster might be unadorned, with a little mayo spread onto the bun instead.)

How many lobsters does it take to make a lobster roll? ›

You want to use the meat from one small (1 pound to 1 1/4 pounds) lobster per roll. This works out to be about three to four ounces of meat per roll.

Do lobster rolls always have mayo? ›

Some people like warm lobster rolls dressed with butter. I occasionally pine for the magnificent examples served at Neptune Oyster Bar in Boston. But most of the time, cold lobster meat dressed with plain old Hellmann's mayo is the way to go, perhaps with a little extra squeeze of lemon.

Why do people dip lobster in butter? ›

People who use butter do it because they like the taste of seafood dipped in butter. There's no great mystery here. You can try it to see whether you like it.

Do people eat lobster with butter? ›

Lobster is very expensive these days, but doesn't have a strong flavour, and contains little fat. Some people would consider that a bit of melted butter balances the meat nicely, both in terms if taste and nutrition.

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