Maine Lobster: Soft-shell versus Hard shell :: Essays Papers

Maine Lobster: Soft-shell versus Hard shell A lobster must shed its shell in order to grow. It takes about five to seven years for a lobster to become a legal size harvestable adult. Soft-shell is the term used for a newly molted lobster. A soft-shell lobster has a shell with room for growth. Soft-shell lobsters are not as full of meat because their new shell is larger than the muscle inside the body. The part not filled with its body’s muscle tissue is filled with water. Soft-shell lobsters may look big on the outside, but they have a much lower meat yield on the inside. Most adult lobsters molt from June to September depending upon location and water temperatures. Hard-shell lobster is a lobster with an old shell whose body has completely filled its shell. A hard-shell lobster is a fully meated lobster which is mainly caught during the winter and spring months of the fishing season. During these months, lobsters are at their peak health and condition, and the meat yields are at their highest. Why do consumers prefer soft-shell lobsters to hard-shell lobsters? Many consumers prefer soft-shell lobsters over hard-shell lobsters because of several reasons. According to some people, meat from soft-shell lobsters is more tender than from hard-shell ones. They contend that the meat is sweeter and juicier than the hard-shell lobsters. In addition, some people prefer soft-shell lobsters because they do not need any tools to crack them apart. Moreover, some people prefer soft-shell lobsters because they are less expensive than hard-shell ones. If you are looking for cheap and abundant soft-shell lobsters, then the summer months are good because the weather does not keep lobstermen from fishing them. Why do consumers prefer hard-shell lobsters to soft-shell lobsters? Many consumers prefer hard-shell lobsters over soft-shell lobsters because of several reasons. Hard-shell lobster contains fifty percent more meat than the same size soft-shell lobster. Hard-shell meat is firmer, while soft-shell meat is softer and tends to have more water. Furthermore, hard-shell lobsters ship better than soft-shell lobsters because they are less likely to crack en route. If you are looking for hard-shell lobsters, the winter months are ideal for this, but prices are higher because it is more trying for lobstermen to be out in the elements.