Authentic Maine Lobster Rolls - Let's get Crackin!

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After a long, blustery winter here on the Coast of Maine, we are more than ready to eat our lobster rolls outside—soaking up that salty air with a side of warm summer breeze. Ahhhh… bring on the sunshine, the sea spray, and the sweet simplicity of summer!

🦞 LET’S GET CRACKIN’!

Maine lobster rolls are a celebration of everything we love about summer: unfussy, fresh, and downright crave-worthy. Around here, the classic roll is made with steamed lobster meat, lightly dressed in mayo, and nestled inside a buttery toasted bun. That’s it—no fuss, no filler. Just the good stuff.

HOW TO MAKE A CLASSIC MAINE LOBSTER ROLL

At Salt & Shine, we believe the lobster should be the star of the show. So here’s how we do it:

🦞 First, The Lobster

  • We use 1½-pound fresh Maine lobsters.

  • You’ll need about 3 lobsters to get 1 pound of meat, which makes 4 perfect lobster rolls.

💡 How to Cook Live Lobsters

You’ve got two options—both delicious:

  • Boiling: Great if you're cooking for a crowd. Quick, easy, and the shells are easier to remove.

  • Steaming: Our favorite. It delivers more tender, flavorful meat and is harder to overcook.

💪 Claw Meat is King

Most shacks (and our own kitchens!) skip the tails and go straight for the claw, arm, and knuckle meat. It’s sweet, soft, and naturally comes in bite-sized chunks—perfect for rolling.

🥖 Next Up: The Roll

A true Maine lobster roll isn’t just about what’s inside. The New England-style hot dog bun—with cut, flat sides perfect for buttering and griddling—is key.

What You’ll Need:

For the Lobster Salad:

  • Cooked Maine lobster claw meat

  • A touch of mayo

  • Fresh dill and parsley

  • A little chopped celery

  • Salt and pepper

For the Rolls:

  • New England-style frankfurter buns

  • Butter (don’t be shy)

🧑‍🍳 Time to Build!

  1. Drain: Place the cooked lobster meat in a colander for 5 minutes.

  2. Mix: In a large bowl, gently combine lobster meat, herbs, mayo, celery, salt, and pepper.

  3. Chill: Keep that lobster salad nice and cool.

  4. Grill: Generously butter the sides of your buns and grill 1–3 minutes per side until golden.

  5. Fill: Load each roll with a generous scoop of lobster salad. No skimping here.

✨ ENJOY!

Now, take your roll outside, park yourself somewhere sunny, and take that first bite. You’ve officially entered Maine summer mode.

From our kitchen to your coastal picnic table—cheers to buttery buns, briny air, and lobster season in full swing. 🦞🌊