Isn’t boiling them alive the only way to not make them taste horribly?
Odd-Masterpiece7304 on
When I worked at Red lobster in the 90’s, I was taught to stab them between the eyes to kill the brain. I didn’t ask why, I just thought it was the decent thing to do. By the way at Red Lob they were cooked in a steamer not a pot.
I also do the same when cleaning fish, I hate when people fillet live fish.
RealDakJackal on
Holy crap, it’s actually against the law to boil lobsters alive in Italy. I feel like I’m ok with that. Blue crabs were definitely a part of my childhood and they are especially delicious so I feel extra bad.
This doesn’t apply to lobsters specifically right? Like is it fine if it’s a crab?
Objective_Pin_2718 on
When I moved to Maine and got the state’s new resident welcome guide, it told me that they lack the component of the brain that allows them to feel pain, so boiling them alive is fine, and I’m not going to question it
mischling2543 on
Places you shouldn’t order lobster
dexter2312421254217 on
r/mapswithnewzealand
Harolduss on
When the lobster aliens come we are all going in the pot, and we deserve it.
galaxysuperstar22 on
but farming pigs and chickens in cages for their entire life is still allowed lol
thewarriorpoet23 on
As a New Zealander, this is a map I’m proud to be on.
I just wish more countries were red.
ControversyMan69 on
No one outside of the UK cares
mrguym4ster on
those central european borders are very close to the HRE borders, only missing a few territories
TheMalformedLlama on
Who enforces this lmao
Gnarly_Sarley on
What about ripping their tails off while they’re still alive and throwing just the tail in the pot.
I saw Bobby Flay do this on an episode of Beat Bobby Flay and it really made me want to beat Bobby Flay.
IngVegas on
New Zealand was the first country to give women the vote and ban nuclear powered warships from its ports so it has a history of leading the world on a range of issues
dtisme53 on
It’s pretty standard practice to pierce the brain right before cooking lobster. Is there a school of thought that the lobster has to be tortured to death for the flavor to be right? I know that there’s a Japanese dish where the tail is removed from the living lobster and prepared while the still writhing thorax and head are used in the plating. I don’t think that’s the sort of dish you can get at any old restaurant and im sure it’s vanishingly rare
TheStraggletagg on
It’s important to clarify that this is not a law in a lot of places simply because it doesn’t happen. It’s next to impossible (I don’t want to say impossible only because there could be a couple of cases here and there) to get fresh (much less alive) lobster in Argentina. We don’t eat them, and when it’s sold it’s usually frozen. So the live boiling of lobsters is not a problem that requires a law as solution. I imagine that’s the case for a lot, if not most, grey countries.
ARQEA on
The map is wrong because you can boil lobsters alive in Germany
cmerchantii on
Funnily enough also a map of countries that lack airlift capacity or operations and logistics capability to sustain a consistent military effort. So not surprising, turns out if your country is focused on whether giant ocean cockroaches can be boiled you suck at raising a military.
mhmdtheconqueror on
it’s prohibited in Islam too.
MattiasCrowe on
Its only because north sea lobsters specifically scream in human range of hearing when they’re boiled alive and its particularly upsetting for Nordic chefs. British chefs don’t care but the waitstaff found out and it caused a barney
JustLovelyStuff on
Brit here. This is untrue regarding the UK. There are plans to ban boiling lobsters alive but it will be at least a couple of years before it happens (and at any rate was only announced in the past few days).
Sufficient_Cut8726 on
First time I see New Zealand it’s not left out
slifm on
Europe always leading the way
refusenic on
So countries with no lobsters?
Finaginsbud on
Stupid ban as it really wastes a lot of the flavour, stabbing it in the brain isn’t much more ethical if any. Boiling water will kill it pretty quick and not ruin the lobster. Even if Canada banned this, most east coast Canadians are going to boil them in sea water. Its much better.
Ok_Trash88 on
Thank god i can boil lobster alive in my country
SnooHamsters4643 on
So Norwegians are ok with shooting an intelligent whale w an explosive tipped harpoon but not boil a shellfish alive. Sigh
raiken92 on
Just because they CAN boil the lobsters alive, doesn’t mean most of these countries DO. It just means there’s no law against it..
muse_enjoyer025 on
Andorra too!
Blitzbahn on
When I was in China I saw someone pour boiling water on a live chicken, I think to make it easier to pluck. Why the fuck not kill it first?
Unimaginably cruel.
38 Comments
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Source?
Isn’t boiling them alive the only way to not make them taste horribly?
When I worked at Red lobster in the 90’s, I was taught to stab them between the eyes to kill the brain. I didn’t ask why, I just thought it was the decent thing to do. By the way at Red Lob they were cooked in a steamer not a pot.
I also do the same when cleaning fish, I hate when people fillet live fish.
Holy crap, it’s actually against the law to boil lobsters alive in Italy. I feel like I’m ok with that. Blue crabs were definitely a part of my childhood and they are especially delicious so I feel extra bad.
Norways hunt, sell, and eat whales…
chile too
The UK is just joining this [list](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/22/boiling-lobsters-alive-banned-animal-cruelty-crackdown). Good work UK! That’s really cool.
Red countries:

This doesn’t apply to lobsters specifically right? Like is it fine if it’s a crab?
When I moved to Maine and got the state’s new resident welcome guide, it told me that they lack the component of the brain that allows them to feel pain, so boiling them alive is fine, and I’m not going to question it
Places you shouldn’t order lobster
r/mapswithnewzealand
When the lobster aliens come we are all going in the pot, and we deserve it.
but farming pigs and chickens in cages for their entire life is still allowed lol
As a New Zealander, this is a map I’m proud to be on.
I just wish more countries were red.
No one outside of the UK cares
those central european borders are very close to the HRE borders, only missing a few territories
Who enforces this lmao
What about ripping their tails off while they’re still alive and throwing just the tail in the pot.
I saw Bobby Flay do this on an episode of Beat Bobby Flay and it really made me want to beat Bobby Flay.
New Zealand was the first country to give women the vote and ban nuclear powered warships from its ports so it has a history of leading the world on a range of issues
It’s pretty standard practice to pierce the brain right before cooking lobster. Is there a school of thought that the lobster has to be tortured to death for the flavor to be right? I know that there’s a Japanese dish where the tail is removed from the living lobster and prepared while the still writhing thorax and head are used in the plating. I don’t think that’s the sort of dish you can get at any old restaurant and im sure it’s vanishingly rare
It’s important to clarify that this is not a law in a lot of places simply because it doesn’t happen. It’s next to impossible (I don’t want to say impossible only because there could be a couple of cases here and there) to get fresh (much less alive) lobster in Argentina. We don’t eat them, and when it’s sold it’s usually frozen. So the live boiling of lobsters is not a problem that requires a law as solution. I imagine that’s the case for a lot, if not most, grey countries.
The map is wrong because you can boil lobsters alive in Germany
Funnily enough also a map of countries that lack airlift capacity or operations and logistics capability to sustain a consistent military effort. So not surprising, turns out if your country is focused on whether giant ocean cockroaches can be boiled you suck at raising a military.
it’s prohibited in Islam too.
Its only because north sea lobsters specifically scream in human range of hearing when they’re boiled alive and its particularly upsetting for Nordic chefs. British chefs don’t care but the waitstaff found out and it caused a barney
Brit here. This is untrue regarding the UK. There are plans to ban boiling lobsters alive but it will be at least a couple of years before it happens (and at any rate was only announced in the past few days).
First time I see New Zealand it’s not left out
Europe always leading the way
So countries with no lobsters?
Stupid ban as it really wastes a lot of the flavour, stabbing it in the brain isn’t much more ethical if any. Boiling water will kill it pretty quick and not ruin the lobster. Even if Canada banned this, most east coast Canadians are going to boil them in sea water. Its much better.
Thank god i can boil lobster alive in my country
So Norwegians are ok with shooting an intelligent whale w an explosive tipped harpoon but not boil a shellfish alive. Sigh
Just because they CAN boil the lobsters alive, doesn’t mean most of these countries DO. It just means there’s no law against it..
Andorra too!
When I was in China I saw someone pour boiling water on a live chicken, I think to make it easier to pluck. Why the fuck not kill it first?
Unimaginably cruel.
This woman on TikTok does lives boiling live crawfish [@immadisonnn](https://www.tiktok.com/@immadisonnn?_r=1&_t=ZG-92SBnmLxgHZ)
I watched once a live from her and seriously got a bad vibe she really puts them boiling alive and dances around her kitchen. Has a crab as a pet too…