Warm Water vs Cold Water Lobster: What’s the Difference?

The main difference between cold water and warm water lobster is in the claws and the meat. Cold water lobsters have large claws and firm, slightly sweet meat. Warm water lobsters have no claws and are harvested for their tail meat.

In this guide, we compare warm water vs cold water lobster side by side: where each one lives, what it looks like, how the meat eats, and what it costs. We’re partial to Maine lobster, of course, but lobsters come from several parts of the world, like California, Australia, and the Caribbean.

Cold Water vs Warm Water Lobster at a Glance

What Is Warm Water Lobster?

Warm-water lobsters come from waters with warm climates, like the coast of Florida, California, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific region. These lobsters tend to migrate together when they need to find warmer waters, a new place to make their home or more food.

What Warm Water Lobster Looks Like

Warm-water lobsters usually have what’s known as a “spiny” look (the photo above is a spiny lobster). They have small spiked points that protrude from their shells, which are part of the lobster’s defense mechanism. They’re also quite colorful compared to cold-water lobsters, boasting several red, brown, and black hues all over their bodies.

One of the most notable differences between warm and cold water lobsters, though, is that spiny lobsters have no claws. Instead, they have antennae-like “arms” that they use to feed themselves.

Warm Water Lobster Meat

The only part of a warm-water lobster that humans can eat is the tail. These crustaceans are harvested only for their tail meat, which is why you’ll often see their lobster tails cut and frozen in the grocery store or on your restaurant dinner plate. It tends to be a little mushier than the firm-but-tender meat from a cold-water animal.

If you buy your tails frozen, here are two simple ways to thaw lobster tails.

Warm Water Lobster Price

Lobsters from warm waters are significantly lower in price than their cold-water counterparts, mostly because the meat isn’t as desirable and there’s less edible meat in them.

What Is Cold Water Lobster?

Cold-water lobsters typically come from the eastern coast of the United States and Canada. The majority of these creatures live near Maine and Canada but can be found as far south as the Carolinas. These crustaceans also live along the western coast of Europe.

Cold-water lobsters are solitary, meaning that they prefer to travel alone when looking for food or new dwelling space.

What Cold Water Lobster Looks Like

When cold water lobsters become full-size, they tend to be larger than those that live in warm climates. These lobsters go through molting sessions every year or so in which they shed their shells to grow and then produce a new shell that becomes thick and hard over time. The largest ones can reach four pounds or more, on average.

Lobsters from cold waters will always have the large claws that we tend to associate with the animal, with one claw larger than the other. They also carry subtler colors than their warm-water cousins, usually dark greenish-brown. They have smooth shells with no spikes.

Cold Water Lobster Meat

Since lobsters in cold water live in frigid temperatures, their meat gets significantly firmer than those from warm waters. When you cook and eat a cold-water lobster, you’ll notice that the meat tends to stay together in chunks and is tender, but not mushy, when you eat it.

The meat’s flavor is what brings in most of its draw, though. Cold water lobster tends to have a slight hint of sweetness without an overpowering fishy taste like warm water lobster has, making it perfect for people who like more subtle flavors.

Cold Water Lobster Price

We won’t lie: cold water lobsters cost more per pound than warm water ones. But most people agree that they also deserve their price tag. They’re bigger, have better flavor and texture, and they have more edible meat inside than warm-water versions, so you don’t pay for a lot of lobster you can’t even eat.

Cold Water vs Warm Water Lobster: Is One Better Than the Other?

Like most things, the best kind of lobster comes down to your preference for flavor, texture, and price. But, if you think cold water lobster is the way to go, then we invite you to order lobster online from Maine Lobster House today to try out some of the best lobsters your money can buy.

Before you buy, learn what to look for in quality lobster. Then see how to grill, boil, and bake lobster tails at home. You can also read about the difference between crab and lobster.