If you’re a seafood lover, you may have dreamt of tasting particular types of seafood, and that list usually includes lobsters. Now, one thing you’ll notice is that the price is quite steep compared to other seafood options. However, if you’re on a budget, you may wonder if it’s worth buying, so you may ask:
Why are lobsters so expensive? Lobsters are so expensive due to their popularity and high demand. Also, lobsters are challenging to catch and best served when fresh. Thus, catching up to preparing takes a lot of skills and resources. All these factors add up to the high price of lobsters.
In general, lobsters were once affordable and accessible to everyone. However, the increase in popularity and demand gave this seafood a high value and price. If you’re planning to buy some lobsters, you may want to learn more about the price. Then, you can learn about its value and see if it’s worth your money.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the top three reasons why lobsters are so expensive. This way, you can learn more about its value and price and see if it’s worth buying or not, especially if you are on a budget.
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Table of Contents
Are lobsters expensive?
Yes, lobsters are expensive, and it’s because of several reasons. Among the common reasons are its popularity and labor-intensive processing.
Over the past few decades, lobster prices have increased due to the lobster life cycle, overharvesting, and food-safe technology. In the past, this was a poor man’s food. Today, it’s a delicacy that can cost a lot for just one meal.
Why are lobsters so expensive?
Here are the top three reasons why lobsters are so expensive. Then, you can look at it to understand the value of lobsters and why they have such a high value and price.
Popularity
The first thing that makes lobsters so expensive is their popularity. In the 1800s, lobsters were considered the poor man’s protein since they were widely available on the shores and accessible to everyone living by the coast.
However, as the preservation developed, the demand for lobsters increased since the range of consumers expanded to the world.
Also, some cuisines developed a way to enjoy lobsters, making them appealing even to the upper class of society.
As of the moment, lobster is so high in demand and is so popular that they are enjoyed and known more as a luxury and premium seafood.
Such popularity increases its value, and with a lesser supply of lobsters, the price increases over time and continues to do so until today.
Difficult to catch
Another thing that makes lobsters expensive is that they are difficult to catch. While lobsters are widely caught worldwide, they are difficult to catch, especially in bulk.
For this reason, these types of seafood are usually caught by hand, using special tools and skills. Thus, catching a lobster is truly labor-intensive, making them more expensive since they are valuable.
Another thing is that lobsters are more common in temperate waters. As a result, it’s more expensive when caught in other regions where the climate isn’t warm. The reason is that there are fewer supplies of lobsters in regions with no temperate waters.
Best served fresh
Lobsters are best served and enjoyed fresh. Thus, preserving them after catching them is a crucial step. Unfortunately, now, they are more expensive when caught alive and cooked right away.
Still, even if you buy lobsters as frozen, people already spend a lot of resources to keep these lobsters in their best condition.
For this reason, you can expect to pay a higher price since the transportation and preservation of lobsters are expensive.
Now, if you enjoy a freshly caught lobster, you may not be paying for the transportation and preservation, but you’re paying for the quality of a freshly caught lobster.
How much do lobsters cost?
Generally, lobsters cost around $35 to $50 per pound. However, you can find some pretty expensive ones that will cost you $120 per pound. Of course, it will all depend on the type of lobster you’re getting and where you’re getting it. Lobsters are not the most expensive seafood around, but they belong on the expensive side.
Are lobsters worth the money?
Yes, lobsters are worth the money, but only when you have the budget. You can enjoy the same taste and flavor with shrimps or crabs if you’re on a tight budget.
Although lobsters have a unique taste and flavor, it’s not worth splurging your money, especially on a budget.
You can get more meat on lobsters, but you can also enjoy the taste and flavor of scallops and shrimps, although you may notice lobster is a bit sweeter when you compare them.
With almost four times more on the price, it’s suitable for certain occasions, but it’s not something you’ll want to enjoy all the time.
Why are lobsters so popular?
Lobsters are so popular because of the large chunks of meat they offer. Lobsters were once considered a poor man’s meat. However, some people learned to preserve the lobsters and made them accessible to other regions after some time.
In short, lobsters grew in popularity over time because people found a way to enjoy them better. Unfortunately, as of the moment, they are enjoyed as premium seafood and as a luxury that not anyone can enjoy.
Why is lobster more expensive than a crab?
Lobster is more expensive than crab because they are harder to catch, store, and keep alive before they are cooked.
Crabs live in all oceans, but many live in fresh water and on land, especially in tropical areas. This environment makes them more accessible than lobsters.
On the other hand, there’s a lesser supply of lobsters, and catching and preserving them can also consume many resources.
Further, you can get more meat with lobsters than with a crab. As a result, they tend to be more expensive.
Also Read:
- Why Are Oysters So Expensive?
- Why Is King Crab So Expensive?
- Why Are Scallops So Expensive?
- Why Are Wings So Expensive?
- Why Are Quail Eggs So Expensive?
Summary
In a nutshell, the high demand for lobsters makes them so expensive. They are also difficult to catch and should be served fresh. It requires a lot of skills and resources to catch up to preparation. These factors contribute to the high price of lobsters.
Generally, lobsters were once affordable and accessible to everyone. However, due to its popularity and growing demand, this seafood has gained a high price and value. If you’re thinking about buying lobsters, you may want to determine how much they cost. We hope this information helped you learn about the value of lobsters and see if this seafood is worth your money.
Resources
Image credits – Canva
