Unlocking the Magic of Lobster Shells

Photo courtesy of Jayson Maker.

I am becoming increasingly intrigued with the many potential uses for lobster shells.  I've always thought it a shame and a waste to simply discard the shells after a lobster dinner as there seems to be so much flavor and goodness locked inside.

In January, I made my first lobster stock from the leftover shells of a lobster dinner.   The stock came out beautifully and served as a great base for lobster bouillabaisse.  If you'd like the lobster stock recipe, click here.

Modern day mixologists are using their imaginations to incorporate lobster shells, stocks and broths into their latest cocktails.  Waldostone Farm, a Maine-based specialty food company, have created a 'Bloody Lobster Cocktail' bloody mary mix infused with their house-made Maine lobster broth.    At  Meadowmere Resort in Ogunquit, a mixologist has created a lobster-infused vodka.

Beyond food and drink, lobster shells are beginning to be used as a manufacturing ingredient in items ranging from golf balls to counter tops.  As innovative people find more uses for what is currently a bi-product of lobster processing it should help boost the boat price fishermen are paid for their catch.   It will also help the environment, as each year processors dispose of thousands of pounds of lobster shells after the meat is removed.

But perhaps the most intriguing use of lobster shells is for medicinal purposes. One of the many interesting facts about America's favorite crustacean is that it seems to defy the aging process.  As mentioned in my book, 'As lobsters age, they don't slow down or become more prone to disease.  They don't stop growing or become infertile.  Lobsters actually become more fertile as they age.'   Researchers have found that, unlike the cells of most species, including humans, the cells of lobsters apparently don't have a fixed lifespan. And scientists are already experimenting with how lobster shells can be used to help humans live longer, healthier lives.

In a previous post, I spoke of how the food supplement glucosamine, which is often made from the shells of shrimp, crab and lobster, has been shown in studies to protect against several common causes of death, including reducing the risk of dying from cancer and respiratory disease. One study even found that glucosamine made mice live nearly 10 percent longer.  Substances found in lobster shells have also shown some potential in treating nerve damage. 

On a more superficial level, lobster shells may be able to help us hold onto our youthful appearance. Glucosamine used in skin creams appears to have an anti-aging effect on the skin.  One study found it to reduce the effects of sun damage while other studies showed that glucosamine may stimulate the production of hyaluronic acid and collagen, which keep the skin hydrated and plump.  I bet lobster beauty cream will be rolling off the production lines in the not to distant future!

To read more about lobster as the elixir of youth, click here.