How To Tell If A Lobster Is Male Or Female

Is That Lobster a Boy or a Girl?

How do you tell the difference between a male and female lobster? And does it really matter? Truth is, a lobster's gender makes no difference in flavor, but it's still kind of fun to know. Here are two telltale signs to look for:

• The shape of the tail: The male lobster has a very straight tail (it's the lobster on the left above); the female's tail is wider and has a slight curve.
• The first set of "baby" legs: On the male, the first set is covered in a hard shell; on the female, they're thin and feathery.

Now the next time you eat lobster, you can crush at lobster trivia.

In Related Lobster News

• Dive into our best lobster recipes.
• Learn more about buying and cooking fresh lobster.
• You might also like to check out more seafood and shellfish recipes.

And because freshness counts:

• Learn how to make sure you're choosing the freshest fish.
• If you're cooking shellfish, here's how to know if it's really fresh.