The tomalley in a lobster is its liver and pancreas. When cooked it looks like a green paste in the abdominal cavity of the lobster. Cooked correctly, it is considered a delicacy and is safe to eat as long as the lobster was harvested from pure waters. It can be eaten scooped from the lobster or used in sauces for a rich flavor.
Note: this is often misspelled "tamale", a different food in Mexican cuisine
Tomalley is the liver and pancreas of the lobster. It looks like a green paste inside the abdominal cavity of a cooked lobster. It is considered a delicacy and many people consider it the best part of a lobster. It can be eaten scooped from the cooked lobster or can be used to flavor sauces. You can spoon it from the abdominal cavity after splitting the lobster down the center of the abdomen. How to open and eat a whole lobster from the shell is explained in the information at the link listed in the related links section.
Tomalley is the liver and pancreas of the lobster. It looks like a green paste inside the abdominal cavity of a cooked lobster. It is considered a delicacy and many people consider it the best part of a lobster. It can be eaten scooped from the cooked lobster or can be used to flavor sauces. Note: this is often misspelled "tamale" or "tomale".
The asker of the question provided this additional information as background to the question: "I had a lobster last night from a well-known establishment... and when I pulled the tail off, I found some things I never found in a lobster before: black goo and this red paste that went all the way down through the middle of the tail." Answer: There is no black tomalley. The black substance inside the abdominal cavity along with the green tomalley in a cooked lobster is called the coral and is found in the female lobster. It is the eggs or roe of the lobster, and those who like tomalley are usually big fans of the coral. The red stripe running down the middle of the back of the tail is likely the digestive tract. It is the color of what the lobster has eaten. Before eating the tail, peel off the digestive tract. It will not be harmful to eat after the lobster is cooked, but may be gritty and not very tasty.
Adding tomalley, the soft, greenish substance found in the lobster's body, enhances the flavor of lobster bisque by introducing a rich, briny essence. It acts as a natural thickener and adds depth to the soup, complementing the sweetness of the lobster meat. However, tomalley should be used in moderation, as it can be quite rich and may alter the bisque’s texture if overused. Always ensure the tomalley is fresh and sourced from healthy lobsters for the best results.
You're craving mercury. It's green because that's where the lobster's liver is and processes mercury.
No, lobster meat itself is not poisonous. However, the green tomalley (liver) and the roe (eggs) inside a lobster can contain toxins if the lobster was exposed to certain pollutants. It is recommended to avoid consuming these parts.
The tomalley of a lobster is the greenish substance found in its body, functioning as a liver and pancreas. While some people enjoy eating it for its rich flavor, it can accumulate toxins, heavy metals, and pollutants from the lobster's environment, which may pose health risks. Due to these potential contaminants, some health advisories recommend limiting or avoiding consumption of tomalley, especially in lobsters from polluted waters. Always check local guidelines for safety before consuming it.
In actuality, it isn't black. Usually what appears to be black is either the undercooked liver, called the tomally which is a dark green or the undercooked lobster eggs called roe whicj are a dark red.
If it was refrigerated a short time after preparation it should be okay.
To be safe you should cook it within 24 hours and then eat within 24 hours of cooking.
How long has it been dead? When you buy lobster tails, ONLY, in the stores, the reason they are there is the live lobster died before they could properly package it. The tail is the only part that is safe to eat from a "dead" lobster. They have been dead for a VERY short time.
Black tomalley in lobsters refers to the greenish substance found in the lobster's body, which is the liver and pancreas. It is considered a delicacy by some and is often used in sauces or as a spread, but it can also accumulate toxins, making it potentially unsafe to consume in large quantities. While many enjoy its rich flavor, it's important to be aware of the health risks associated with eating tomalley, especially after harmful algal blooms.