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Buying North Atlantic hard-shelled lobster. If you have ever thought about buying live lobster to cook at home, here are some things you’ll want to know before doing so.

North Atlantic lobster are cold water lobsters with a very hard shell. Although more expensive, you’re more likely to have success with cold water lobsters because they contain up to 50% more meat. The problem is when buying lobster tails, it’s sometimes hard to tell the difference unless marked or you ask.

When buying live lobsters, it’s much easier. Cold water lobsters have large claws in the front where warm water lobsters, also called “spiny lobster” or “rock lobsters” don't. You will also notice cold water lobsters have whiter meat and are often thought of as more tender because they grow more slowly in colder waters. Because of their exposure to warmer water, spiny lobsters tend to grow larger..

The American lobster, Homarus americanus, is a species of lobster found on the Atlantic coast of North America, chiefly from Labrador to New Jersey. Within North America, it is also known as the northern lobster or Maine lobster. It can reach a body length of 64 cm (25 in), and a mass of over 20 kilograms (44 lb), making it the heaviest crustacean in the world. Its closest relative is the European lobster Homarus gammarus, which can be distinguished by its coloration and the lack of spines on the underside of the rostrum. American lobsters are usually bluish green to brown with red spines, but a number of color variations have been observed.