Question: What is langostino?

 

Answer: Langostino is a species of lobster harvested off the coast of Chile. Langostino are identified as squat lobster. Squat lobster are lobster species that have small tails. This information is drawn from the book, "Lobsters Of The World," by Austin B. Williams.

 

Question: What does langostino taste like?

 

Answer: Langostino has a flavor profile that lands between that of Maine Lobster and Shrimp.

 

Question: How do you cook langostino?

 

Answer: Most langostino meat is pre-cooked frozen meat. The best way to thaw frozen langostino meat is overnight in your refrigerator. When using langositino as an ingredient in a recipe such as with pasta, bisque, chowder, stir fry or other hot dish it is best to add the langostino meat at the end of the cooking process to just heat through before serving. Once thawed langostino meat can be added to cold dishes such as salads or lobster rolls in the order called for in the recipe.

 

Question: How big are langostino?

 

Answer: Langostino are on average 3 inches long not including the length of their claws.

 

Question: What is the species / Latin name for langostino?

 

Answer: There are two commercial species of langostino in Chile. The first is red langostino, known in Chile as Langostino Colorado (red langostino), with the Latin name (Pleuroncodes Monodon) .  The other species is yellow langostino, known in Chile as Langostino Amarillo, with the Latin name (cervimunida johni).

 

Question: Where are langostino caught?

 

Answer: Langostino are caught off the coast of Chile are commercially harvested from Caldera (latitude 27 degrees S.) to Calbuco (about latitued 42 degrees S.) at a depth range from 125 to 200 meters.

 

Question: Are langostino sustainable?

 

Answer: The Chilean langostino fishery has been under assessment for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) sustainability certification. On August 8, 2016 they issues their final report. The fishery attained a score of 80 or more against each of the MSC Principles and did not score less than 60 against any MSC Criteria. It is therefore determined by the assessment team that the Chile langostino (Chile squat lobsters) should be certified according to the Marine Stewardship Council Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fisheries. Following this decision by the assessment team, and review by stakeholders and peer-reviewers, the determination will be presented to Acoura Marine’s decision making entity that this fishery has passed its assessment and should be certified. MSC should announce the sustainability of the Chilean langostino fishery shortly.