What factor may be a more accurate predictor of meat quality than the country of origin alone?
Answer
The actual stage of the molt
While geography and origin are commonly used metrics, an observation detailed in the industry suggests that the point in the animal's life cycle, specifically the stage of its molt, can be a far more reliable indicator of the resulting meat quality than simply knowing if it came from Maine or Canada. This is because shell hardness is directly tied to the molting cycle, which itself is dictated by fluctuating water temperatures. For instance, a Maine lobster caught in the winter when it possesses a hard shell might have textural qualities closer to what is expected from a typical Canadian catch than a soft-shell Maine lobster caught during the summer molting period.
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