Lobster is delicious and expensive seafood that many people fall in love with. If you are looking for the best ways to cook lobster tails, I think you have come to the right place. In this article, I will instruct you how to cook lobster tails at home in 5 different ways.
1. How To Boil Lobster Tails
Ingredients
- 2 Lobster tails (fresh or thawed if frozen)
- Water
- Salt (1-2 tablespoons per quart of water)
- Lemon wedges and melted butter (optional, for serving)
Instructions
Prepare the Lobster Tails
Thaw frozen lobster tails in the refrigerator overnight or in cold water for 30-60 minutes.
Use kitchen scissors to cut through the top of the shell lengthwise, stopping just before the tail fin. This makes it easier to access the meat after cooking.
Bring Water to a Boil
Fill a large pot with enough water to fully submerge the lobster tails. Next, add salt to the water (about 1-2 tablespoons per quart) to enhance the flavor. Then bring the water to a rolling boil.
Add the Lobster Tails
Place the tails into the boiling water, make sure the tails are fully submerged.
Cook the Lobster Tails
Boil the tails according to their size (refer to the Lobster Tail Boil Time Chart below):
| Tail Size (ounces) | Boil Time (minutes) |
|---|---|
| 4-5 oz | 4-5 minutes |
| 6-7 oz | 5-6 minutes |
| 8-10 oz | 6-8 minutes |
| 10-12 oz | 8-10 minutes |
| 14-16 oz | 10-12 minutes |
Check for Doneness
The cooked lobster meat should be opaque and white, and the shells will turn bright red.
Use a meat thermometer if needed; the internal temperature should be 140°F-145°F (60°C-63°C).
Drain and Serve
Remove the tails from the boiling water using tongs and let them drain. Serve immediately with melted butter, lemon wedges, or your favorite dipping sauce.
2. How To Steam Lobster Tails
Ingredients
- 2 lobster tails (fresh or thawed if frozen)
- Water (1-2 inches for steaming)
- Lemon wedges and melted butter (optional, for serving)
Instructions
Prepare the Lobster Tails
Thaw frozen lobster tails in the refrigerator overnight or in cold water for 30-60 minutes.
Use kitchen scissors to cut along the top of the shell lengthwise, stopping just before the tail fin. Gently pull the meat upward and rest it on the shell for a “butterflied” presentation.
Prepare the Steaming Setup
Fill a pot with 1-2 inches of water. Add a steaming rack or basket so the lobster tails don’t touch the water.
Next, bring the water to a boil, then reduce it to a simmer.
Add the Lobster Tails
Place the lobster tails on the steaming rack, shell side down. Then cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid to trap the steam.
Steam the Lobster Tails
Steam the tails according to their size using the Steamed Lobster Tail Time Chart below.
| Tail Size (ounces) | Steam Time (minutes) |
|---|---|
| 4-5 oz | 5-6 minutes |
| 6-7 oz | 6-8 minutes |
| 8-10 oz | 8-10 minutes |
| 10-12 oz | 10-12 minutes |
| 14-16 oz | 12-14 minutes |
Check for Doneness
The cooked lobster meat should be opaque and white, and the shells will turn bright red.
The internal temperature should reach 140°F-145°F (60°C-63°C) if using a meat thermometer.
Serve
Carefully remove the lobster tails from the steamer. Serve immediately with melted butter, lemon wedges, or your favorite sauce.
3. How To Cook Lobster Tails in Oven
Ingredients
- 4 Lobster tails (fresh or thawed if frozen)
- Melted butter (2-3 tablespoons per tail)
- Garlic (1 clove, minced)
- Lemon juice (1 tablespoon per tail)
- Paprika, salt, and pepper (to taste)
- Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Preheat the Oven
Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) or 400°F (204°C) depending on your preference.
Prepare the Lobster Tails:
Thaw lobster tails if they’re frozen by placing them in the refrigerator overnight or in cold water for 30-60 minutes.
Using kitchen scissors, cut through the top of the shell lengthwise, stopping just before the tail fin.
Gently pull the meat upward, keeping it attached at the base, and rest it over the shell for a “butterflied” presentation.
Season the Lobster Meat:
Mix melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Then brush this mixture generously over the exposed lobster meat.
Bake the Lobster Tails:
Place the prepared tails on a baking sheet or in an oven-safe dish. Bake according to the size of the tails (refer to the Lobster Tail Bake Time Chart below), generally 10-18 minutes.
| Tail Size (ounces) | Bake Time at 375°F (190°C) | Bake Time at 400°F (204°C) |
|---|---|---|
| 4-5 oz | 10-12 minutes | 8-10 minutes |
| 6-7 oz | 12-14 minutes | 10-12 minutes |
| 8-10 oz | 14-16 minutes | 12-14 minutes |
| 10-12 oz | 16-18 minutes | 14-16 minutes |
| 14-16 oz | 18-20 minutes | 16-18 minutes |
Check for Doneness:
The cooked lobster meat should turn opaque and white. For accuracy, use a meat thermometer; the internal temperature should reach 140°F-145°F (60°C-63°C).
Serve:
Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh parsley, additional melted butter, or lemon wedges.
4. How To Grill Lobster Tails
Ingredients
- 4 lobster tails (fresh or thawed if frozen)
- Wooden or metal skewers
- Melted butter (4-5 tablespoons)
- Garlic (2 cloves, minced)
- Lemon juice (2 tablespoons)
- Paprika, salt, and pepper (to taste)
- Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Prepare the Lobster Tails:
Thaw frozen lobster tails in the refrigerator overnight or in cold water for 30-60 minutes.
Using kitchen shears, cut the lobster shell down the middle, stopping at the tail and without cutting the tail. Then your thumbs and fingers to spread open the shell.
Insert Skewers:
Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning on the grill. If using metal skewers, skip this step
Insert a skewer lengthwise through the tail to keep it from curling while cooking.
Prepare the Butter Sauce:
In a small bowl, mix melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Preheat the Grill:
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (about 375°F-400°F / 190°C-204°C). Lightly oil the grill grates to prevent sticking.
Brush and Grill the Lobster Tails:
Brush the lobster meat generously with the butter sauce.
Place the lobster tails meat-side down on the grill and cook for 4-5 minutes.
Flip the tails shell-side down and cook for another 4-5 minutes, basting with more butter sauce.
Check for Doneness:
The cooked lobster meat should be opaque and white with light grill marks, and the shells will be bright red. The internal temperature should reach 140°F-145°F (60°C-63°C).
Serve:
Remove the skewers before serving, or leave them in for a fun presentation. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges and extra melted butter.
5. How To Cook Lobster Tails in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 lobster tails (4-6 ounces each)
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 4 tablespoon butter unsalted
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons parsley chopped, fresh
- 2 lemons cut into wedges for serving ( optional )
Instructions
After preparing the lobster tails following the same instructions as in the oven method, we will prepare the lemon garlic butter sauce
Combine minced garlic, lemon juice, butter, and parsley in a microwave-safe dish. Heat in the microwave for 15-second intervals, stirring in between, until the butter is completely melted. Stir well to mix.
Season the exposed lobster meat with salt and pepper. Brush the lobster meat with the garlic butter sauce, setting aside the remaining sauce for later use.
Preheat the air fryer to 350º Fahrenheit. Place the lobster tails in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not touching. Cook for 6-8 minutes.
Serve the lobster tails immediately, with fresh lemon wedges and the reserved garlic butter sauce for dipping.
Cooking lobster tails at home can be tricky for beginners. However, if you try to practice cooking it many times, you will become skilled and have the best lobster tails in your meal.
