Skip to Content

How to Make Lobster Tails

Learn how to make lobster tails! You can have a fabulous dinner at home!

Do you love lobster? Is it your favorite seafood?

It is for this editor. In fact, it’s among my top 10 favorite foods.

Just pass me the melted butter, and I’m in heaven.

But ordering lobster in restaurants is expensive. Making lobster tails at home is a more reasonable alternative, especially when feeding a family.

Cooking lobster isn’t hard. You can boil it, steam it, bake it, broil it, or even grill it.

Lobster Photo
(Stock Image)

How to Store Lobster Tails

Store frozen lobster tails in the freezer until 24 hours before you want to cook them. Thaw the lobster tails in their package in the refrigerator overnight.

If you need to thaw the lobster more quickly, you can take the tails out of the package and put them in a colander placed in a bowl of lukewarm water. Change the water periodically until the lobster thaws.

Learn more about how to cook frozen lobster tails.

Lobster Picture
(Stock Image)

How to Prepare Lobster Tails for Cooking

·       Rinse the tails and pat dry with a paper towel.

·       Use kitchen shears to cut through the length of the hard shells.

·       Spread the shells apart with your hands.

Lobster Image
(Stock Image)

How to Boil Lobster Tails

Boiling is the easiest method to use when making lobster tails at home.

1.       Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.

2.       Add prepared 8-ounce lobster tails to the water, lower to a simmer, and cook for 8-12 minutes, uncovered, or until the shells turn bright red and the lobster meat is tender. (Test it by piercing it with a fork.)

3.       Use tongs to remove the tails to a colander. Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking.

4.       When cooled enough, serve the lobster with melted butter.

5.       Refrigerate any leftover lobster for up to three days.

How to Steam Lobster Tails

Steaming lobster is a bit faster than boiling.

1.       Fill a pot with a couple inches of hot water and cover with a lid.

2.       When the water is boiling, fit your steamer basket on top and add the prepared 8-ounce lobster tails to the basket. (The water should not be touching the basket.)

3.       Cover the pot and steam for 8-10 minutes, or until they are bright red, and the meat is tender.

Lobster Pic
(Stock Image)

How to Butterfly a Lobster Tail

If you want to broil, bake or grill your lobster tails, it’s best to butterfly them first. Using kitchen shears, cut through the top hard shell and through the meat, but do not cut through the tail fan or bottom shell.

Then, pull the sides of the shell apart so the meat comes through, but do it gently enough so the meat is still connected to the bottom shell.

How to Broil Lobster Tails

Place butterflied tails on the unheated rack of a broiler pan, with the meat side up. Brush them with melted butter.

Broil them four inches from the heat for 12-14 minutes, until the meat turns opaque. Serve with additional melted butter.

If you want to cook your lobster with mussels, clams, potatoes, sausage and corn, check out this clam bake recipe

Are you tired of the dinner routine?

Stuck in a rut or looking for fun new recipes to try?

Our Facebook group is growing every day! If you haven’t joined yet, we invite you to come check it out and join the fun.

Find us on Facebook!

You can ask for recipe ideas, talk about cooking techniques, or get help figuring out the right new pan set for you. If you’ve already joined, invite a friend along!