The 4 Commandments Of Cooking Perfect Lobster Tails (2024)

Lobster was a seafood I definitely avoided cooking until I got to culinary school. It's expensive (like $20 bucks a pound expensive), so I was always intimidated that I'd mess it up. But the most surprising thing about lobster tails is that the high price tag doesn't mean they're more difficult to cook.

Before you even get too cooking though, here's what you need to do:

Let it thaw.

Unless you bought fresh lobster, make sure your lobster tail is thawed completely. This will help it cook evenly and keep the meat from sticking to its shell. The fastest (and safest!) way to thaw your lobster tails is to place them in cold water for 30 minutes.

Cut the shells.

Take a sharp pair of kitchen shears and cut straight down the middle of the shell all the way to the fin. Using your thumbs, pry open the shell to reveal the meat.

After you're prepped the lobster tails, you're ready to cook them! All preparations listed below are quick and easy, so it's impossible to go wrong!

How To Steam

Before you get started, you'll need:

• a steamer basket
• a large pot with a lid

1. Place a steamer basket in a large pot and add about 2 inches of water. Cover pot and bring water to a boil.
2. Once boiling, add lobster tails and cover again. Cook until tails are bright red and meat is opaque and tender. About 1 minute per ounce of lobster.

How To Boil

Before you get started, you'll need:

• a large stockpot
• a slotted spoon, tongs, or a strainer

1. Bring a large stockpot of salted water to a boil. Reduce heat slightly and keep water at a gentle boil — stronger than a simmer, but weaker than a rolling boil.
2. Add lobster tails, and boil until they are bright red and their meat turns white and tender. Each tail should take about 1 minute per ounce to cook.
3. Remove tails with metal tongs, a slotted spoon, or by straining.

How To Grill

Before you get started, you'll need:

• a grill 😏
• skewers

1. Preheat grill or grill pan over medium heat. Insert a skewer lengthwise into lobster to keep it from curling while cooking.
2. Brush lobster all over with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on grill fresh-side down, and cook until lightly charred, about 6 minutes for an 8-ounce lobster tail. Flip, top with butter, and grill until lobster is just cooked through, about 5 minutes more.

How should you serve lobster tail?

Lobster is served best with a squeeze of lemon, melted butter, and fresh parsley. With seafood this good, it's best to keep things simple.

However we also can never say no to a well-made lobster roll or the less commonly made, though equally delicious, lobster salad. But you can use it in all manner of meal prep from topping salads to tossing into fried rice!

However you prepare or serve it, if you have any leftovers you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 to 3 days. Though we'll be shocked if you don't eat every last bite of sweet and tender lobster meat! Let us know your favorite ways to serve and cook lobster tail in the comments below!