Lobster Tails Recipe (2024)

Nothing says romantic meal like a gorgeous display of freshly cooked seafood. Despite the pricing on fine dining menus, it can actually be quite affordable to make the same dishes right at home.

For most people, lobster is synonymous with a delicacy, something saved for only special occasions. And at the restaurants, lobster will usually have a hefty price tag next to it, so again, people order it only on special occasions. For these reasons, it’s not surprising that most home-cooks get very intimidated cooking lobster at home.

I want to reassure you that it’s much easier to make it than you can imagine and, it will come at much lower price. Whether you get lobster tails from a seafood counter or frozen, it will still cost you only a fraction of a restaurant price.

Guide to Buying Lobster Tails

Warm Water Lobster vs Cold Water Lobster

There are two main varieties in lobster and that is warm water lobster and cold water lobster. Yes, one is better to get than the other!

Cold Water Lobster

These lobsters come from, as you may have guessed, cold waters and are much tastier than the ones caught in warm waters. These lobsters grow slower due to cold water and that translates into a much more delicate, sweeter, and overall more authentic tasting meat. They often come from Maine, Canada, (as well as New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.) These lobsters do come at a higher price but the flavor is worth it.

Warm Water Lobster

These lobsters are caught from warm waters of Florida, the Caribbean, and Latin American countries. These lobsters are not as sweet of flavorful but the biggest difference would be in the texture. This meat doesn’t firm us as well as cold water lobsters, so the meat can be mushy even after it’s completely cooked.

So if your seafood store doesn’t label their lobster tails, make sure to ask where the lobsters came from.

PRO TIP: Whichever lobster you get, just avoid buying lobster meat that has been soaked in sodium tripolyphosphate solution. It’s a chemical that’s used to preserve the meat longer and often used on lobster meat that wasn’t fresh in a first place.

Using Fresh vs Frozen

What you use will depend largely on where you live and the size of your budget. Those of you who are far from coastal areas will likely need to opt for frozen lobster.

Since everything is processed right out of the water, the difference won’t be too noticeable for most people.In fact, I’ve gotten plenty of flash frozen lobster tails and shrimp right off the fisherman’s boat. They freeze seafood to preserve the freshness for the best tasting seafood.

If you’ll be using frozen shellfish, be sure the thaw it completely before preparing.

• Best way to thaw frozen seafood: Transfer them from the freezer into the refrigerator the night before and let it slow-thaw overnight. It’s a good idea to check them an hour or so before cooking just to be sure they are thawed completely.
• Need them ready quickly? This is not a method that I use often because it does hinder the quality of meat texture but in a pinch, it works. Place frozen seafood in a large zip-lock bag and submerge in cold water inside a large bowl. Refresh the water every 10-15 minutes until they are ready to use. Depending on the size, this can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes.

Flavors for Lobster Tails

Butter is the number one ingredients to pair with lobster, while lemon would be number two. After that, you are looking for garlic to add a little spice and punch to overall flavor, some nice and mild herbs, and some salt.

You can easily adjust the flavors used based on your personal preference. I find that chives and parsley complement the seafood the best. Both are mild enough not to overpower the delicate seafood but still add a nice herb flavor. Tarragon is another herb that goes great with lobster.

When possible, use fresh instead of dried makes a big difference as well. If dried is all you have access to, simply reduce the amounts to about 1/2.

Smoked paprika is another commonly used spice, and you can add some cayenne if you want a little heat as well. Or, just stick with a simple blend of butter, salt, and pepper so the natural flavors of the broiled lobster tails can come through.

Pick up the lobster tail and use kitchen shears to cut the hard top of the shell down the middle (1) until you reach the base. Stop where the bottom flares out since you want to leave the end of the meat attached.

Next, separate the two halves (2) enough to access the flesh without actually breaking the bottom of the shell apart. This takes some effort since you will need to break the ribs on the underside, and you may want to wear gloves to protect your hands.

Gently pull the meat away from the sides and lift it up and out (3) of the shell, leaving it attached just at the base.

Pinch the shell closed a little if necessary before resting the seafood on top (4). This will act as a natural broiling rack. Then, repeat until all of them are ready for the oven.

PRO TIP: I find that the meat cooks more evenly when it rests on top. Plus, the presentation is far more stunning this way – like you got them from a fine dining restaurant!

Make sure the broiler is preheated on high and top with herbed butter.

Pat the tops dry with a paper towel and season with a little salt. Then, spread the butter mixture evenly across each piece, pressing lightly to help it adhere better.

Broil:

Make sure the rack is in the middle of the oven, about 6 inches away from the broiler element. Place the sheet pan into the oven and cook until the shells are bright red and the flesh is white and opaque.

The amount of time needed will depend on the size of the shellfish, so you may want to use a digital thermometer. Insert it into the thickest part, and it should read 145°F.

Can I prep lobster tails ahead of time?

While these should be cooked just before serving, you can butterfly the tails (don’t pull the meat out) and make the butter mixture the day before. Cover air-tight and keep in the refrigerator. Transfer to the counter about 30 minutes before baking.

How many tails per person?

Unless you can get your hands on jumbo-sized tails like 14-20 oz., I would plan on two per person. Most common sizes of lobster tails range from 5-12 oz. and you’ll want to have 2 per person.

How long to broil lobster?

Because of difference sizes of lobster tails, it’s hard to tell exact time it will take to cook them. You can average about 1 to 1.5 minutes per ounce when calculating approximate time. Check and make sure the meat is completely opaque and the shell is turned bright red. Of course, temperature is your best indicator, and lobster meat should be at 145° at the thickest part.

Can I reheat lobster tails?

I do not recommend reheating seafood, especially shellfish. Although it is perfectly safe to save any leftovers, the meat tends to become tough and rubbery when reheated. Instead, chop up any cold pieces and include them in a lobster roll. Or, you can mix cold lobster meat into hot pasta and heat it up that way.

Serving Suggestions

Lemon wedges often accompany broiled lobster tails, but what about side dishes?

Roasted vegetables or a simple salad makes for a lighter meal. For a more comforting side, use soft and fluffy mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, or corn on the cob.

Others like to serve creamy scalloped potatoes or a cup of soup on the side. And you can’t go wrong with some crusty bread or homemade biscuits to mop up any extra golden liquid!

More Seafood Recipes To Try

For something with a smoky flavor, you can cook your lobster on the grill instead. The ingredients are exactly the same, but this method adds a smoky barbecue flavor that is completely irresistible.

I love simple and fast seafood recipes like seared scallops and crispy skin salmon as well. These recipes are also great for a special occasion.

If you manage to have any leftover broiled lobster tails, you can combine the meat with a few pantry staples to make tangy lobster rolls. Or, make this decadent lobster mac and cheese for a comfort meal that’s worthy of any upscale restaurant.