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Whenever deciding what to make for a rich, decadent holiday dinner, I almost always think of butterflied lobster tails smothered in garlic butter. If you are wondering how to cook lobster tails, you will not believe how easy it is. No need to make reservations at your local steakhouse—lobster is a delicious seafood you can enjoy at home once you know how. Trust me, it’s so simple!
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“Cooked lobster tails using the air fryer method. They were perfect and so delicious!” -Diane
Lobster Tails—Three Ways
This tutorial will show you how to make lobster tails in three deliciously satisfying ways. You can find lobster tails at your local supermarket—the best ones come from Maine, where the waters are the perfect temperature for the tastiest meat. After you follow the simple steps, you’ll quickly get over the intimidation of cooking lobster at home. And then you can prepare this scrumptious surf and turf with ease.
Tips for Beginners
- Size of lobster. This recipe is written for 4-oz. lobster tails, so make sure to adjust the cooking time if your lobster is bigger/smaller. When selecting lobster, look for cold water lobster tails that have not been soaked in sodium tripolyphosphate. This will ensure that they don’t taste like ammonia. Check the meat and make sure it isn’t discolored, as that could mean it is old.
- If using frozen lobster tails. Let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator before preparing.
- Use an instant-read meat thermometer. Monitor the temperature of your lobster tails. Overcooked lobster tails will become tough and chewy. Cook them to 135-140°F for best results.
- Olive oil and butter. If you don’t have both, either one will work.
How to Cook Lobster Tails (3 Ways)
Ingredients
- 2 lobster tails (about 3-4 oz. each)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter melted (⅛ stick)
- 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ tsp freshly grated garlic
- fresh parsley or thyme for garnish
Video
Instructions
Preparation
- Use sharp kitchen shears to cut down the middle of the lobster shell. Make sure to only cut the shell, not the meat!2 lobster tails
- Carefully crack the shell open, lift out the meat, and place it on top of the shell. The meat should lift easily from out of the shell but will still be connected at the end so it doesn’t fall off!
- In a small bowl, stir together the olive oil, butter, lemon juice, and garlic. Brush the garlic butter over the lobster tails. Season each lobster tail with a pinch of kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp unsalted butter, 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, ½ tsp freshly grated garlic
In the Oven
- Place the lobster tails on a rimmed baking sheet and bake them at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, or until the meat is firm and opaque (and the shells are bright red).
- Serve the lobster tails immediately topped with chopped parsley and with melted butter for dipping.
In the Air Fryer
- Place the lobster tails in your air fryer basket and cook at 350°F for 7 minutes, or until the meat is opaque and firm.
- Serve the lobster tails immediately topped with chopped parsley and with melted butter for dipping.
In the Instant Pot
- Place the trivet insert in the bottom of your Instant Pot and pour in ½ cup of water. Place the lobster tails on the trivet and attach the lid.
- Set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook Manual for 2 minutes (it will take about 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to pressurize). Then, release the pressure manually by switching the valve to the “venting” position. The lobster meat should be opaque and firm—if it is not, attach the lid and allow the lobster tails to sit in the Instant Pot for an additional 5 minutes on the “Keep Warm” setting.
- Serve the lobster tails immediately topped with chopped parsley and with melted butter for dipping.fresh parsley or thyme
Equipment
- Kitchen Shears
- Baking Sheet if baking
- Air Fryer if air frying
- Instant Pot if making in the Instant Pot
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How To Cook Lobster Tails Step by Step
Cut the shell: Using sharp kitchen shears, cut down the middle of each of the 2 lobster shells. Be careful and only cut the shell, not the meat.
Remove the meat: Carefully crack open the shell and lift out the meat. Place the meat on top of the shell. It should come out of the shell easily, but will still be connected at the end, so it doesn’t fall off! You may notice a dark line running down the center. That is the digestive tract, and it should be removed.
Make the marinade: In a small bowl, stir together 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp butter, 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, and ½ tsp grated garlic. Brush the garlic butter mixture over the lobster tails and season with a pinch of kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
To make in the oven: Place the lobster tails on a rimmed baking sheet.
Bake at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, or until the meat is firm, opaque, and the shells turn bright red.
To make in the air fryer: Place the lobster tails in your air fryer basket.
Cook at 350°F for 7 minutes, or until the meat is opaque and firm.
To make in the Instant Pot: Place the trivet insert in the bottom of your Instant Pot and pour in ½ cup water. Place the lobster tails on the trivet and attach the lid.
Set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook Manual for 2 minutes; note that it will take about 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to pressurize. Then, release the pressure manually by switching the valve to the “venting” position. The lobster meat should be opaque and firm—if it is not, attach the lid and allow the lobster tails to sit in the Instant Pot for 5 more minutes on the “Keep Warm” setting.
Serve: Serve the lobster tails as soon as they are cooked, topped with chopped parsley and melted butter for dipping.
How to Store
Lobster tails are best enjoyed on the day they are made. They will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and can be reheated in a 325°F oven covered with foil for 8-10 minutes. I do not recommend freezing lobster tails.
Serving Suggestions
It doesn’t take much to turn your lobster tail dinner into a fantastic holiday, anniversary, or Valentine’s dinner. With such a main attraction on the plate, I like to keep it simple and usually prepare a side of garlic fried rice and my favorite sauteed mushrooms. I’ll also have a few Hawaiian rolls on hand to dip in the butter.
More Cooking Basics Recipes To Try
- How to Cook Prime Rib Roast: Prime Rib is an easy and impressive dish, ideal for holidays or celebrations. Learn how to cook it to impress!
- How to Cut, Peel, and Prepare Butternut Squash: This is the perfect side for any meal. Learn how to prepare it like a pro.
- Browned Butter: A perfect addition to add flavor to all your dishes, from seafood to cookies.
I have never pre-buttered and put on lemon before cooking, and was surprised how tender they came out. Made in the toaster oven. Didn’t need anymore butter, they were perfect.
Cooked lobster tails using the air fryer method. They were perfect and so delicious!
I had trouble getting the meat out of the shell. What is the trick?
Hi Andy, we recommend holding the tail upright and inserting an upside-down fork as far down into the shell as possible, then twisting the fork back and forth to loosen the meat. This should help it come out easily!
Great help in learning how to broil and serve lobster tails