How to Cook Lobster Tail // Video

Easy and elegant, I’m sharing the best way to cook lobster tail for tender, sweet, buttery results. This Baked Lobster Tail recipe is soooo simple you’ll be serving it up at every holiday and dinner party.

How To Cook Lobster Tail

During any food focused holiday, we all want to impress our family with something leaning more towards the swanky side of things….am I right? I always made the mistake of trying something new…something with a lofty cooking goal, when it came to contributing a food item to the holiday table.

I have had many kitchen fails that fell precisely on the biggest holiday of the year and I do believe that some of my family members were convinced I couldn’t cook a thing. And then I started a food blog….the irony. But I did make sure I perfected a few easy things to get on the table when I didn’t feel like breaking a sweat in the kitchen…..like how to cook lobster tail.

When I was little, we used to go to a fancy restaurant about once a year and I always ordered the lobster tail. I remember it came out perched perfectly on it’s shell with a little butter warmer next to the plate….like my own personal candlelight. The lemon was wrapped in yellow cheesecloth with a green ribbon tied to the top.  It was so very extra for that time in my life and it’s still one of my favorite memories.

So, it was only fitting that I master how to make Lobster Tail at home and you won’t believe how incredibly easy it is to do!

What is the best way to cook a lobster tail?

There are a few different ways you can cook a lobster tail but my favorite way is to bake lobster tail in the oven. Baking lobster with a pat of butter on top yields, tender, sweet, moist lobster meat that’s buttery and perfect.

I prefer baking lobster over broiled lobster tail because the lobster meat cooks evenly throughout instead of the top of the lobster drying out before the rest of the lobster is cooked through.

How To Cut Lobster Tail Before Cooking

Contrary to what many other recipes say, you do have to cut lobster tails before cooking because they will not cook evenly if closed up in the shell. Plus, it makes them much easier to eat when they’re already cut open. 

To prep your lobster, simply cut down the center of the shell with kitchen shears or a sharp knife ending at the start of the tail fin. Kitchen shears are my preferred method for cutting the tails.

How do you cook frozen lobster tails at home?

Since most lobster tails at the grocery store are sold frozen and not fresh, you will have an extra step to take before you start the cooking process.

1. Start by thawing your lobster by placing them in a resealable bag and submerging them in cold water. Thawing will take approximately 30 minutes.
2. Remove the lobster from the bag and begin cutting the top of the shell lengthwise with a pair of kitchen shears.
3. To Butterfly your lobster tail: Carefully crack open the shell slightly and begin to pull the meat away from the inside of the shell gently being careful not to crush the shell. Leave the end of the meat attached to the tail and flip the meat up over the top of the shell.
4. Remove the dark vein from the center and discard.
5. Place the baking tails on a baking sheet and top with a pat of butter.
6. If desired, add about 1/2 cup water to the bottom of the baking sheet to create a little steam. This step will help ensure your lobster stay tender.
7. Bake the lobster tails for approximately 1 to 1 1/2 minutes per ounce at 425 degrees.  Your lobsters are done with they are firm, white and no longer translucent.
8. Serve your baked lobster tails with melted butter and lemon wedges, if desired.

Most lobster tails at the grocery store weigh about 4 ounces, so a 4 ounce lobster tail will take approximately 10 minutes to cook. Any lobster larger than that you’ll have to tack on another minute of cooking time per ounce.

How to Broil Lobster Tail

If you want to broil your lobster tail instead of baking the lobster tail, you can do it just as easily by following these steps:

1. Start by thawing your lobster by placing them in a resealable bag and submerging them in cold water. Thawing will take approximately 30 minutes.
2. Remove the lobster from the bag and begin cutting the top of the shell lengthwise with a pair of kitchen shears.
3. To Butterfly your lobster tail: Carefully crack open the shell slightly and begin to pull the meat away from the inside of the shell gently being careful not to crush the shell. Leave the end of the meat attached to the tail and flip the meat up over the top of the shell.
4. Remove the dark vein from the center and discard.
5. Place the baking tails on a baking sheet and top with a pat of butter.
6. Preheat the broiler.
7. Broil the lobster tails approximately 6-8 inches below the broiler until the lobster meat is opaque and lightly browned….about 5-10 minutes.
8. Serve the lobster with melted butter, lemon wedges and fresh snipped herbs, if desired.

You can tell a lobster tail is cooked through by cutting into the meat at the thickest part of the tail. If the meat is white all the way through, it is fully cooked.

What To Serve With It

• Easy Twice Baked Potatoes are a classic that is perfect with lobster.
• Live like a New Englander and have a bowl of Cole Slaw with your lobstah!
• The Very BEST Potatoes au Gratin need no further explanation
• Keep it simple with a classic Wedge Salad

More Easy Lobster Recipes

• THESE Classic Lobster Rolls are nothing short of ahhhhmazing.
• Easy Lobster Arancini is the appetizer from heaven.
• BEST EVER Lobster Bisque….and it’s soooo insanely easy to make.
• Summer’s best….Lobster Pasta Salad.
• Lobster Corn Chowder is a treat to eat anytime of year.
• Super easy Lobster Mac and Cheese!

And if you’re looking for another option to cook lobster, we LOVE these easy Grilled Lobster Tails!

If you’re looking for even more tasty, easy recipe ideas….be sure to follow us over on Instagram!