Is It Better To Grill Or Boil Lobster
Boiling is a quick and easy cooking method for lobster, resulting in tender moist meat that slides right out of the shell, but unless you are cooking the lobster in fresh sea water, boiling dulls the natural flavors of the crustacean. Larger lobsters become tough and dry on the grill and are better suited for boiling.
Preparing And Grilling Lobster Tails
Once the lobster tails are thawed, theres a little more prep that needs to be done before they hit the grill. Because of their shape one end is significantly thicker than the other ;cooking them evenly is difficult if you keep them whole. To make sure they cook evenly and to create a wide, flat surface for melting the garlic butter, butterfly the tails first.
Butterflying means to halve something into two thinner, more even pieces. For a lobster tail, this means cutting through the hard shell with kitchen shears, then slicing the tail meat in half so that it can open up flat like a book. One other step worth doing is using your fingers to loosen the meat from the shell, which will make it easier to remove the meat once the lobster is cooked. Once butchered properly, the lobster tail meat will cook up evenly without the need for skewers or other tools to keep it from curling up.
To grill the lobster tails, place them meaty-side down on a really hot grill for a few minutes to get some grill marks. Once they release easily from the grill grates, flip them over and top with an easy-to-make garlic butter . The total cook time depends on the size of the tail. You want the meat to be just cooked through, so aim for an internal temperature of 135 to 140ºF. Serve with lemon wedges for a nice bright pop of flavor to cut through the richness of the garlic butter and the sweetness of the lobster meat.
Directions Grilled Lobster Tails At Home
Time needed:;20 minutes.
If you can light a grill, you can grill lobster tails. Our simple recipe will walk you through grilling frozen lobster tails butterfly style. Be careful! You do not want to overpower the sweet, delicate flavor of the lobster meat.
Be sure your lobster tails are fully defrosted. Its best to defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
Prior to starting the grill, pour a small amount of vegetable oil on a paper towel and lightly coat the grill rack . Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal or gas grill. As the grill heats, prepare lobster tails.
Set each lobster tail on a cutting board with the translucent membrane down, curve shell facing up. With kitchen shears or a heavy knife, cut through the curved shell and meat, leaving the membrane intact. Open the tail gently like a book so its hinged in the center.
Use about 1 teaspoon of olive oil for each lobster tail; rub onto the cut surfaces of the lobster meat, and season to taste with salt and pepper. The olive oil keeps the lobster from drying out on the grill.
Place lobster tails on the grill, meat-side up. Grill tails with grill lid closed, until the meat is opaque, about 6-8 minutes, turning once. Be careful not to overcook!
Squeeze fresh sliced lemon half over lobster and drizzle and serve with melted unsalted butter. Try pairing grilled lobster with a nice steak or fresh shrimp!
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How To Butterfly Lobster Tails For Grilling
The first step in any grilled lobster recipe is to prep the lobster. You can butterfly lobster tails for grilling by bringing the flesh over the shell the same way you would for broiled lobster tails, but below Ill show you a different, slightly easier method.
- Cut the lobster shell. Cut down the center of the shell lengthwise, starting from the end opposite the tail fins and going down the the tail, but do not cut the tail.
TIP: Cut the top shell only. You want to cut the top shell and some of the flesh, but not all the way through the bottom shell.
- Cut. Use a knife to cut lengthwise along the center ridge, but again dont cut through the bottom shell.
- Flatten. Use your hands to pry open the tail and then press with your palm to flatten, so that it opens up.
- Skewer. Run the skewer lengthwise through the center of the flesh. This helps to prevent the lobster tail from curling up on the grill.
TIP: Soak your skewers in water first, so they dont start a fire on the grill. Simply place them in a shallow pan filled with water for 30-60 minutes and weigh down with a bowl to keep them submerged.
How To Know When Lobster Is Done Cooking
The best way to know when the lobster is done cooking is to insert an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the tail. When the internal temperature reaches between 135 to 140ºF the lobster is ready to eat.
Visually, the dark shell will turn bright red due to the coloring agent astaxanthin transforming when heated. The flesh will turn from translucent to opaque pinkish-white color that is firm to the touch.
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What Is The Best Way To Cook Frozen Lobster Tails At Home
Place the lobster halves flesh side up on a wire rack inside a baking sheet. Brush the flesh with butter and season with salt. Broil the lobster tails until the shells turn bright orange the flesh is opaque and cooked through and the tails begin to curl, about 4 minutes for 5- to 6-ounce lobster tails.
Preparing And Thawing Frozen Lobster Tails
You can defrost frozen lobster tails overnight in the refrigerator. Alternatively, place them in a bowl of cold water for 30 minutes. For larger tails, drain the water after 30 minutes and add new freshwater. Repeat the process until the flesh is flexible and no longer icy.
Whole tails should be rinsed and dried before cooking. When cutting open the shell you may notice a dark line running down the center of the flesh. Thats the digestive tract and it needs to be removed. Wash and dry after cleaning.
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Football Sunday Starts Again Now With Great Tailgate Lobster Recipe
Football sunday starts again now and fresh lobster tails on the grill are perfect for football Sunday whether the guys are over or youre tailgating at the game.; Here are some tips for cooking Maine lobster tails on a gas grill.
While preparing tails is easy, cooking lobster tails on the grill requires careful attention to timing and movement. Cooking over the dry heat of a gas grill can dry the lobster meat out or cause it to cook it unevenly. Lobster tails on the grill should be rotated on the grill to make sure the tail meat cooks evenly. And the tails should be turned only once. Start cooking the lobster tail with the flesh side down. Then for the last three minutes flip the lobster onto the shell side.
Serve Grilled Lobster Tail
Melt unsalted butter to serve with lobster tail meat, and the butter will make the prawns richer. Lemon slices sand and squeezed into the cut lobster tail meat to serve.
So you’re done with the delicious home-grilled frozen lobster tail!
In addition to the lobster tail, you can also grill a lobster through the “How to grill whole live lobsters?” blog that Fishermen’s Net instructed in the previous.
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How Long Do You Boil A 4 Oz Lobster Tail
How to Boil Four 4-Ounce Lobster Tails Thaw frozen lobster tails in the refrigerator for the best results. Add the water, salt and seaweed to the pot and bring it to a boil. Add the lobster tails to the boiling water and cover the pot when it boils again. Boil the tails for five to eight minutes, or until the shells turn red.
Are Frozen Lobster Tails Good
Tails should be frozen, and thawed just before cooking. You want to cook right away once thawed. Look for lobster tails ranging from 5oz to 12oz. These are smaller tails, and are the prime size for getting a good amount of meat and a quality taste and texture with lobster tails.
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Looking for a few more great lobster recipes? How about this easy 6 Minute Instant Pot Lobster Risotto from The View from Great Island yum! For a great bowl of total comfort food, try this Lobster Mac and Cheese from A Family Feast. Finally, dont miss this recipe for Savory Lobster Fusillifrom Big Bears Wife it looks perfectly delicious.
Before you leave
How To Thaw Frozen Lobster Tails
Our cold-water tails ship in the shell fresh frozen and uncooked. After taking your frozen lobster tails out of the freezer it is best to defrost them fully before getting started. Its recommended you slow-thaw your frozen lobster tails before you plan to cook them for tastier results.
- Take your lobster tails out of the freezer the night before and place them on a plate in your refrigerator and cover them.
- For quicker results, defrost tails in a zip lock bag under cold water in the sink. DO NOT thaw lobster tails in the microwave!
- Fully defrosted lobster tails will be soft and pliable.
Pro Tip:Your tails may be covered in ice or frost. Dont worry your tails are NOT freezer burned. The light glazing helps protect and preserve the tails. Once thawed, be sure to give your tails a good rinse before cooking.
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How Long Does It Take To Grill Lobster Tails
Depending on the size of the lobster tail, you want to grill the tail for a minute a pound. This would mean if you had 6-8 pound lobster you would grill for about 6-8 minutes. We recommend basting the lobster halfway through the cooking process to keep it nice and moist.;
When the lobster tail is ready to serve, the shell will be a bright red color and the meat will be opaque. Another way to check if the lobster is completely cooked is by using a meat thermometer to see if the internal temperature is 140.;
You always want to go on the doneness of the lobster tail rather than the time. This is a good way to not overcook your tail. For more tips see our in-depth lobster grilling guide.
How To Remove The Lobster Tail Meat Whole
Removing the tail meat raw in one whole piece is a delicious way to prep for butter poaching or gentle steaming.
It can be intimidating to cook Lobster tails on your own but they are really easy to make. Heres our tips on the various ways you can cook your lobster and how long you should cook for.
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How To Poach Lobster Tails
Lobster tail meat poached in a butter bath will yield tender meat.
Poached Lobster Tail Recipes:
Buttery Rich And Succulent Lobster Tail On The Grill Is A Real Treat At A Fraction Of The Cost You Would Pay When Dining Out
Change it up this summer and treat your family to a special dinner that doesnt require a second mortgage to pay for it. Id never think about taking the whole family out for grilled lobster tail. However, I can pick up frozen lobster tails at my local grocery store for about $35.00 for a package of four.
Thats probably less that it would cost for one person to enjoy a great dinner in a good restaurant. I know sometimes we like eat out, and sometimes we like to eat outside!
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How To Buy Lobster Tails:
Before a holiday, lobster tails tend to go on sale along with Crab Legs and Filet Mignon so keep an eye out for that at your local grocery store.
- Cold Water vs. Warm Water Lobster Look for cold water lobster tails that have whiter meat and have more tender meat because they are grown slowly in cold waters.
- Avoid Discoloration the lobster meat should not have black spots or discoloration. Also, avoid lobster tails that are grayish in color.
Can You Cook A Frozen Lobster Tail
Let the frozen lobster thaw in the refrigerator 24 hours before cooking. Cooking unthawed tails will result in tough meat. Lobster will thaw faster if placed in a plastic bag and immersed in water while in the refrigerator. After thawing, the lobster tails can be boiled, steamed, baked, broiled, or grilled.
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How Long To Steam Lobster Tails
Best Way to Serve Steamed Lobster Tails
There are many, many ways to dress steamed lobster tails to your liking! Serving lobster tails with melted butter is probably the most recognized and traditional way to do it, but there are some good ways to mix things up a bit, too.
One way you can do this is by jazzing the clarified butter up a bit with a few more ingredients. A popular way to add a quick spin on melted butter is by adding fresh, minced garlic to make garlic butter. If you’re shying away from garlic, you can make lemon butter instead by adding a squeeze of fresh lemon and a pinch of chopped parsley.
You can substitute a variety of spices for butter, too, if you’re looking for a healthier way to serve steamed lobster tail. Salt and pepper is an undeniable duo for good reason and makes an excellent topper on your lobster. Using fresh sea salt is a great way to bring out the tender, natural flavor of the lobster. And if you want to spice the black pepper up , try toasting whole peppercorns and pulverizing them for smokier touch.
If you’re looking to add even more spice, Old Bay and other blackened/cajun seasonings will offer a nice punch. Just be careful of the additional salt these seasonings contain.
Regardless of how you top your lobster, the most timeless way to present them is with a garnish of parsley and lemon wedges.
Steamed Lobster Tail Pairing Options
Getting Fancy With the Steaming Process
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Open The Lobster Like A Book
3. The remaining soft membrane will keep the sections intact while exposing the meat.
4. Lobster is grilled over direct medium heat. ;Rub the flesh with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
5. Grill flesh side down for approximately 5-7 minutes, then flip.;Figure another 4-5 minutes after you flip the tail. I am using 6-8 oz. tails here.;
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How Long Do You Boil Frozen Lobster Tails
Boiling: Make sure theres enough water in the pot to cover the tails to a depth of at least 1 to 2 inches, then bring it to a boil. Slide the tails into the water without splashing yourself, and wait for the water to return to boiling. Once it has, time 3 1/2 to 4 minutes and remove your tails from the water.
How Do You Grill A 4 Ounce Lobster Tail
Grill lobsters cut side down over medium high heat about 5 minutes, until the shells are bright in color. Turn the tails over and spoon a generous tablespoon of herbed butter onto the butterflied meat. Grill for another 4 minutes, or until the lobster meat is an opaque white color.
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Finding The Perfect Lobster Tails For The Grill
Make a big splash this grilling season with our ready to grill lobster tails. All the work is done, just defrost, add your favorite rub or marinade and grill! Be sure to check out our Lobster Tails line up featuring 6-7 oz. cold-water tails all the way up to our huge colossal tails
If you love lobster tails, and you love barbeque, be sure to take a look at our one-of-a-kind BBQ lobster tails. Whats so special about these lobster tails?
In short, these special lobster tails were made for the grill.; To learn more about our barbecue lobster tails and have them shipped to you .
