How Long Does It Take To 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.
Buying And Thawing Lobster Tails
Frozen lobster tails can be from clawed or clawless lobsters. There are a couple of ways to tell which ones are being sold. Check the package or ask the fishmonger for the region the lobster was caught in. If it doesnt say, take a look at the color: Maine lobster tails are generally dark green-brown with hints of red. Spiny lobsters are lighter in color, with a range of relatively pale yellows and browns, and some have distinctive spots. Maine lobster tails are prized for their sweet flavor and are more expensive than spiny lobster tails, which dont cook up as sweet. Both are fine choices for grilling, but if I had to pick one over the other, Id go with Maine lobster tails.
Because lobsters must be cooked or frozen immediately after theyre killed, raw lobster tails are always sold frozen. Instead of removing the tails from whole fresh lobster, I find it easier to buy frozen lobster tails since theyre usually processed and flash frozen soon after theyre caught. I usually buy one6- to 8-ounce lobster tail per person, although you can always go smaller or larger depending on what else youre serving or what your store carries.
The best way to defrost lobster tails safely and evenly is to put them on a plate or baking sheet in a single layer in the refrigerator and let them thaw for about 24 hours. This keeps them at a safe temperature and thaws them more evenly than leaving them out at room-temperature or thawing them under cold running water.
What Readers Are Saying About This Lobster Tail Recipe
This recipe has been one of the top ranking posts on Sweet C’s since 2012 – it is a huge hit every year for holidays, and has become a staple in many reader’s homes.
We hope you love this recipe as much as we do.
“I’ve made lobster tails before, but never broiled. And now I don’t think I’ll do them any other way. This recipe gave me and my wife four perfect lobster tails. The Old Bay melted butter was a great suggestion, too.” – John M.
“I prepared two beautiful tails following your recipe for last night Valentine’s dinner. They were sooooo good he asked me to marry him! LOL now back to reality, I have tried several ways of preparing lobster, and I have to admit these were delicious. One bite and it was a wrap we loved it.” – Linda Jennings
“Lobster tails were on sale at the grocer last week, so I had to indulge. I stumbled across this quick & easy recipe, as despite the sale price, I didn’t want to ruin them. This recipe was so quick & easy. I swapped the paprika with Old Bay, because that was my preference. The tails were perfect! I called a girlfriend & told her about the seafood sale & passed on the recipe. She called me gushing over how yummy hers turned out! Thanks for the easy break down!“- Leslie
Read Also: How To Grill Boneless Chicken Breast
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.
Whats The Best Way To Butterfly Lobster Tails For Grilling
This method is great for the hotter cooking methods as it allows the tail meat to absorb the complementary smoky tastes from grilling. Butterfly lobster tails also make it easy to marinade in advance, and baste while cooking.
Interested in the other ways to prepare lobster? Read our article on the different ways to cook and prepare lobster.
Read Also: Charbroil Infrared Grill Grates
Is It Better To Boil Or Steam Lobsters
For recipes that call for fully cooked and picked lobster meat boiling is the best approach. In contrast, steaming is more gentle, yielding slightly more tender meat. It preserves a little more flavor and its more forgiving on the timing front. Its harder to overcook a steamed lobster.
How Do You Boil 4 Oz Lobster Tails
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.
Also Check: Char Broil Grill Grates Rusted
What Sides Should I Serve With Lobster Tails
Some popular sides that go well with lobster tails are actually more meat. Lobster goes well with steak, shrimp, or other seafood dishes like clambakes.
Check out how we do surf and turf in the north east.
If youre looking for the lobster tail to be the main dish, vegetable sides like mashed potatoes or grilled asparagus make for a great side dish and recipes are easy to find. If you want to boost your presentation, lay the lobster on a bed of lemon rice. We dont recommend grilling the rice.
How To Piggyback A Lobster Tail
Also Check: How To Clean Stainless Steel Bbq Grill
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.
Tips For The Perfect Lobster
- You can use any type of lobster for this recipe. I typically use Maine lobster, but you can use a warm water spiny lobster if you prefer.
- Lobster tails are done when the shell turns red and the flesh is opaque. Its important not to overcook your lobster, so use both the visual cues and the suggested cook times.
- I recommend serving lobster immediately after it comes off the grill. Lobster can get tough when reheated.
- You can use a charcoal grill, gas grill or an indoor grill pan on the stove top for this recipe.
- Serve your lobster with lemon wedges and fresh parsley for garnish.
- I like to serve my lobster with a variety of side dishes such as grilled vegetables, quinoa salad or roasted potatoes.
- Leftover lobster? Try using it to make lobster mac and cheese.
Don’t Miss: Temp For Pork Chops On The Grill
How To Serve Lobster Tails
Lobster tail can look a little wimpy on it’s own sometimes, so if you’re going for a romantic presentation of your lobster dinner for a special occasion and want to know how to wow guests, I have some great tips and tricks for you!
- Placing lemon wedges to cook under lobster meat also helps make tails look larger and prettier for a better presentation.
- Make sure to have plenty of lemon wedges on the side to squeeze on top for even more lemon juice if you’d like it!
- Brush melted butter over the top of lobster as it cooks for a gorgeous golden red appearance.
- Serve with melted butter, a butter mixture with old bay stirred in, or lemon juice sprinkled on top.
If you’re looking for some delicious side dishes to serve with lobster tail, find our complete side dish recipe archive here, or find some of our favorites below:
- Brown Butter Bacon Baked Brussels Sprouts Recipe
- The Best Yeast Rolls Recipe
- The Best Easy Air Fryer French Fries Recipe
- Garlic Butter Sausage and Mushroom Stuffing
- Easy Baked Tomato Pie Recipe
- Crispy Roasted Potatoes
What Temperature Should I Cook Lobster At?
Set your oven’s broiler on high – or between 400 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Place your oven rack in the middle of the oven, so lobster tails don’t touch broiler or get so close they burn.
What Should I Season Lobster Tails With?
I use a little paprika, butter, salt, or Old Bay Seasoning to season lobsters. Use just a pinch, but feel free to try other herbs and spices to your taste.
How To Grill A Lobster Tail
Ive become the non-official/official griller in my home. My hubby still commandeers the big events and parties but if its a small family dinner or lunch youll catch me at the grill. This wasnt always the case! A few years back the very thought of grilling anything was scary. Lobster? out of the question.
That being said, ever since our time in New England eating lobster has become a wonderful and delicious norm. There were a lot of places that would sell Lobster tail for $4.99 a piece..hello awesome!
So its no wonder stepping outside of my comfort circle became a must.
Finding the perfect lobster tail is actually pretty simple. Here are a few ways you can buy the best lobster tail. Although most places offer live lobsters you can easily find lobster tails at most retailers.
Don’t Miss: Romano’s Macaroni Grill Ceo
How To Boil Lobster Tails
One of the easiest ways to cook lobster tails is to boil them.
Whole lobster tails or fan-cut lobster tails work best for boiling lobster tails.
For a simple boil cook, place them in boiling water ensuring that the whole tail is covered and then wait until the meat is bright white and shells turn red. If the tail is big, it is recommended to boil them to get a more even cook. Other applications also include par-boil or blanch tails and finish cooking on the grill or in the oven.
How Long Do You Grill A 4 Oz 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.
You May Like: How Long To Grill Lobster
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 Much Meat Is In A 4 Oz Lobster Tail
When planning menus many of our customers ask how fresh frozen lobster tails equate to the size of a live lobster tail the following is our rule of thumb: 4/5 oz is approximately equal to a 1 1 1/8 pound live lobster tail.
You May Like: How To Grill Tyson Frozen Chicken Breast
How To Grill Lobster Tails
This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow’s Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards.There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.The wikiHow Culinary Team also followed the article’s instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 333,766 times.Learn more…
If lobster tails in the seafood case have caught your eye, pick up a few for a delicious meal. Mix together an easy garlic butter with fresh herbs and thaw the lobster tails. Use kitchen shears and a knife to butterfly each tail. Then spread each tail open and brush them with a little oil before you put them on a hot grill. Cook the tails and brush them with more of the herbed garlic butter before serving.
How Long To Broil Lobster Tail
This recipe calls for about 10 minutes of cook time – which will vary a bit based on the size of your lobster tail, your oven, and if you preheat the broiler fully before adding lobster tails to oven.
If you have a very large lobster tail it will take a bit longer – but smaller tails should be perfect at around 10 minutes, or about 2 minutes + a minute per ounce.
Also Check: What Temp Do You Cook Pork Chops On The Grill
Do Lobsters Feel Pain When You Cook Them
A new animal protection law in Switzerland requires that lobsters be stunned before being cooked. Animal rights activists and some scientists argue that lobsters central nervous systems are complex enough that they can feel pain. There is no conclusive evidence about whether lobsters can feel pain.
How To Butterfly Lobster Tails
A simple cut down the top of the shell is all you need to peel back your tail for a beautiful presentation – cut it down the middle for a butterflied tail.
- Use sharp kitchen scissors or a sharp knife to cut the shell, and make a clean cut so you donât get any of the shell on the tail meat.
- Cutting the shell open before cooking will speed up your cooking process and make it easier to judge when the lobster tail has fully cooked – as well as give a chance for the lobster tail meat to soak up tons of deliciously rich flavor from the butter.
- You can also easily tell when the lobster meat is opaque but opening the tail up, so you donât overcook your lobster tails!
- I also try to remove the lobster meat from the shell where they are connected underneath – both to put a lemon wedge down to prop up the meat as it cooks, but also to make it easier to eat when it is done.
Also Check: How To Convert A Grill To Natural Gas
