How Long To Grill Lobster

How Long Does It Take To Grill Lobster Tails

How to Grill Lobster

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.

What Is The Cooking Time For Lobster

Boil lobsters for 10 to 20 min, depending on size: Note the time at which the water comes to a boil again. From that point, boil the lobsters for 10-20 minutes or longer, depending on the size of the lobster. 10-13 minutes for 1 lb lobster, 12-18 minutes for a 1 1/2 pound lobster, 18-23 minutes for a 2-3 pound lobster.

How To Grill Lobster Tails On A Gas Grill

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Everyone enjoys eating a decadent lobster tail, but you may be intimidated to grill one at home. Whether its your first time preparing lobster or first time using a gas grill, you can make homemade lobster tails that rival those at your favorite restaurant. By setting up the grill, prepping the lobster, and cooking your tails, you will master this crowd-favorite for family and friends.

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Preparing The Lobster Tail For Grilling:

Once you have chosen the tails, you must follow these steps to prepare the lobster tails for grilling:

Step 1:

  • Take a sharp shear and use it to cut down the top of all the tails.
  • Now use a knife and place it over the cut that you made.
  • Now cut through the flesh of the lobster.
  • Once you hit the bottom of the lobster shell, you can stop.

Step 2:

  • Now, use the hands and flatten the tail of the lobster.
  • You can put a metal or wood skewer through the meat of the lobster.

This is an essential step as this skewer will prevent the tail from getting curled up when it is cooked. This is the best technique to cut and grill the lobster tail as it will make direct contact with the grill. This will give the lobster tail a very smoky flavor which tastes delicious

Open The Lobster Like A Book

Grilled Split Lobster recipe

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 To Choose Lobster To Grill

If you’re grilling a whole lobster, you must buy it alive. That’s because lobster meat begins to degrade quickly as soon as they die.

The size of the lobster is also important. Buy lobsters that are at least 1½ pounds smaller ones cook too quickly on the grill. That same size is also a good guideline for how much lobster to serve per person.

Your local seafood market will sell you the lobster in a special storage bag. Once you get them home, they will stay alive in the fridge for as long as 24 hours.

Preparing The Lobster Tails:

Once the lobster tails are completely thawed, it is time for you to prepare the tails for grilling.

  • Take the pieces out of the refrigerator or the sealed plastic bag and then wash them thoroughly.
  • After rinsing, pat the lobster tails dry with the help of the paper towel.
  • Using a sharp edged shear, you need to cut the shell down to the bottom shell to expose the meat.
  • Now pull the shell gently apart to loosen the lobster meat.
  • Take out the knife and slit the meat slightly followed up by seasoning it with paprika, salt and pepper.

Once it is thawed and prepared properly, you can follow the above mentioned grilling process exactly to grill these lobster tails. You can follow the steps to preheat the pellet grill and grill the tails. It will take some time to completely grill all the tails.

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How To Grill Frozen Lobster Tails On Pellet Grill

Sometimes the lobster tails are available in the market in frozen condition. They are way more convenient to buy online or even from the nearby shop.

Many people buy the frozen tails because they are easily available and come with a better shelf life. But the main question that people ask is whether these frozen tails of lobsters can be grilled.

Well, there is no doubt that unfrozen lobster tails can make amazing and delicious grilled dish. Yes, you can grill lobster tails that are frozen, but you will first have to thaw the frozen lobster tails completely before you can proceed.

How Do You Boil Lobster Tails On The Grill

Grilled Lobster Tail Recipe with Garlic Butter (2018)

In order to ensure that you can make the tastiest grilled lobster tail, we recommend parboiling your tails before grilling. Drop the tails in a pot of boiling water. When the water returns to a soft boil, reduce heat, set a timer for the time listed above, and remove the tails from the water.

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Tips For Cooking Lobster Claws

  • When buying your lobster claws, ensure that the seller is legitimate and has not added sodium tripolyphosphate or trisodium phosphate. These substances are harmless when taken in small amounts, but they could impair your kidneys function when ingesting them in excess. So, beware of preserved lobster claws using large quantities of this substance. If you are uncertain of the seller, dont buy it. Buy from reputable stores.
  • Use tongs or protective gear when drawing out the lobster claw after cooking. The shell would be hotter than you expect.;
  • The lobster claw is good for your health, as its a rich source of phosphorous, magnesium, and other essential minerals and nutrients that your body needs.
  • You can add veggies to the water used to boil your lobster claw and turn it into vegetable soup. Thats why you have to wash the lobster claws well to remove dirt and foreign substances.
  • Fully thaw the lobster claw and wash thoroughly before cooking. You can cook the unthawed lobster directly, but the abrupt change in temperature could toughen the meat.;
  • Boiling, steaming, broiling and grilling are healthy ways to cook your lobster claws as you dont need to add oil. Non-vegetable oils are unhealthy and increase your risk of cardiovascular disorders. Take note that butter is also fat.;
  • Lobster claws can go well with fresh salad, potato salad, pasta salad, corn, rice, steamed mussels, steamed clams, clam chowder, mashed potatoes, spaghetti, and toasted bread.
  • Shell Games Part : How To Grill Shrimp And Lobster

    If youve read Stevens blog, bought one or more of his books, watched his TV shows, or attended Barbecue University, you are likely acquainted with Raichlens Rule: If it tastes good boiled, broiled, baked, braised, sautéed, or deep-fried, theres probably a way to make it taste even better on the grill.

    Shellfish is a prime example. Consider lobster. Boil or poach it, and it loses its subtle brininess and delicate flavor to the water. But grill it, and the lobsters natural sweetness is accentuated. Ditto for shrimp.

    Other good candidates for the grill include scallops, oysters, clams, crawfish, mussels, crab, squid, and even octopus. Well cover them in Part 2 of Shell Games.

    While we prefer our shrimp and lobster grilled over a wood or wood-enhanced fire, you can also use a gas grill. When direct grilling a few shrimp or shrimp kebabs or a couple of lobsters, a hibachi is my grill of choice.

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    Grilling Live Lobsters Instead Of Frozen Tails

    For grilling live lobsters please review our live lobster grill guide. It contains tips on selecting the right lobsters and explains how to prep them for the grill. Although not a grill recipe per se, we include a clambake recipe you can make on your backyard grill! Are you more of a purist? Learn how to boil and steam whole, live lobsters.

    Live lobster grilling recipes:

    How Long To Grill Lobster Tails

    Grilled Lobster Tails

    Grilled lobster tails cook for 5-6 minutes flesh side down, followed by 1-6 minutes flesh side up, depending on the size.

    TIP: A good rule of thumb for lobster tail grill time is about 60-75 seconds total time per ounce of individual tail. For example, if your lobster tails are 8 ounces each, youll grill them for 480-600 seconds total, which is 8-10 minutes. Out of that total time, 5-6 minutes would be flesh side down and the remaining time would be after flipping.

    Individual Lobster
    4-6 minutes

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    Things You Need To Know About Grilling Lobster Tails

    Its on every steakhouse menu its what puts the surf in Surf and Turf. Its one of the few reasons adults are willing to wear a bib and use tiny dental like instruments. Yes, we all love lobster.

    Maybe its the melted butter. Maybe its the soft, sweet flesh of these sea epicurean delights but whatever it is, if you want to grill some lobster tails that will have your guests singing your praises, there are some things you need to know abut preparing this gastronomical delight.

    How To Prepare Lobster Tail

    Start by choosing lobster tails that are similar in size so that they cook at the same rate. Use sharp kitchen shears to cut down the top of each tail. Place a knife into the cut you made, then cut through the lobster flesh, stopping when you hit the bottom shell. Use your hands to flatten the cut lobster tail. Place a wood or metal skewer through the lobster meat, which will keep it from curling up as it cooks. This cutting technique will allow for the lobster meat to make direct contact with the grill,; which gives it more of that great smoky flavor.

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    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.

    Serve Up A Casual Grilled Lobster Dinner

    TASTY! HOW TO GRILL LOBSTER TAILS on a Weber Q

    Place your lobsters on a large platter and serve with plenty of butter and lemon wedges. You can pre-crack the claws with the chef knife. For a casual affair cover;table with the local newspaper and lay some shell crackers and seafood forks on the table so your guests can dig in.

    References

    • Charcoal-Grilled Lobsters Cooks Illustrated.Cooks Illustrated. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2015.
    • White, Jasper. Lobster at Home. New York: Scribner, 1998. Print.
    • Coffey, B. . Lobster lovers cookbook. N. Attleboro, Mass.: Douglas Charles Press.

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    Cooking The Lobsters Claws

    The lobster claws will take more time;to cook than the lobster body and tail;meat, since the shells tend to be a little thicker. ;Remove the claws from the carapace with a twisting motion. ;Next blanch the claws and;;finish cooking on the grill. Famed lobster cooker Jasper White keeps the claws intact and covers them with a roasting pans or pie tins so the whole lobster cooks evenly.

    How Can You Tell If Lobster Is Cooked

    Cooked lobster is slightly firm to the touch and nontransparent. The meat will be white and can be easily separated by two forks.

    If the meat is soft to the touch or still transparent, it needs more time on the grill.

    Lobsters turn red when you cook them, but the pigment itself does not tell you whether the meat is perfectly cooked.

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    How To Grill Lobster Tails

    Once youve halved your lobster tails, pat the flesh dry with paper towel,;brush them with a little olive oil, then season with coarse salt and cracked black pepper.

    Place the lobster tails flesh-side down onto grill, and cook;undisturbed;for about 5 minutes. This allows the meat to grill properly without sticking to the grill plates. Flip the lobster over and brush the flesh with melted garlic and herb butter.

    Cover with bbq lid or foil to help the shells turn a beautiful shade of orange from the smoke on the bbq, and grill until JUST cooked through.

    Serve immediately with a little extra garlic butter,;lemon wedges and fresh parsley to garnish.

    Whats The Best Way To Butterfly Lobster Tails For Grilling

    Grilled Lobsters with Miso

    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.

  • With kitchen shears, cut the upper shell down the center from the big end to where it meets the tail fan, but be sure to leave the fan-tail and the bottom shell intact.
  • Use your fingers to pull apart and spread the shell halves apart so you can see the tail meat in the shell.
  • Lift the top part of the meat through the split in the shell while leaving the rest of the meat nestled in the partially open shell. The end result will look like its sprouting wings!
  • Interested in the other ways to prepare lobster? Read our article on the different ways to cook and prepare lobster.

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    Serve With Melted Butter And Lemon

    Serve your perfectly done lobster tails accompanied by small individual bowls of your melted butter and some lemon wedges.

    Dont forget plenty of napkins, bibs, sturdy seafood or nut crackers and seafood pics if you have them and a bowl for those empty shells.

    Now let the compliments fall on you like a light rain.

    How To Grill Lobster Tails: A Quick Beginners Guide

    Grilled lobster tails come with a hefty price tag in fine dining restaurants, but did you know that theyre inexpensive to make at home?

    You can easily enjoy buttery, silky, and ABSOLUTELY scrumptious lobster meat for less than half the priceall you need are the right grilling techniques to get started.

    So, bring out your fancy dinnerware, dust off your formalwear, and start firing up that big ol grill. Let our team show you how to grill lobster tails perfectly!

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    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.;

    Basting Grilled Lobster Tails

    How to Grill Lobster Tails

    Finish cooking flesh side up, still over direct heat.

    6. At this point, its a great idea to baste the lobster with an herb butter mixture.

    7. The lobster is done when its internal temperature, checked by an instant-read thermometer, reaches 135°F.

    There you have it — a seafood extravaganza!

    For more tips check out my;other blog post on grilling lobster tails;and this great lobster recipe to help build your seafood grilling repertoire.;

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    How To Fry Lobster Claws

    Yes, you can fry your lobster, if you have a suitable large skillet. Heres one recipe on deep frying your lobster claws.

    Prepare the lobster claw for frying by glazing it with lemon juice and rubbing some salt, onion, and garlic powder. The flavor will naturally seep in if you allow it to sit for 30 minutes.

    It takes about 10 minutes to fry one pound of lobster claw; extend three minutes for each added pound.

    How to fry lobster claws? Follow the easy steps below:

  • Preheat a large deep skillet up to 360 °F.
  • Add enough vegetable oil and heat for another 5 to 10 minutes.;
  • Put the lobster claw in and fry using medium fire. Ensure that you have immersed the whole claw in the cooking oil.
  • Turn it over after five to seven minutes. Cover, and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes.
  • When the lobster claw turns golden brown, that means you can turn off the fire.
  • Using tongs, draw out the lobster and place it in a container lined with paper towel or foil.;
  • Allow to cool and serve with potato chips, rice, mashed potato, or your favorite side dish.;
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