Cooking Lobster Tails

[DaisyM]

This is the first time I'm cooking lobster tails and it is for an anniversary dinner.

I just purchased two lobster tails that have been defrosted and removed (and put back) into their shell. The fishmonger said that they can be broiled or baked. Can you tell me the best way to cook them? Also, do I cook them straight from the fridge or let them come to room temperature first? Inside or removed from the shell? Thank you!

[FoodChic]

I've boiled, grilled and baked them, and I have to tell you the best option is baking.

I split the tails in half lengthwise with a cleaver so you have two sides with meat. I melt a stick of unsalted butter, clarify, and add fresh lemon juice. Place in a baking dish and drizzle butter lemon mixture on top of tails. Sprinkle with a bit of sea salt and paprika and place meat side up in a preheated 375° oven. Baste tails two to three times while baking 15 to 20 minds.

When you pull them out of the oven, you'll find that by just pulling the meat with your fork the meat slips right out of the shell and will be incredibly tender.

[The Oracle]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I know this is an old post, but it served me well last night. I'd never made lobster tails and was totally confused if I should steam or poach - it never dawned on me to bake them. I followed your instructions (and added a couple cloves of minced garlic to the butter) and they came out WONDERFULLY! Thank you very much!

[FoodChic]

Fabulous! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[The Oracle]

It was especially nice/memorable because I had planned to do a lot of research on how to cook them after I bought them on Monday... (it was the first time we've ever attempted lobster and for valentine's day no less) ... and then our home was robbed and needless to say there was no time to research cooking. I did a quick google search standing in the kitchen and 2 minutes later tried your suggestion. Thanks for helping us have a yummy meal in the midst of dealing with a really crappy situation.

[amokscience]

I've made them poached in butter. People seem to like them.

http://ruhlman.com/2009/09/butter-poa...

[Kirk_T]

I tried this method yesterday for the first time. I didn't have my thermometer with me, so I just made sure the butter mixture never reached a simmering point. Left the tails in for 5 minutes, turned them a couple of time, and it came out very tender. Will need to try this with whole lobsters too.

[gilintx]

You might also consider steaming. If you do broil or bake, you should baste with clarified butter to keep them from drying out. As an aesthetic tip, you should run two skewers through each tail to keep them from curling as they cook.

[Alan408]

I use an electric toaster oven, 6-8 oz lobster tails.
Remove the lobster from the shell, rest the lobster meat on the shell, place in a baking pan, on a cake rack, sprinkle with paprika, place in a preheated toaster oven for ~10 minutes. The tails are removed from the fridge about 10 minutes before cooking. I try for an internal temperature of 140, let rest for ~10 minutes. IIRC, 10-12oz tails take ~15 minutes.

I think you will do better cooking by internal temperature vs time as broilers are different and the size of your tails may be different. It took me a couple of attempts to get the time correct.

[DaisyM]

Thank you! Am I basting with butter? Do I let them rest before serving? Sorry for all the questions....I want to get this right!

[Alan408]

I do not baste with butter.

I let the tails rest before serving.

[DaisyM]

Thanks, Alan!