Lobster is one of seafood’s most iconic food items. It’s so iconic, in fact, that if one were to mention the word “seafood”, chances are, the first thing that pops in your head is a lobster. It’s used mostly for the most special of occasions. And this is all because of its richness in texture and flavor, especially when it comes to lobster tails – the prized section of a lobster’s body. When dipped in butter, your taste buds are just sent into a state of bliss. And now because that special occasion is about to come up, you have all the reason to whip up some amazing lobster tails. The only issue is that you’re not sure which is the best way to cook lobster tails.
But no worries, Key Largo Fisheries is here to help. If you’re curious to know which is the best way to cook lobster tails, then continue reading below.
Different Ways to Cook Lobster Tails
Okay, so there’s really no best way to cook lobster tails. It all really depends on your taste. But if you don’t know what they are or how to perform them, they are as follows:
Boiled
Add enough water to a pot that will cover all lobster tails and boil. Optional: add sea salt. Once the water is boiling, carefully add the tails to the pot. Cook the tails until the meat is a translucent pinkish-white and the shells turn red. Ideally, you want to boil for 1 minute per ounce. Drain and allow the tails to cool enough so that they can be handled when eating.
The boiling method allows the lobster meat to be cooked and tenderized but it can also dilute some of the briny flavors (hence why it’s optional to add sea salt). Boiling is also a great way to semi-cook lobster tails before broiling or grilling to ensure that the meat is cooked evenly.
Steaming
This is probably the most popular way to cook lobster tails. Many restaurants use this method because it’s quick and gets the food out in a timely matter. But other than efficiency, steaming actually helps to make the meat of a lobster tail more removable. So when you need to whip up a quick dinner for your guests with no hassles whatsoever, you can trust that steaming is the go-to. The only downside to this method is that the lobster tail will end up with a bland flavor. But on the other side of the coin, you’re also left with a bland flavor that you can season in any way you desire. When steaming a lobster tail, it only takes about 45 to 60 seconds of cooking time per ounce of a tail. Always keep a watchful eye as the steaming method can easily overcook your lobster tail if left unchecked.
Baking
When choosing to bake your lobster tails, it’s recommended that you split the tails in two with a chef’s knife. Or instead, if you wish for the lobster tails to be more presentable, cut the top of the shell in the middle and place the meat on the top. Place your tails in a baking dish at 425ºF (218ºC) with a small amount of water. For the best flavor optimization, replace the water with wine. By baking with water or wine at the bottom of the pan, the lobsters are gently steamed, giving the meat a tender semi-poached texture. The baking method is best for when you’re cooking large-sized lobster tails that need more time to cook. Bake roughly 1 to 2 minutes per ounce of lobster tails.
Broiled
Much like with baking, split, butterfly, or place the meat on the top of the shell when broiling. When you place the baking sheet in the oven, move it about 10 inches away from the top of the broiling element. With the application of dry heat from the broiler, the meat is cooked very quickly. So make sure you check on your lobster tails frequently after every minute of cooking time (1 minute per ounce of lobster tail).
The broiling method will brown the meat and shell, introducing new layers of flavor.
Grilling
Prepare the lobster tails as you would with either broiling or baking. If you wish to prevent curling of the tails during grilling, you can insert a skewer into the halved tails.
Preheat the grill and then cook the tails over direct medium heat (between 350 to 400ºF [177 to 204ºC]). Place the cut side of the tails down first for roughly 4-5 minutes and then flip them over to finish. If your tails are butterflied, leave the flesh side up the entire time as you’ll be left with a smoky charred flavor. And for extra infused flavors, you can also cook your butterflied tails on a cedar plank.
Now That You Know About The Different Ways to Cook Lobster Tails, Contact Key Largo Fisheries Today!
When you’re ready to cook up some amazing lobster tails, place to receive a quality order from Key Largo Fisheries. Key Largo Fisheries has been providing quality seafood for many years, guaranteeing customer satisfaction. When you order from us, we can promise that you’ll be absolutely happy with your lobster tails. More so, we can promise that you’ll be added to our growing list of happy customers. For any inquiries, you may call us at 800-432-4358 or visit our contact page.
