How long to cook 4 ounce lobster tails

Boiling - The Easiest Way To Cook Lobster Tails

Boiling lobster tails is a great choice because if stored and thawed your lobster tails properly, this is the cooking technique we recommend to minimize your tails sticking to the shell! Boiling is always a safe bet and if you are a first-timer or old-timer, this is the technique you can count on. Keep in mind larger lobster tails take longer to cook. And just another reminder, it's always better to under-cook your lobster tails than to over-cook them. You can always drop them back in the boiling water if they aren't done. We also recommend adding some Maine sea salt to the water before boiling so you can add more of that signature lobster flavor you love. This will actually reproduce the same consistency as ocean water!

How to Boil Lobster Tails - A Step-By-Step Guide

1. Thaw your lobster tails, then put a skewer through them to keep them from curling.

2. Bring a pot of water to a boil.

3. Reduce heat to a soft boil and add Maine sea salt.

4. Drop tails in one at a time and set your kitchen timer for the times listed below. The times are the same for larger quantities.

5. Cool the cooked lobster tails right away with cold water or ice to keep them from overcooking.

6. Serve and enjoy your boiled lobster tails!

How Long To Boil Lobster Tails

Thawed lobster tails will typically take 3-13 minutes to cook when boiled. This varies based on the tail size and quantity.

BOILING LOBSTER TAILS TIME CHART

Tips For Preparing the Lobster Tails for Boiling

Preparation is the key to cooking delicious lobster tails. Luckily for you, preparation is simple! To prepare your lobster tails for boiling, thaw them out thoroughly. If you try to cook the lobster while it's still fully or partially frozen, it will dry out when cooking, rendering it rubbery. Thaw the lobster in a cold water bath or in the refrigerator overnight.

Another tip for preparing lobster tails is to use a metal or wooden skewer so the lobster tail stays straight while cooking. This isn't crucial to the recipe, but it will keep your tails from curling as they cook in the lobster pot.

The Best Way to Serve Boiled Lobster Tails

When you cook a lobster tail by boiling, there's only one real way to serve it — with melted butter! This traditional dipper is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. However, if you feel that melted butter lacks the zazz you're looking for, there are plenty of other ways you can add it.

One of these ways is by adding some minced garlic into your butter while it melts to add that good garlicky aroma. Or, you can add lemon juice to your melted butter to give it an extra citrusy kick, and then garnish it with some parsley for a better appearance. Better yet, add both to your butter!

If you want to add some seasoning when the lobster is done, have at it! Salt and pepper are time-tested and sure to please, but you can spice things up by using Old Bay or other creole seasonings.

Planning a Full Dinner? We Have You Covered

At Maine Lobster Now, we do a whole lot more than sell the freshest lobster. We would be happy to supply you with all the ingredients you need to make a complete meal reminiscent of placid Maine right there in your home.

A full lobster dinner wouldn't be complete without clams or mussels, or potatoes and corn! We have everything from sides to desserts so you can get a full meal right from Maine.

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Maine Lobster Now wants you to have the tastiest lobster dinner possible. And when you're too far from Maine to eat here, well, we'll just have to bring Maine to you!

We offer free overnight shipping on all orders over $100, so you don't have to wait all weekend when you're craving lobster. We ship fresh, frozen or even live lobster. Take a look at what we have to offer, and order today to have a great dinner tomorrow!

Great! You've decided to bake your lobster tails. This is fun because you can really get a mind-blowing presentation for your guests. You'll have to be careful not to overcook your lobster tails because the meat can dry out very quickly, so its critical to keep check your tails early just to be sure. We suggest putting these on the middle rack of your oven. Another great way to keep your tails moist is actually brushing butter on the meat along with parsley or other spices. Baking lobster tails is necessary for butterflying lobster tails like our lobster tails product photographs. This is a more advanced technique, but once you get it down, you will have your friends in disbelief.

To Butterfly Your Tails Before Baking, Follow These Steps

1. Be sure your tails are completely thawed, see our lobster tails thawing instructions if you are unsure.

2. Cut the upper shell down the center of the back with seafood shears leaving tail fan intact. You can cut into the top half of the meat so it can 'open' like the pictures once pulled up on the shell.

3. Give the tail a good rinse and remove any vein or tomalley. Do not remove under-shell.

4. Run your finger between the meat and the shell to loosen from each other. The goal here is to separate the tail and the shell.

5. Lift uncooked tail through the slit to rest on top of the shell. You can leave the end of the tail meat in the tail fin shell.

6. When the leave the lobster tail meat laying on the lobster shell, as the meat cooks, the meat will 'open' and give the butterfly effect you are looking for! (If you really want to get carried away you can use a steam gun and curl the tail meat manually!)

7. Continue to Lobster Tails Baking Instructions below or click here for more info on butterflying lobster tails.

How to Bake Lobster Tails - A Step-By-Step Guide

1. If you haven't followed the Butterfly Lobster Tails Quick Reference Guide, then make sure your tails are completely thawed. This can be done by leaving your tails in the fridge the night before cooking them or by putting them in cold water.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

3. Place prepared lobster tails on a baking pan. Don't forget to add a little water to the pan so your lobsters' tails don't dry out!

4. Brush each lobster tail with Kate's Butter.

5. Bake using the baking times below or until an instant-read thermometer registers an internal temperature of 140 degrees. Do not overcook.

6. Remove from oven and serve with melted butter and lemon wedges!

7. If you are have followed the butterfly technique, add butter and paprika(optional) and broil for 3 minutes.

How Long To Bake Lobster Tails

Lobster tails typically bake in 8 to 30 minutes depending on the size. They should be baked at 350 degrees F until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F.

BAKING LOBSTER TAILS TIME CHART

Preparing the Lobster Tails for Baking

Preparing a lobster tail for baking is as simple as thoroughly thawing it out. This matters whether you bake the lobster whole or butterfly it first. If you thaw it out, it will bake as it should, instead of drying out as it bakes. You can make sure it's thawed by touch, or you can see if the lobster is flexible and bends easily. If it does, then it's ready to bake.

The Best Way to Serve Baked Lobster Tails

How do you serve baked lobster tails? Fresh out of the oven with some high-quality butter melted and ready for dipping, that's how! We like to use Kate's Butter, which is batch-churned and made right here in Maine. You can touch your butter up with some minced garlic or lemon juice to taste.

When you get the lobster out of the oven, feel free to add some salt and pepper and even paprika for a little spice. We would suggest serving it with a garnish of lemon wedges and fresh parsley.

Lobster Tails, Delicious Sides and More

Though we at Maine Lobster Now focus on gathering the freshest lobster Maine has to offer and getting it to your door, that's just a part of what we do. We can get you everything you need to have a dinner that you'd have in Maine, right there in your home.

We offer a variety of shellfish to complement your lobster dinner, such as clams, mussels and oysters. If you're feeling soupy, we have some quality New England bisques and chowders to choose from. And if you'd prefer some traditional sides, we can get corn, potatoes and unique Maine fiddleheads right to your door, too.

Are your kids not particularly fond of seafood? We bring you the best of Maine outside its coast with classic Red Hot Dogs so you have something the whole family will crave. We have plenty for dessert, too, that we're sure you and the kids will enjoy.

Get to Baking Lobster Tails ASAP With Free Overnight Shipping

At Maine Lobster Now, we believe in getting you fresh, frozen or even live seafood to your door, bringing a taste of Maine straight to your home. We offer free overnight shipping on orders of more than $100, so if you're craving lobster today, you can be cooking it tomorrow. We have garnered thousands of perfect reviews on the web as a testament to our quality ingredients and shipping pledge.

Browse our site for the seafood fare that tickles your fancy and order today to see what all the fuss is about!

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