How to Bake Lobster Tails

Although lobster is often saved for special occasions and fancy restaurants, you can learn to steam bake lobster tails at home. This is a great way to enjoy fresh seafood at home, while adjusting the recipe according to your preferences. Find out how to bake lobster tails by reading the instructions below.

Ingredients

Butter
Lobster tails
Water
Parsley leaves
Lemon
Salt
Pepper

Part 1

Part 1 of 5:

Choosing the Lobster Tails

1
Check your supermarket for frozen lobster tails. The tails should be frozen, rather than re-frozen after sitting in the fresh fish section.
2
Look for a use by date. Choose tails that have not yet expired.

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3
Check the label for added sodium triphosphate. This is often added to the lobster after it is caught, causing it to weigh more and cost more.

Part 2

Part 2 of 5:

Thawing the Tails

1
Place 2 to 3 frozen lobster tails in the refrigerator overnight. Do not cook them while they are still frozen.
2
Rinse the lobster tail in cold water. Place them on a cutting board.

Part 3

Part 3 of 5:

Cutting the Lobster

1
Place some sharp kitchen shears at the top of the lobster shell. Cut down the length of the tail without cutting into the lobster meat.
2
Slide a finger between the tail and the meat. This will dislodge the cartilage connecting the tail.
3
Repeat on the other side of the cut.
- Some chefs prefer to leave the tail intact and cook lobster tail with the fan side down. If you prefer to do this, slice and remove the underside of the table. Then, use your fingers to loosen the tail from the fan for easy eating.
4
Slice into the center of the lobster tail. However, only cut halfway through the width of the lobster meat.
5
Piggyback the tail. You lift the tail through the slit in the shell and place it on top of the shell. The meat rests on the shell during baking.

Part 4

Part 4 of 5:

Seasoning the Lobster

1
Place the 2 to 3 piggybacked tails side by side in a baking dish.
2
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius).
3
Pour 1 cup of water into the baking dish.
4
Combine 1 tbsp. (15ml) melted butter with 2 tbsp. (30ml) lemon juice, 1 tbsp. (1.9g) fresh minced parsley, a dash of salt and pepper.
5
Pour the seasoning mix over the lobster tails.

Part 5

Part 5 of 5:

Baking the Lobster

1
Cover the dish with a layer of aluminum foil. Sealing off the top of the dish from the element will steam bake them, leaving more moisture in the flesh.
2
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Baking time will depend upon the size (6 to 14 oz./170 to 369g) of the lobster tails.
3
Remove the dish from the oven.
4
Sprinkle with more butter and parsley. Serve with lemon wedges.

Community Q&A

Question

What is the internal temperature of the lobster tail when done?

Michele

Top Answerer

The center should be just becoming opaque, with an internal temperature between 130 - 135° F (54 and 57° C).
Question

How long to bake very large tails?

Michele

Top Answerer

Bake for 15 minutes, then check for doneness. If it's still translucent, bake it a few more minutes until the meat is cooked through.
Question

I don't have fresh parsley. How much dried parsley would I use?

Community Answer

About half of how much fresh parsley is supposed to be used.