Cooking lobster tails is surprisingly quick and easy! This tutorial will show you how to cook lobster tail in four different ways! Any method in this guide will result in soft, buttery lobster with just a hint of fresh lemon and garlic flavor. Trust me—it’s easier than you think and so delicious!
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Treat yourself to a lobster feast! Lobster dinners are seen as quite a delicacy, but you may not realize just how easy it is to cook. You can make the perfect dinner with lobster in your own kitchen with ease!
The lobster tail is the best part of the lobster because it is the meatiest part. I see lobster tails at Costco frequently but especially around the holidays. There are a variety of ways to cook lobster and lots of opinions about the best way to cook it. Personally, I don’t mind which cooking process is used, so long as it is cooked through, still moist, and seasoned well.
You can serve a lobster tail dinner for a special occasion, but it’s also easy enough to make for a weeknight meal too! This complete guide will show you how to cook lobster in 4 different ways – oven, air fryer, Instant Pot, and grill – each using very easy steps!
If you love lobster and all things seafood, you’ll love these Marine Lobster Rolls, my Grilled Alaskan King Crabs Legs, these Baja Fish Tacos, and my Juicy Maryland Crab Cakes.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Customize the flavor simply by adding some different herbs or spices.
- Lobster tail should be easy to find in your local grocery store, and you’ll already have everything else you need!
- Cooking lobster is quick and easy, any cooking method you use will take less than 20 minutes!
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Lobster – We’ll use lobster tails, about 3-4 ounces each.
- Oil – Olive oil will give a great flavor, use another neutral-flavored oil if you prefer.
- Butter – Salted butter will slightly season the lobster, giving it a great flavor but if you use unsalted butter, add extra salt.
- Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed lemon juice is best, but you can use bottled lemon juice in a pinch.
- Garlic – Freshly minced garlic will add a great depth of savory flavor but you can use garlic powder if you need to.
- Salt and Pepper – Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper are best for enhancing the flavors.
- Garnish – Use fresh parsley or fresh thyme depending on your preference.
How to Make the Perfect Lobster Tail
Prepare lobster. Make butterflied lobster tails by using sharp kitchen shears or a sharp knife to cut down the center of the tail top shell. Make sure to only cut the shell, not the meat! Carefully crack the shell open, lift out the meat, and place it on top of the shell. The meat should lift easily from out of the shell but remain connected at the end of the tail so it doesn’t fall off!
Season lobster. In a small bowl, stir together the olive oil, butter, lemon juice, and garlic. Brush the garlic butter over the lobster tails. Season each lobster tail with a pinch of kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
Oven
Bake in the Oven. Place the lobster tails on a rimmed baking sheet, on parchment paper or on a silicone mat. Bake them at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, or until the lobster meat is firm and opaque (and the shells are bright red).
Air Fryer
Cook in Air Fryer. Place the lobster tails in your air fryer basket and cook at 350°F for 7 minutes, or until the lobster meat is opaque and firm.
Instant Pot
Add water. Place the trivet insert in the bottom of your Instant Pot and pour in ½ cup of water.
Put lobster on the trivet. Place the lobster tails on the trivet and attach the lid.
Cook. Set the Instant Pot to ‘Pressure Cook Manual’ for 2 minutes (it will take about 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to pressurize).
Release pressure. Then release the pressure manually by switching the valve to the “venting” position. The lobster meat should be opaque and firm but if it is not, attach the lid and allow the lobster tails to sit in the Instant Pot for an additional 5 minutes on the “Keep Warm” setting.
Grill
Preheat. Preheat a gas, charcoal, or pellet grill to high heat (around 400°F).
Add lobster. Place the lobster tails on the grill with the meat side down for 5-6 minutes until you have nice grill marks.
Flip. Turn the tails over with tongs and grill another 2-4 minutes, or until the lobster meat turns opaque and firm. Keep a close eye on it so it doesn’t get overcooked.
Recipe FAQ’s
It really depends on how you’re going to serve it, and how much lobster each person would prefer. Be mindful that only about ½ of the lobster’s weight is how much meat you will get after cooking. Larger lobsters will have a bigger ratio of meat to the total weight, but it can also depend on which season the lobster was caught in.
Lobster is a crustacean that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, as well as vitamins and minerals. It is considered very healthy to eat, but to make a healthy meal using of lobster, be mindful to make it a balanced meal with carbs and greens on the side.
The internal temperature of a lobster, no matter how you cook it, should be 140°F when you check it with a meat thermometer (affiliate link).
Lobster is such a versatile meat, it goes well with so many flavors. Serve whole lobster tails with side dishes of rice or potatoes and vegetables for a full meal. Rice like this Easy Cilantro Lime Rice or my Spanish Rice would go well. If you prefer potatoes, try my Twice Baked Potatoes. Grilled Garlic Bread will also go well with the garlic flavors, as will my Garlic Mushrooms. Other vegetables that go great with lobster are Zucchini Fries and Roasted Green Beans.
Store fresh, raw lobster tail in a Ziploc storage bag or in an airtight container on ice in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Once cooked, your lobster tail can be stored in a Ziploc bag or an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Tips for Success
- Use a digital meat thermometer (affiliate link) in the thickest part of the tail to know exactly when your lobster is ready.
- The combination of olive oil and butter adds delicious flavor and helps the lobster tail meat brown slightly but if you don’t have both, either one will work well on its own!
- Lemon juice adds a bit of acidity and freshness to the lobster. Freshly squeezed lemon juice really makes a difference!
- Using fresh lobster tails will give you the best flavor.
Lobster tails are pretty easy to find! Just check the seafood counter at your grocery store. This recipe is written for 4-ounce lobster tails, so make sure to adjust the cooking time if your lobster is bigger or smaller.
More Seafood Recipes
- Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta
- Grilled Whole Fish
- Mahi-Mahi Crusted with Macadamia Nuts
- Garam Masala Salmon Steaks
- San Francisco Cioppino Seafood Stew
- Shrimp Sheet Pan Fajitas
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
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How to Cook Lobster Tail (4 Ways)
Ingredients
- 2 lobster tails about 3- to 4-ounces each
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon salted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- Pinch of kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh parsley or thyme for garnish
Instructions
- Use sharp kitchen shears to cut down the middle of the lobster shell. Make sure to only cut the shell, not the meat! Carefully crack the shell open, lift out the meat, and place it on top of the shell. The meat should lift easily from out of the shell but will still be connected at the end so it doesn’t fall off!
- In a small bowl, stir together the olive oil, butter, lemon juice, and garlic. Brush lobster meat with garlic butter. Season each lobster tail with a pinch of kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Oven: Place the lobster tails on a rimmed baking sheet and bake them at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, or until the lobster meat is firm and opaque (and the shells are bright red).
- Air Fryer: Place the lobster tails in your air fryer basket and cook at 350°F for 7 minutes, or until the lobster meat is opaque and firm.
- Instant Pot: Place the trivet insert in the bottom of your Instant Pot and pour in ½ cup of water. Place the lobster tails on the trivet and attach the lid. Set the Instant Pot to 'Pressure Cook Manual' for 2 minutes (it will take about 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to pressurize). Then release the pressure manually by switching the valve to the “venting” position. The lobster meat should be opaque and firm– if it is not, attach the lid and allow the lobster tails to sit in the Instant Pot for an additional 5 minutes on the “Keep Warm” setting.
- Grill: Preheat a gas, charcoal, or pellet grill to high heat (around 400°F). Place the lobster tails on the grill with the meat side down for 5-6 minutes until you have nice grill marks. Turn the tails over with tongs and grill another 2-4 minutes, or until the lobster meat turns opaque and firm.
- Serve the lobster tails immediately topped with chopped parsley and with melted butter for dipping.
Notes
- Lobster tails are pretty easy to find! Just check the seafood counter at your grocery store. This recipe is written for 4-ounce lobster tails so make sure to adjust the cooking time if your lobster is bigger/smaller.
- The combination of olive oil and butter adds delicious flavor and helps the meat brown slightly.
- If you don’t have both, either one will work! Lemon juice adds a bit of acidity and freshness to the lobster. Freshly squeezed lemon juice really makes a difference!
- Raw Lobster: Raw lobster tail in a Ziploc storage bag or in an airtight container on ice in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Cooked Lobster: Lobster tail can be stored in a Ziploc bag or an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
I just love every one of your recipes for their simplicity & so very delicious!!!
Thank you!!!
Thank you for such a wonderful compliment, Priscilla! So glad you enjoy them!
Used the air fryer recipe and they turned out absolutely perfect. Thanks so much. Can’t tell you how many lobster tails I’ve ruined 😠. Finally I feel confident to cook my favorite dish.
Thanks for these cooking tips, I just lobster!
Not sure if buying out is that much more expensive than buying from market and cooking on your own though.
I’ve been trying to survey it but I still can’t figure it out.
For instance, red lobster sells a 6-7 oz tail for $16.99 and the market sells about the same size for $14.99 so the difference in that regard is $2 but I think it also depends on the quality and standard of the lobster, so I’m still totally confused. But in anycase thanks for these tips! ❤️
You are welcome! You make a valid point, but then there is also the time and expense of going to a restaurant, tipping, and what you might spend on all the other dishes as well. 🙂
Sooo good!
Easy recipe to follow. First time making lobster tails. Definitely use this recipe again!
You should show the lobster in your instruction tutorial it would make a big difference especially for people who have never dealt with a lobster