How to Cook Perfect Lobster Skewers on the Grill

Lobster skewers make for an impressive restaurant-worthy meal you can easily recreate at home. Pieces of tender juicy lobster meat are threaded onto skewers and grilled to perfection. Served sizzling hot off the grill, lobster skewers are a crowd-pleasing appetizer or entree.

While lobster can seem intimidating to cook, preparing skewers on the grill couldn’t be simpler With a few tips on handling the lobster meat and best grilling methods, you’ll be serving up succulent lobster skewers worth splurging on

Here is a complete guide to mastering cooking lobster skewers on the grill

Picking the Lobster Meat

The first step is sourcing quality lobster. Options include:

• Live lobster – More work but ultimate freshness
• Lobster tails – Quick, semi-premium option
• Lobster meat – Pricier but very convenient

If starting with a live lobster, humanely dispatch it then detach the tails and use kitchen shears to cut through the shell. Remove the tail meat and split each tail in half lengthwise.

For claw and knuckle meat, crack the shells with a mallet or scissors. Extract the meat, keeping it in large chunks as much as possible.

Once you have your raw lobster meat prepared, it’s time to skewer.

Assembling the Lobster Skewers

Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes prior to use to prevent burning. Or for ease, use metal skewers.

Thread the lobster pieces generously onto the skewers, leaving a small space between each chunk. Pack the meat on tightly enough to hold together but loose enough to allow smoke circulation.

• For appetizer size, thread 3-4 pieces per skewer
• For entree size, thread 6-8 pieces per skewer

Brush each side of the loaded skewers with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Sprinkle on fresh lemon juice and herbs like dill or tarragon if desired.

Getting the Grill Ready

The key to perfect grilled lobster skewers is using a hot grill and avoiding overcooking.

Heat your charcoal or gas grill to high heat, 500°F to 550°F. Clean and oil the grill grates right before adding the skewers.

Place the lobster skewers directly over the heat. Resist the urge to move or flip the skewers constantly. Let them sear nicely on each side undisturbed.

Grilling Times per Side

• Tail meat – 2 minutes
• Knuckle and claw meat – 3 minutes
• Whole legs or body meat – 4-5 minutes

The lobster is done when the meat is opaque and cooked through. Be careful not to overcook or the texture will become rubbery.

An instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of meat should read 135°F when done.

Finish with Flavor Enhancers

After grilling, serve the lobster skewers immediately for the best texture and flavor. Consider dressing them up with one of these easy finishing touches:

• Melted butter – Classic accompaniment to dunk the lobster in
• Lemon wedges – Brightens up the flavor
• drawn butter
• Aioli – Blender of mayo, lemon, and garlic
• Chimichurri – Herby green sauce with olive oil and vinegar

Or for showstopping presentation, top the piping hot lobster skewers with hollandaise sauce either homemade or quality store-bought.

Make an Entree Meal

Take your grilled lobster skewers to the next level by pairing them with sides to create a full meal:

• Garlic bread or rolls to soak up any buttery drippings
• Corn on the cob – Grilled alongside the lobster with melted butter
• Rice pilaf or risotto to add a starchy component
• Green salad or coleslaw for a fresh, crunchy contrast

For special occasions, upgrade to surf and turf by also grilling up steak or chicken alongside the lobster skewers.

Pro Grilling Tips

• If flare ups occur from the dripping butter, move skewers to a cooler part of the grill.
• If the shell edges start to burn, wrap the tails in foil.
• Use tongs vs. piercing meat with fork to avoid losing juices.
• Serve any leftover butter sauce for dipping or pouring over the hot lobster.

With this complete guide to preparing and grilling lobster skewers, you can serve up tender, succulent lobster with ease right in your own backyard. Impress guests with your culinary skills by following these simple steps for fail-proof lobster skewers off the grill.