Large lobster tails are covered in a buttery garlic herb sauce and broiled over high heat to make this lobster tail recipe a fancy dinner. The lobster tails are soft and juicy. The ultimate indulgence!.
Lobster tails are a delicious and luxurious seafood treat that can take any meal to the next level. Their sweet succulent meat is perfect for everything from surf and turf dinners to seafood pasta dishes. However properly cooking lobster tails can be tricky – especially the small ones. Undercook them and the meat will be chewy and gummy. Overcook them and you’ll end up with rubbery, flavorless meat.
So how long should you cook a small lobster tail to get it just right? Here’s a simple guide to help you cook small lobster tails to tender, juicy perfection every time.
What Size Counts as a Small Lobster Tail?
Lobster tails are generally categorized into three sizes:
- Small: 5-6 oz
- Medium: 7-8 oz
- Large/Jumbo: 10-12 oz
A 5-6 ounce lobster tail is considered a small or “petite” tail. This is around the size of the lobster tails you often see at the grocery store or fish market. While you may see even smaller “snack” sized tails around 4 oz, this article will focus on the standard small 5-6 oz tails.
How Long Should You Cook a 5-6 oz Lobster Tail?
For a 5 to 6 ounce small lobster tail, the ideal cooking time is:
- 5 minutes for steaming
- 10 minutes for baking/broiling
This cooking time will ensure the lobster tail meat is opaque tender and cooked through without becoming overcooked and rubbery.
Here are more details on cooking times for both steaming and baking small lobster tails:
Steaming
Steaming is a quick, easy and healthy way to cook lobster tails. It locks in moisture and flavor.
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Fill a large pot with 1-2 inches of water and bring to a boil. Add salt to taste – this helps season the lobster.
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Place a steaming basket or rack in the pot. Make sure the tails will sit above the water.
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Add 5-6 oz lobster tails to the basket. Cover and steam for 5 minutes.
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Check for doneness by verifying the meat is opaque through the thin part of the shell.
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Transfer to a plate and serve immediately with melted butter.
Baking/Broiling
Baking or broiling add great flavor from the caramelization and charring of the shell.
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Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
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Cut through the shell of each tail lengthwise. Season with salt, pepper and any other seasonings.
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Place tails cut-side up on the baking sheet. Brush with melted butter if desired.
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Bake for 10 minutes. The meat should be opaque and juicy.
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For added char, you can broil for 1-2 minutes after baking.
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Serve with extra melted butter for dipping.
What Happens If You Over or Under Cook Small Lobster Tails?
Cooking lobster tails properly is all about getting the right balance between doneness and texture. Here’s what happens if you cook them too short or too long:
Undercooked
If you pull lobster tails too early, the meat will be gummy with a jelly-like consistency and translucent appearance. The texture will be chewy rather than tender.
Undercooked lobster meat can also carry food safety risks if it’s still translucent. Lobster should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 140°F.
Overcooked
If you cook lobster tails too long, they become rubbery, dry and stringy. The meat loses its signature sweet, briny flavor.
Overcooking is a particular risk with small tails since they have less meat – even an extra minute or two can make them overdone.
That’s why it’s important to stick to the recommended 5-10 minutes depending on your cooking method to get the texture just right.
Tips for Cooking Perfect Small Lobster Tails
Follow these tips for flawlessly cooked petite lobster tails every time:
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Start with thawed tails – defrost frozen tails overnight in the fridge. Cooking frozen delays cooking time.
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Use a thermometer and cook to 140°F for food safety. This is the best way to confirm doneness.
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Go by time and visual cues. Track your cook time. The meat should look solid white when done.
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Prevent overcooking by checking early and removing immediately when opaque.
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Brush with butter before cooking for extra flavor and moisture.
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Don’t crowd the pan when cooking multiple tails – this increases cooking time.
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Let tails sit 3-5 minutes after cooking before serving. This allows the meat to finish cooking and makes them easier to remove from the shell.
Serving Your Perfectly Cooked Small Lobster Tails
A perfectly steamed or roasted 5-6 ounce lobster tail is a special indulgence. Here are some fantastic ways to serve your petite lobster tails:
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Serve as-is with melted lemon-garlic butter for dipping. Keep it classic!
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Pair with steak or chicken for an elegant surf and turf dinner.
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Split the tail and stuff with a seafood mixture like crab or shrimp for extra decadence.
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Toss tails with pasta, olive oil, tomatoes, spinach and Parmesan.
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Layer in seafood bisque or chowders.
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Complement with rich sides like risotto, scalloped potatoes or asparagus.
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Top a salad of baby greens, blue cheese and candied nuts.
Maximize the enjoyment of your special small lobster tails by cooking them for just the right amount of time. Follow this guide for perfect 5-6 minute steamed or 10 minute baked petite tails. Your tastebuds will thank you with each sweet, succulent bite!
Different Ways of Cooking Lobster Tails:
There are several different variations when cooking lobster tails. I love how simple each of them are and how they all taste just about the same. It is all about preference and what is easiest for you in your kitchen. Lobster tails are cooked quickly and easily. Any way you cook them, in less than 10 minutes you’ll have a beautiful and rich meal on the table.
- Broiled: This is my go-to way. It is simple and quick to braise on high heat and close to the top of the oven. This makes a tender lobster tail ever time.
- When you bake something, it’s a lot like broiling, but you use medium heat and cook it for longer.
- Poached: This is more of a slow cook in butter. It is also known as butter poaching.
- Boiled: If you want to cook lobster in the simplest way possible, boil it. There should be a lot of water in a big pot. Add the lobster tails and boil them for a few minutes. But sometimes the lobster isn’t as tasty and doesn’t have the same rich buttery herb flavor as when it’s cooked in other ways.
- Grilled: This is for people who love to grill! Just put the lobster tails on the grill and let the heat cook them quickly and evenly.
How to Cook Lobster:
I can’t stress enough on how simple this lobster tail recipe is. While looking at a case of lobster tails in the grocery store, they can look scary. But I’m here to tell you that they are easy to make and will make any holiday or dinner extra special. Most ingredients you already have at home even!.
Once your lobster tails are ready, you will make a butter garlic herb that you will brush over each piece of meat that sticks out. I am blown away by how tasty this is! It is the best part and what turns the lobster meat golden yellow when it’s baked. It truly just melts in your mouth leaving you speechless.
- Get Prepare: Preheat the oven to broil or 500 degrees. Start by preparing the lobster. Cut down the middle of the tail with kitchen shears to make a butterfly shape. Loosen the meat and pull the lobster meat upward. Put the meat on a baking sheet and season it with salt and pepper.
- This is how you make the garlic herb butter: melt the butter and mix in the garlic, paprika, thyme, rosemary, and parsley in a small bowl. Spread evenly on each one.
- Broil: Put the lobster on the broiler for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the meat is clear and the top is lightly browned. Serve with melted butter if desired.
How to Cook Lobster Tails
How long do you boil lobster tails?
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Place tails in the boiling water and simmer, uncovered, until the shells turn red and the meat turns opaque and tender. The rule of thumb is to boil them for about 45 seconds per ounce. Small lobster tails could take as little as 2 to 4 minutes; large tails can take 6 minutes or more.
How do you cook frozen lobster tails?
Make sure frozen lobster tails are completely thawed before cooking. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Place tails in the boiling water and simmer, uncovered, until the shells turn red and the meat turns opaque and tender. The rule of thumb is to boil them for about 45 seconds per ounce.
How do you cook lobster tails in the oven?
If you’re baking, arrange the lobster tails on a baking sheet lined with foil. Drizzle melted butter over the tails and bake in the preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes. The meat should be white and opaque when fully cooked.
How do you cook lobster tails in a crock pot?
Combine melted butter, garlic powder, and parsley in a bowl. Mix together with a spoon. Season lobster tails with seafood seasoning and pour melted butter mixture on top until each tail is completely covered. Squeeze lemon juice over top. Bake in the preheated oven until shells are bright red and meat is opaque, 12 to 15 minutes.