The Perfect Guide to Grilling Lobster Tails in Foil Packets

As a seafood aficionado grilling succulent lobster tails is one of my all-time favorite culinary treats. The combination of smoky grilled flavor and tender sweet lobster meat is simply extraordinary. While grilling lobster tails without foil allows for char and caramelization, the foil packet technique has some major advantages. The foil traps steam and juices, resulting in exceptionally moist, flaky, and flavorful meat.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through every step of grilling lobster tails in foil packets to absolute perfection. You’ll learn how to purchase high-quality tails, prep and season them, grill in foil, check doneness, add flavor variations, and more pro tips. Armed with this foolproof tutorial, you’ll be able to impress family and friends with your grill-master skills. Let’s get started!

Purchasing High-Quality Lobster Tails

The starting point for an incredible grilled lobster dish is buying the best tails you can find

• Size – Opt for 8-10 oz or larger tails. Smaller tails can overcook.

• Appearance – Tails should look clean with no spots or discoloration. Shells should be solid.

• Origin – American lobster from Maine offers premium quality.

• Storing – Keep tails chilled below 40°F until ready to prep and grill.

Buying the freshest, heaviest tails available ensures you’ll end up with tender, succulent meat after grilling.

Preparing Lobster Tails for Grilling

Before hitting the grill, you’ll need to prep the tails:

• Carefully cut through the top of shell lengthwise using kitchen shears. Take care not to cut all the way through.

• Loosen meat from bottom shell and rinse under cold water to remove intestinal tract.

• Lay meat over shell. Lift and gently pull membrane from meat.

• Brush with olive oil or melted butter and add desired seasonings over meat.

• Make sure the meat is laying over the shell during seasoning and grilling.

Proper prep allows seasonings and smoke flavor to penetrate the meat fully.

Choosing the Best Foil for Grilling Lobster Tails

You’ll wrap the tails in foil packets for grilling, so use heavy-duty aluminum foil:

• Opt for standard or heavy duty thickness, not thin foil.

• Use sheets 12 inches or larger to fully wrap tails.

• Foil prevents drying out and adds a touch of steam.

• Traps in seasoning flavors against the meat.

The foil allows you to infuse more flavor while keeping lobster ultra moist.

Grilling Lobster Tail Foil Packets

Now it’s time to head outside and grill! Follow these tips:

• Heat gas or charcoal grill to medium heat, approx. 350°F.

• Lay foil sheet down and place seasoned tail in center, meat side up.

• Bring up foil sides and seal edges to form a tight packet around tail.

• Grill foil packets directly on grates for 14-18 minutes, turning once.

• Monitor thickness of the tails as larger tails may need more time.

The foil allows the tails to gently steam and cook through without drying out on the grill.

Checking for Lobster Tail Doneness

It’s crucial not to under or overcook the tender lobster meat. Look for these signs of doneness:

• Internal temperature reaches 140-145°F when checked with a meat thermometer.

• Meat turns opaque white and firms up when pressed with tongs.

• Shells turn bright reddish-orange color.

• Clear juices start to run from meat when poked with a fork.

• Total grill time is 14-18 minutes for 8-10 oz tails.

Taking tails off grill when they reach perfect doneness prevents chewy overcooked meat.

Seasoning Ideas for Grilled Lobster Tails

The beauty of foil grilling is that you can add so many flavors right in the packet:

• Lemon garlic butter – Fresh lemon juice, butter, garlic, parsley

• Cajun spice – Paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, black pepper

• Chimichurri – Parsley, garlic, olive oil, oregano, red pepper flakes

• Teriyaki – Soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger

• Jerk seasoning – Spicy blend of peppers, allspice, thyme, more

Get creative with spice rubs, herb butters, marinades, and more packed right in the foil!

Making a Flavorful Compound Butter

Whipping up a compound butter to top grilled lobster tails takes them to the next level. Blend softened butter with desired ingredients:

• Lemon garlic – Zest, juice, minced garlic, parsley, salt

• Chipotle lime – Minced chipotles, zest, cilantro, cumin

• Herb – Fresh basil, dill, chives, tarragon, lemon zest

• Truffle – Minced truffles, truffle oil, shallots, chives

Slather on top of piping hot grilled lobster or stuff into slits of the meat. Heavenly!

Pro Tips for Grilling Lobster Tails Like a Pro

I’ve grilled hundreds of lobster tails over the years and picked up some helpful tips:

• Splash tails with lemon juice to prevent discoloration while prepping.

• Brush meat with olive oil first so seasoning adheres nicely.

• Sprinkle a little water into packets to generate extra steam if needed.

• Let rest for 2-3 minutes before opening foil to prevent drying out.

• Serve with grilled lemon halves, drawn butter, or dipping sauces.

• Pair with grilled seasonal veggies, corn, potatoes, or Caesar salad.

With these pro suggestions, you’ll achieve perfect grilled lobster tails every time!

Common Grilled Lobster Tail Mistakes to Avoid

It’s easy to make some simple mistakes that will ruin your grilled lobster success:

• Overcooking the delicate meat into rubbery oblivion.

• Letting the tails sit in the hot foil packets too long after grilling.

• Failing to seal the foil tight enough so juices leak out.

• Using low-quality old tails that have discoloration or odd scents.

• Skipping the brining step so seasonings don’t adhere properly.

• Grilling over direct high heat so exterior burns before interior cooks through.

Follow the proper techniques in this guide to dodge these pitfalls!

Enjoying Leftover Grilled Lobster

You’ll often have leftover grilled lobster tails that can be repurposed creatively:

• Create indulgent lobster omelets or scrambled eggs the next morning.

• Toss chopped lobster meat into Greek salads or pasta salad recipes.

• Fill split rolls with chunks of lobster for easy lobster rolls.

• Make lobster quesadillas with cheese, green onions and diced tails.

• Stir bite-size lobster pieces into seafood bisques, chowders or risottos.

With endless ways to use them, leftovers are a bonus to savor all week long!

Time to Get Grilling Lobster Tails in Foil Packets