Should I Boil or Steam Lobster Tails? A Complete Guide

When you learn how to cook lobster tails, you’ll be living the champagne life and feel like a superhero. If you learn how to cook lobster tails at home, you can improve your cooking skills and enjoy this delicious seafood without having to go to a fancy restaurant. We’ll show you the five best ways to cook lobster tails in this article: baking, broiling, steaming, and grilling. Let’s dive in.

Lobster tails are a delicious and luxurious seafood treat. When cooking lobster tails at home, the two most popular methods are boiling and steaming. But which technique results in the most tender, flavorful lobster tails? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare boiling vs. steaming lobster tails to help you determine the best cooking method.

Overview of Boiling and Steaming Lobster Tails

Here’s a quick rundown of how these two cooking techniques work

Boiling

Lobster tails are submerged in a pot of boiling water.
The turbulent water transfers heat quickly and evenly.
Tails are boiled for 5-12 minutes depending on size
Delivers tender succulent meat when done properly.

Steaming

Lobster tails are placed in a steamer basket suspended over boiling water.
Steam gently cooks the lobster meat.
Tails are steamed for 6-12 minutes based on size.
Produces exceptionally moist, delicate meat when steamed correctly.

Comparing Texture

Steaming is gentler, yielding slightly more tender lobster meat.
Boiling can result in firmer texture since the turbulent water rapidly transfers heat.
With either method, proper cooking times prevent overcooking and keep the meat tender.

Comparing Flavor

Steaming allows the natural sweet, briny lobster flavor to shine through.
Boiling can dilute subtle flavors, but the signature sweet taste still comes through.
For the purest lobster flavor, steaming has a slight edge.

Comparing Convenience

Steaming requires some specialized equipment like a steamer basket. Cleanup is easy.
Boiling just needs a pot. But managing the vigorous boil takes some finesse.
Both methods are relatively convenient, so ease of use is comparable.

Comparing Cook Times

Steaming cooks efficiently, but boiling is generally faster by a couple minutes.
The direct immersion of boiling transfers heat rapidly from all directions.
Cook times are similar enough that speed isn’t a major differentiator.

Proper Doneness for Lobster Tails

Check for doneness using these visual indicators:

Opaque, pearly white meat
Firm, flaky texture when poked with a knife tip
Bright red lobster shell
Meat separates easily from the shell
Internal temperature reaches 145°F

Tips for Perfect Results

Choose similar-sized tails for even cooking.
Scrub tails before cooking to remove debris.
Adjust boil/steam times based on tail size.
Use tongs and gloves for safe handling.
Check doneness early and often to prevent overcooking.
Serve immediately with lemon, clarified butter, or dipping sauces.

Steaming Lobster Tails Step-by-Step

Follow these simple steps for perfect steamed lobster tails:

Prep tails by scrubbing clean and splitting lengthwise if very large.
Fill a large pot with 2 inches water and bring to a boil.
Place tails shell-side down in a steamer basket or rack.
Position basket above water in the pot. Cover tightly.
Steam 8-12 minutes depending on tail size.
Check doneness by piercing meat with a knife tip. It should be opaque.
Transfer tails immediately to a plate. Serve with drawn butter.

Boiling Lobster Tails Step-by-Step

Here’s an easy guide for boiling tender, delicious lobster tails:

Prep tails by scrubbing clean. Cut soft underside shell with kitchen shears.
Fill a pot with 2 inches salted water. Bring to a rolling boil.
Use tongs to gently lower tails into the vigorously boiling water.
Boil for 7-12 minutes based on tail size.
Check for doneness markers like opaque meat and red shells.
Remove tails from pot using tongs. Serve right away.
Enjoy dipping the tender lobster meat into melted butter or sauce.

Complementary Side Dishes and Sauces

Drawn butter – Clarified butter is perfect for dipping lobster meat.
Lemon wedges – Bright, fresh flavor that cuts the richness.
Garlic aioli – Indulgent garlic and olive oil blend.
Champagne vinegar slaw – Crunchy texture with tang.
Twice baked potatoes – Smooth and creamy with lobster chunks.

The Verdict: Boiling vs Steaming Lobster Tails

While both steaming and boiling have their advantages, steaming ultimately produces superior results:

Steaming keeps the meat incredibly moist and tender.
It preserves the pure, sweet lobster flavor.
The gentle heat evenly cooks the lobster tails.
Steaming equipment is easy to use once you get the hang of it.

For the most tender texture and purest lobster taste, steaming is the best cooking method for lobster tails. But both techniques can produce amazing results. Try out steaming and boiling to discover your personal preference!

should i boil or steam lobster tails

How to Prevent the Meat from Sticking to the Shell

It can be annoying to spend a lot of money on lobster tails and have the meat fall out of the shell in bits and shreds after cooking them. Typically, this occurs when grilling lobster tails. Here are some tips for how to prevent the meat from sticking to the shell:

Defrost fully. Make sure your lobster tails are completely defrosted before cooking them. This way, the meat will cook evenly and not stick to the shell. Review our tips for thawing frozen lobster tails.
Remove the shell during prep time. You can also use your hands or a butter knife to gently loosen the tail meat from the shell and lay it back in the shell. You can also add butter or seasoning between the meat and shell at this point.
Blanch the lobster tail. When you parboil (also called blanch) meat, it gets cooked enough that you can take it out of the shell. It’s a good method to use before grilling. If you boil your lobster first, then grill it, you will only need to quickly sear it to finish cooking it.
Submerge lobster tail in cold water. Put lobster tails that have been cooked into ice water to stop the cooking and get the meat out of the shell.

Tips For Baking Lobster Tails

If you want the best end result, prepare your lobster tails for baking the piggback way.
Do not put too many lobster tails in the baking dish or sheet pan.
Use your instant read thermometer to make sure your lobster tails are cooked to 140 degrees. Every oven is a little different.

How to Cook Lobster Tails

How do you steam lobster tails?

About this method: To steam the tails, you bring a small amount of water to a boil and then add butterflied tails (prepared the same as the baking method above), in a steamer insert, to the pot so the lobster is above the water line. You want the steam and heat in the pot to cook the meat, but not the water directly.

How long do you boil lobster tails?

Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the lobster tails and boil uncovered until opaque all the way through and the internal temperature registers 135 to 140ºF, 6 to 8 minutes. Using tongs, remove the tails from the water. Butterfly or leave the tails whole.

How do you cook lobster tails?

While not a total fail, overall, there were better, more even ways to cook lobster. About this method: To steam the tails, you bring a small amount of water to a boil and then add butterflied tails (prepared the same as the baking method above), in a steamer insert, to the pot so the lobster is above the water line.

How do you cook a lobster in a steamer?

Steaming a lobster involves placing the lobster in a steamer basket and cooking over boiling water. When burning a lobster, bring a pot of heavily salted water to a boil before adding the lobster. Cover the pot and cook for 8-10 minutes, depending on the size of the lobster. The cooking time is typically the same as burning.