Perfect Baked Lobster Tails Recipe

Baked Lobster Tails – Nothing is as elegant and delicious!  This is usually a special occasion meal, but whether you are planning a luxurious evening at home or a casual dinner date, impress your family and friends with a delicious lobster tail dinner.  There is always a reason to celebrate when serving lobster tails.

Serving lobster tails to your dinner guests or loved ones is always a special treat, so you want them to taste great!  Lobster tails are easier to obtain than whole lobsters and easier to prepare.  Buying a whole lobster is very expensive, and because most of the meat is found in the claws and in the tail.  It is more economical to just buy a quantity of frozen lobster tails rather than the whole lobster itself and make these wonderful cooked Lobster Tails.  Saying this, be careful and buy the best product you can afford and buy from a reputable source.

Please check out my five-course Baked Lobster Tail dinner menu which includes this fabulous Baked Lobster Tails.

 

 Baked Lobster Tails

 

Check out my article How To Buy Frozen Lobster Tails and How To Butter-Poached Lobster Tails.

 

Perfect Baked Lobster Tails Recipe:
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
25 mins
 
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Perfect Baked Lobster Tails Recipe
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
Instructions
How To Defrost Lobster Tails:
  1. Defrost (thaw) lobster tails overnight in the refrigerator.  

  2. The lobster tails may be cooked frozen, but for the best results, defrosted them before cooking.  To defrost lobster tails, place them in the refrigerator for a period of approximately 8 to 10 hours or alternatively place them in a bowl of cold water.   Check out my article How To Buy Frozen Lobster Tails.

How To Cut Lobster Tails or How To Butterfly Lobster Tails:
  1. When the lobster tails are defrosted, insert point of kitchen shears between the meat and the hard shell.

  2. Cut the shell down the center of the back with scissors, leaving tail fan intact.  NOTE: Do not remove the under shell.  I run my little finger between the meat and the shell to loosen from each other.

  3. Lift uncooked tail through the slit to rest on the top of the shell (this is called a piggyback lobster tail).  At this stage, the lobster tails may be refrigerated until ready to bake.  Cover with plastic wrap to prevent drying out.

  4. Piggy Back Lobster Tails


  5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  6.  

How To Bake Lobster Tail:
  1. Place prepared lobster tails on a baking sheet, brush each lobster tail with melted butter, and bake approximately 15 minutes or until an instant-read meat thermometer register and internal temperature of 140 to 145 degrees F.  (do not overcook, as the lobster will become tough and rubbery).  While cooking, lobster shells will turn their characteristic bright red color well before the meat is thoroughly cooked inside.

  2. Remove the perfectly cooked lobster tails from the oven when done.  Serve immediately with melted butter and lemon slices.

  3. If the lobster tails will not be eaten right away, they must be cooled quickly in ice-water.  You can keep cooked lobsters in your refrigerator for 1 to 2 days.

  4. Makes 4 servings.

  5.  

Recipe Notes

* Figure one (1) lobster tail per person.

Things to avoid when buying frozen lobster tails:  If you see any discoloration, like black spots, in the flesh of the lobster meat, do not purchase, as they were probably not handled properly.  Also, if the tail has a grayish color, it is a sign the lobster was not alive during the processing.

 

Thermapen Internal Temperature Cooking ChartI get many readers asking what cooking/meat thermometer that I prefer and use in my cooking and baking. I, personally, use the Thermapen Thermometer. Originally designed for professional use, the Super-Fast Thermapen Thermometer is used by chefs all over the world.  I only endorse a few products, on my web site, that I like and use regularly.

You can learn more or buy yours at: Super-Fast Thermapen Thermometer.

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Additional Outstanding Recipes Using Lobsters:

Butter-Poached Lobster with Caviar Mousse & Dijon Mustard Sauce
In the fall of 1999, after five years serving an inventive butter-poached lobster dish at the French Laundry, his celebrated restaurant in Yountville, Calif., chef Thomas Keller published this recipe in his cookbook called The French Laundry.  Thomas Keller said “I wanted to find a way to cook lobster gently, so it wouldn’t be tough.  I don’t remember seeing it done anywhere else, and this made perfect sense to me.  Who in America hasn’t had lobster with melted butter?”

Lobster Bisque Dewey
The outstanding lobster bisque recipe is from the 1965 cookbook A Treasury of Great Recipes by Mary and Vincent Price.  The original recipe came from the Gage and Tollner Restaurant in Brooklyn, New York.  This delicious soup is the result of cooking lobster meat in butter and then adding cream.  Rich, delicious, and tasting of pure essence of lobster.

Lobster Cakes with Papaya Mayonnaise
The lobster meat shines in these wonderful hand-made lobster cakes.  Can be served as an appetizer or an entree.  I adapted this recipe from Chef Gregory Cornelius of the Crescent Club in Memphis, Tennessee.

Lobster Macaroni and Cheese
This is a very decadent macaroni and cheese.  Makes a great company dish.  Your guests will be blown away!  Don’t worry about the calories, as they just slide easily down your stomach!

Lobster Newberg
This classic dish has been popular since the mid 1870’s.  Also learn about the interesting history and lore of Lobster Newberg.

Paella – Chef Brandon Frohne’s Paella
Recipe by Chef Brandon Frohne, an award winning 4th generation Chef and Winery Chef at the acclaimed Chateau an Winery and Resort in Braselton, Ga.

 

Categories:

Lobster   

Comments and Reviews

22 Responses to “Perfect Baked Lobster Tails Recipe”

  1. Sarita Flores

    The Lobster I bought is 0 .97 Lbs How long I bake it?

    Reply
    • Whats Cooking America

      Per the recipe instructions:
      Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
      Place prepared lobster tails on a baking sheet, brush each lobster tail with melted butter, and bake approximately 15 minutes or until an instant-read meat thermometer register and internal temperature of 140 to 145 degrees F. (do not overcook, as the lobster will become tough and rubbery).

      Reply
  2. Dianna Tomkiewicz

    Lobster tail…..4 oz. how long to bake

    Reply
    • Linda Stradley

      Bake prepared lobster tails until an instant-read meat thermometer register and internal temperature of 140 to 145 degrees F. (do not overcook, as the lobster will become tough and rubbery). While cooking, lobster shells will turn their characteristic bright red color well before the meat is thoroughly cooked inside.

      Reply
  3. Dan Powlowski

    So, what I am reading is that, no matter the size of your lobster tail (be it 3 oz or 18 oz) you cook it at 350 for 15 minutes.

    Reply
    • Linda Stradley

      This is what my recipe says: Bake approximately 15 minutes or until an instant-read meat thermometer register and internal temperature of 140 to 145 degrees F.

      Using the internal temperature of food is the only way to determine how long to cook to achieve perfection.

      Reply
  4. Richard Cornelius

    How long should it take in the oven for a 16 oz. Tail?

    Reply
    • Whats Cooking America

      Start with 15 minutes and check the internal temperature of the lobster tail. The lobster is perfectly baked when the meat has reached between 140-145 degrees. Continue baking in 5 minutes increments until the lobster has reached the internal temperature in the instructions.

      Reply
  5. Latasha

    Do I bake covered or u covered?

    Reply
    • Linda Stradley

      Uncovered

      Reply
  6. mike

    The ingredients state they use a 6 oz tail.

    Reply
    • Linda Stradley

      6 to 9 ounces is the approximate size of the lobster tails to purchase.

      Reply
  7. Eric

    I did at 400 because I was roasting asparagus in the same pan. Took lobster out at 12 min. 7oz lobster. Came out great.

    Reply
  8. Tracy

    What kind of seasonings do you put on a lobster tail before cooking it

    Reply
  9. Sherry

    What makes a baked lobster tail go mushy?

    Reply
    • Linda Stradley

      Some theories from the internet readers:

      This could be a result of freezing, thawing, and refreezing the lobster tail.

      Lobster was dead before being processed.

      There is another opinion that lobsters release an enzyme as a defense mechanism. As this only occurs with 2 out of every hundred tails or so, I’m not entirely sure what to think of this theory.

      Reply
  10. Kelly

    I make a slight cut down the middle of the lobster meat I than mix up a little melted butter, bit of lemon juice and a dash of parsley. I brush this over the lobster before I bake on a cookie sheet with a wire rack. Depending on the size of the lobster I bake it 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Turns out perfect every time !!!

    Reply
  11. Sue

    I’m baking 14 4-5 oz tails . Still 15 minutes ?

    Reply
  12. robert gabriel

    im baking 4 -9oz lobster tails how long should i bake them ?

    Reply
    • Nancy

      Robert, bake approximately 15 minutes or until an instant-read meat thermometer register and internal temperature of 140 to 145 degrees F.  (do not overcook, as the lobster will become tough and rubbery).  While cooking, lobster shells will turn their characteristic bright red color well before the meat is thoroughly cooked inside.
      Happy Holidays!
      Nancy

      Reply
  13. Terri

    I cook lobster quite often , I like mine cooked well done. I like the tougher texture. I do also put seasoning salt , butter and sprinkle with paprika . Try it it is delicious. I give each person a side of melted real butter to dip their lobster in. When ever I ask company what they’d like for me to cook it’s always my lobster tails.

    Reply

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