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HOW TO COOK FROZEN LOBSTER

You are 10 MINUTES AWAY FROM PERFECT LOBSTER TAILS! This NO FAIL recipe will have you eating like a KING for a fraction of the price with how to cook frozen lobster. 

With this EASY TO USE Lobster Tail broiling method, you will want to eat lobster every day and every weekend ALL SUMMER!

Red lobster tail with meat presented through the shell, lemon, gray plate

Bright red seasoned lobster tail

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

  • EASY!!
  • READY in 10 MINUTES!
  • No fail recipe that works for beginners and experienced cooks alike!
  • Sweet delicate lobster, butter, lemon and seasonings, what could be better???

HERE’S HOW YOU DO IT.

STEP 1.

Completely thaw the lobster tail.

Hand bending a lobster tail

Bend the tail. If it bends freely, it is thawed completely.

STEP 2.

Using clean kitchen scissors, cut the tail in a “T” shape down the middle and then to the sides near the end of the tail.

Hands using scissors to cut the lobster tail down the middle

Cut the Shell in a T shape

STEP 3.

Pry the shell open and remove the tail meat.

Hands pulling the shell apart

Pull the shell apart and remove the meat.

STEP 4.

Place lemon slices beneath the tail meat and set the meat back on top of the lemon.

hands laying lemon slices beneath the lobster meat

Place lemon halves beneath the meat

STEP 5.

Sprinkle with the seasoning mix and place two pats of butter on top of each tail

Sprinkle with seasonings and place pats of butter on top

STEP 6.

Broil on HI for 8-10 minutes until the juices run clear and the meat appear opaque.

Close up of bright red lobster shell with meat presented, lemon and butter in back ground

Hello Juicy, sweet and tender Lobster Tail!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW TO COOK FROZEN LOBSTER WITHOUT THAWING

  • This is probably the most asked question:  how do I cook frozen lobster tails without thawing them first?
  • The truth is, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
  • Lobster is one of the more expensive things that you can cook. It’s usually reserved for special occasions which call for advance planning.
  • This is one dish where you won’t want to make any shortcuts.
  • Thaw the lobster using the method described below.
  • If you attempt to microwave thaw the lobster, it will likely turn out rubbery or mushy and that would be a shame.

There’s a similar way to cook frozen crab legs and it’s here: Best Way How to Cook Frozen Crab Legs Recipe (Easy).

RECOMMENDED METHOD TO THAW LOBSTER

  • Place your lobster tails in the refrigerator at least 24 hours before you plan to cook the lobster in a resealable plastic bag with paper towels in the bottom of it.
  • The paper towels absorb the thawing juices so that the lobster doesn’t sit soaking in the juices.

HOW TO QUICKLY THAW FROZEN LOBSTER

  • To quickly thaw a frozen lobster tail, place into a resealable plastic bag and put in a bowl of cool water.
  • Replace the water every 30 minutes until thawed.

HOW TO KNOW WHEN THE LOBSTER TAIL IS THAWED?

The lobster tail will be completely flexible and the meat that you can see in the end will be soft and will have a translucency about it.

HOW TO COOK FROZEN LOBSTER TAILS IN BOILING WATER

FIRST

  • Thaw the lobster tails via method described above.

SECOND 

  • Prepare a large stock pot of boiling water. Use a ½ gallon of water and add 2 Tablespoons of salt.
  • Set up a tray of ice waiting for the lobster.

PRO TIP:  Use bottled water to cook the lobster in to remove the chlorine and other components that may affect the taste of your lobster.

PRO TIP:  Place a skewer through the lobster tail from the head end to the fin end to keep the tail from curling while cooking.

  • Drop the tails into the boiling water and wait for the water to come back up to a simmer, reduce the temp to a slow simmer.
  • Cook for the designated time listed above.
  • Remove lobster tails from the stock pot with tongs and place immediately onto a tray of ice.

HOW TO BBQ GRILL FROZEN LOBSTER TAILS

  • Thaw the lobster first.
  • Place a skewer through the lobster from the head end of the tail through to the fin end. (This keeps the lobster tail from curling while cooking)
  • Preheat the grill to a medium him heat.
  • Leave the lobster tails in their shell and brush the open end well with olive oil.
  • Place on the grill grate feet side down.
  • Allow to cook until the shell is a bright red, the juices are congealed and the meat is done.
  • Be careful to NOT OVER COOK the lobster.
  • Cooking the thawed lobster tail will take about 8 minutes. There’s no need to turn the lobster while cooking.
  • Serve lobster immediately with melted butter for dipping and lemon wedges.

PRO TIP:  for a delicious option, lay whole fresh herbs over the top of the lobster on the grill. Ex: thyme and rosemary make a wonderful flavor.

HOW TO STEAM LOBSTER TAILS

  • Pour 3 inches of water into the bottom of a steamer.
  • Add 1 Tablespoon of salt to the water.
  • Bring the water to a full rolling boil.
  • Place the steam basket on top of the steamer.
  • Lay the lobster tails into the steam basket.
  • Put the lid on.
  • Allow the lobster tail to steam for 8 minutes.
  • Serve with melted butter for dipping.

PRO TIP:  Lobster tails like to curl while cooking. Use a long bamboo skewer placed through the open meat end of the lobster down through the tail to keep the tail from curling.

WHAT CAN I SERVE WITH LOBSTER TAIL? 

My family LOVES CORN with Lobster tail! Try one of these…

How to Cook Frozen Corn on the Cob.

What about How to Cook Frozen Shrimp?

Corn Dip

Southern Fried Corn

You could also whip up a Corn Bread Salad

or an Arugula Caprese Salad!

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR HOW TO COOK FROZEN LOBSTER TAILS

  • Thaw the tail completely first.
  • The shell on the tail is going to make some terrible cracking sounds when you open it.
  • Lobster is delicate, use a gentle touch removing the meat.
  • Offer your guests little bowls of melted butter for dipping.
  • Lobster meat has a reddish/pink tinge. This is normal.
  • The lobster shell will turn a bright red when cooked. The uncooked shell is kind of gray green.
Close up of bright red lobster shell with meat presented, lemon and butter in back ground

Hello Juicy, sweet and tender Lobster Tail!

YA’LL BE SWEET NOW, OK?

Be sweet and leave me a 5 STAR COMMENT 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 below, please. It helps others to find the recipes here at Loaves and Dishes.

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Red lobster tail with meat presented through the shell, lemon, gray plate

How To Cook Frozen Lobster

This recipe for how to cook frozen lobster is READY IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES! Delicate, sweet and delicious lobster is within your reach, even if you are a new cook or have never cooked lobster before!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Save Rate
Course: main
Cuisine: American
Keyword: how to cook frozen lobster, frozen lobster tails
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 11 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 381kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 Lobster tails
  • 1 lemon cut into wedges divided
  • 6 Tbs butter divided
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp white pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat broiler to high.
  • Set lobster tails on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • With sharp kitchen scissors or a knife, carefully cut the top of the lobster tail shell down to the tip of the tail, avoiding the meat. If you notice a dark vein or any grit, rinse and remove.
  • Carefully pull shell from the meat and pull the sides of the shell open.
  • Place two lemon wedge slices between the meat and the shell so that the meat is sitting on the lemon.
  • Use a small bowl and mix the spices.
  • Sprinkle the lobster meat with the spices.
  • Place small pats of butter on the lobster meat to equal 2 Tbs.
  • Place the baking sheet in oven on an upper middle rack.
  • Cook for 8-10 minutes on Hi Broil. The lobster meat will appear opaque when it is cooked through.
  • While the lobster is cooking, gently melt the remaining butter (4 Tbs) in a small saucepan on the stove top over medium heat. Remove from the stove and pour into a small ramekin when melted.
  • When the lobster is done (the meat will turn opaque and the shell will turn red). Remove and serve immediately with the melted butter.

Notes

  • Thaw the tail completely first.
  • The shell on the tail is going to make some terrible cracking sounds when you open it.
  • Lobster is delicate, use a gentle touch removing the meat.
  • Offer your guests little bowls of melted butter for dipping.
  • Lobster meat has a reddish/pink tinge. This is normal.
  • The lobster shell will turn a bright red when cooked. The uncooked shell is kind of gray green.
PRO TIP:  Scatter sprigs of Rosemary around the baking sheet before putting lobster in to broil.  Perfumes the meat slightly and makes the kitchen smell nice. 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
How To Cook Frozen Lobster
Amount Per Serving (1 tail)
Calories 381 Calories from Fat 315
% Daily Value*
Fat 35g54%
Saturated Fat 22g110%
Cholesterol 171mg57%
Sodium 574mg24%
Potassium 242mg7%
Carbohydrates 7g2%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 11g22%
Vitamin A 1555IU31%
Vitamin C 28.6mg35%
Calcium 85mg9%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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A VERSE TO SHARE

It’s a lovely time to think about love, don’t you think? 

Ephesians 4:2

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

 

 

Wendi is the writer, CEO and dishwasher at Loaves and Dishes! When not in the kitchen or behind the computer, you can find Wendi serving on International Food Conference Boards, Speaking at various conferences, Leading and Cooking for the local Arts Council's "Taste of Stokes" events or donating home cooked goodies to various local non profits such as the Danbury Songwriters and Stokes Partnership for Children. Wendi is also a Registered Nurse with a Master's Degree and serves on her town's board of councilmen.

Recipe Rating




debbie tawes

Wednesday 29th of July 2020

thanks for all of your wonderful tips! gonna have tonight with crab imperial on top!

Wendi Spraker

Thursday 30th of July 2020

Great! I hope you love it!

Carol Siqueiros

Sunday 10th of May 2020

Thank you for your easy and alternative directions on how to cook a lobster! And the side serving recommendations were great and so easy to make! I thank you and my family thanks you.

Wendi Spraker

Monday 11th of May 2020

Hi Carol!

Im so glad that you found it useful. Thanks for coming back and leaving a comment. I hope you'll find other things you enjoy here!

Butt Munch

Friday 20th of March 2020

The title is completely misleading. You are not cooking frozen lobster tail, you are cooking thawed lobster tail!!!!!

Wendi Spraker

Saturday 21st of March 2020

Dearest Butt Munch, I'm sorry you are unhappy, but if you'll read the post, it explains how to quickly thaw the lobster tail. The article is meant to explain how to cook a frozen lobster tail vs. fresh lobster tail that you might buy from the seafood counter or a seafood market. If you follow the quick thaw instructions, you'll be thawed out in about 30 minutes or so. However, it isn't advisable to try to directly cook a frozen lobster tail because it will end up mushy or rubbery. Hope this helps.

Wendi Spraker

Thursday 28th of March 2019

test box.

15585

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