How to cook lobster tails perfectly: all you need to know! Learn how to butterfly them + the BEST broiled lobster tail recipe (in 20 minutes).
INGREDIENTS
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them.
- 4 10-oz Lobster tails (or see instructions for other sizes)
- 1/4 cup Salted butter (melted; 1/2 stick)
- 2 cloves Garlic (crushed)
- 2 tsp Lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp Smoked paprika
- 1 pinch Cayenne pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
- If tails are frozen, thaw them overnight in the fridge, or in a bag submerged in cold water on the counter for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to Broil (500 degrees F or 260 degrees C). Set the oven rack such that lobster tails placed on a baking sheet would be 4 to 5 inches away from the broiler.
- Butterfly the lobster tails. Using kitchen shears, cut down the center of the shell lengthwise, starting from the end opposite the tail fins, continuing down until you reach the tail but without cutting the tail. You want to cut through the top of the shell, but don’t cut through the bottom shell. Use your thumbs and fingers to spread open the shell on top, then gently pull the lobster meat upward, separating it away from the bottom shell, leaving the end attached to the tail fin intact. Slightly push together the empty shell underneath and place the row of meat on top. Place the butterflied lobster tail onto the baking sheet. (See the post above for a visual of this process.)
- In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, smoked paprika, and cayenne. Brush the butter mixture over the lobster meat.
- Broil the lobster tails until the meat is opaque and lightly browned, about 1 minute per ounce of individual tail. (For example, broil 10-ounce lobster tails for 10 minutes or broil 5-ounce tails for 5 minutes.)
