Preparing Lobster Tails
by Lee Dobbins
Lobster, once the food of
poor farmers, is now considered a special treat for many. Although some
people prefer the meaty claws, I think that lobster tails are the best
tasting part of this delicious creature. A great meal of lobster tails
might seem like a gourmet feast to your guests, but they are actually
quite easy to prepare. Add a little sprig of garnish and a fancy side
dish and you're sure to impress even your mother in law.
Your lobster tails might
start off a fresh or frozen, being in New England, fresh lobster is easy
to come by but frozen might be all you can get in some parts of the
country and in the off season. If your lobster tails are frozen, you
need to thaw them out (you can cook them frozen but they will not be as
tender). Put them in the fridge for 10 hours or so or thaw them in the
microwave on defrost. Be very careful if you choose this method as you
don't want them to start cooking in the microwave.
After they are thawed,
remove the meat from the shell by cutting open the back of the shell,
split it down the middle and open it up to reveal the meat. Lift the
meat out, you can leave the fan part of the tail on for show or not.
Remove the vein.
Boiling Lobster Tails
Boil a pot of water large
enough for all the tails to float in, add 1 tsp salt for each quart of
water. Drop the tails in the boiling water and cook for about 1 minute
per oz thawed (so 10 0z of tails needs to cook for 10 minutes). If you
are cooking a lot of tails, add a minute or two on to the total time.
Cooking Lobster Tails in
the Oven
Lobster tails can be baked
or broiled in the oven. To cook thawed lobster in the oven, set the oven
to 400 degrees F. Brush the tails with butter and bake for 8 to 10
minutes. If broiling, place the tails 4 or 5 inches from the heat and
broil for 2 - 5 minutes. When broiling keep a very close eye on them so
that they don't burn on the tops.
Cooking Lobster Tails On
The Grill
Oil the grill to keep the
lobsters from sticking. Put the grill on medium heat. Brush the lobster
tails with butter and place on the grill. Make sure that the tails do
not burn. If there are any flames on the grill move the lobster away
from it. Grill on each side for 4-5 minutes.
Take care not to overcook
your lobster or it will be rubbery and tasteless. Lobster is cooked when
it is no longer transparent.
About the author
Lee Dobbins is owner
and editor of
Online Gourmet Foods
where you can find out about your favorite foods, including
gourmet seafood and lobster. |
