How To Crack A Lobster Tail

How To Crack A Lobster Tail: A Guide And Recipe

Last Updated on August 20, 2022

Today, we’re going to be looking at a guide on how to crack a lobster tail and how to then cook the lobster tails with the most amazing lemon and herb butter. Lobster is renowned for being a luxurious food, and people often fear that they’re difficult to prepare. But with our guide, the job of cracking and eating a lobster couldn’t be easier! Let’s take a closer look.

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What Is Lobster Tail?

It’s quite apparent what a lobster tail is! To put it simply – it’s the tail of the lobster. Lobster tails are an expensive part of the lobster. This is because lobsters aren’t as populated as they used to be, but the demand for the lobster has continually grown. You’ll often find lobster tails served in seafood restaurants and local grocery stores.

Ingredients in lobster tail

The ingredients in a lobster tail is simply just the tail of a lobster. However, for our grilled lobster tails recipe, we’ll be using the following ingredients:

  • lobster tails
  • butter
  • garlic
  • parsley
  • Dijon mustard
  • chili powder
  • lemon

How do you break a lobster with a knife

Nutritional information of lobster tail

If you’re wondering what the nutritional value is when it comes to lobster tails, then look no further. Each average 3oz serving contains the following:

  • Calories: 65
  • Fat: > 1g
  • Carbs: 0g
  • Protein: 14g
  • Dietary Fiber: 0g
  • Cholesterol: 108mg
  • Sodium: 360mg

How To Crack A Lobster Tail

It can feel quite daunting learning how to handle and prepare a lobster, but it’s nowhere near as scary as you may think! There are a few steps to preparing the lobster tail – let’s take a look.

Step 1: Removing the tail

If your lobster is whole, and you need to remove the tail before cracking, all you need to do is place the body on one hand, and the tail in the other. Twist the tail and it should be easy to remove. Bend the tail fins and remove the meat from the fin.

Step 2: Cracking the tail

Using a flat surface, put the lobster tail onto its side. Press down firmly. Wait until you hear a crack.

Step 3: Preparing the tail

Imagine you’re opening a book. Place your thumbs on the side of the flippers and pull open to remove the tail meat. If there’s any green substance, just rinse with water. Pull out the vein in the tail by making a small cut and pulling the vein with the end of your knife.

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Grilled Lobster Tails Recipe

Now our tails have been prepared, you may want to learn how to serve them in the tastiest way possible. I frequently use this recipe from BBC Good Food, which is a grilled lobster tails recipe with lemon and herb butter. Let’s take a closer look.

Ingredients

The ingredients you’ll need for this recipe are:

  • 4 lobster tails
  • 125g of room temperature butter
  • 1 crushed garlic clove
  • a handful of finely chopped parsley
  • 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
  • small pinch of chili powder
  • 1 lemon (just the juice)

Recipe

Now all you need to do is:

Step 1: Prepare the butter

Add your room temperature butter, crushed garlic clove, chopped parsley, mustard, chili powder and the juice of a lemon to a bowl. Mix well and season to your taste. Leave to one side until needed. (This can be prepared in advance, if needed; and will be okay in the refrigerator for around two days)

Step 2: Preparing the tail

Follow our guide above to prepare your tails for grilling.

“Using a flat surface, put the lobster tail onto its side. Press down firmly. Wait until you hear a crack. Imagine you’re opening a book. Place your thumbs on the side of the flippers and pull open to remove the tail meat. If there’s any green substance, just rinse with water. Pull out the vein in the tail by making a small cut and pulling the vein with the end of your knife.” 

 

Now place the tail into a shallow try and brush your butter onto each one.

 

Step 3: Grilling the tails

Preheat your grill to high. Place the tails into the grill for around 10 minutes, or until cooked through. With the remaining butter, you can drizzle over the top of your tails, or serve as a dipping sauce. Serve with lemon wedges and enjoy!

Conclusion

I hope this post has helped you to become more familiar with how to crack a lobster tail, and how to then grill them in the tastiest way possible once they’ve been prepared. If you’re looking for flavorful lobster tail meat, then look no further than this recipe!

Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to preparing or cooking a lobster? If so, please feel free to let me know in the comments below. Sharing is caring!

FAQs

How Do You Break a Lobster With a Knife?

When your breaking your lobster with a knife, it's important to use the tip and place the point into the center of the spine. You'll then need to cut down lengthwise to cut the tail in half. This is then the easiest time to remove the meat.

How Do You Pop a Lobster Out of the Shell?

To put it simply, twist the tail to remove from the body. Remove the fins of the tail by pulling them off with your hands. Using your fingers, poke the meat in the tail shell, and it should pop out of the other end. 

How Do You Get the Meat Out of a Lobster Tail?

You can do it with your fingers, or with a seafood fork; whichever you're most comfortable with. With one or two fingers, place into the end of the tail and push gently. This motion should cause the lobster meat to come out of the other end.

Is Lobster Tail Easy to Eat?

While lobster meat can take some effort to get to, it's worth the wait and is one of the most delicious seafood delicacies there is to try.

How To Crack A Lobster Tail
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Grilled Lobster Tails Recipe

Today, we're going to be looking at a guide on how to crack a lobster tail and how to then cook the lobster tails with the most amazing lemon and herb butter. Lobster is renowned for being a luxurious food, and people often fear that they're difficult to prepare. But with our guide, the job of cracking and eating a lobster couldn't be easier! Let's take a closer look.
Course: Appetizer, Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: How do you break a lobster with a knife?, How do you get the meat out of a lobster tail?, How do you pop a lobster out of the shell?, how to crack a lobster tail, Is lobster tail easy to eat?
Author: aniasvibrantkitchen

Ingredients
  

  • 4 lobster tails
  • 125 g of room temperature butter
  • 1 crushed garlic clove
  • a handful of finely chopped parsley
  • 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
  • small pinch of chili powder
  • 1 lemon (just the juice)

Instructions

  • Add your room temperature butter, crushed garlic clove, chopped parsley, mustard, chili powder and the juice of a lemon to a bowl. Mix well and season to your taste. Leave to one side until needed. (This can be prepared in advance, if needed; and will be okay in the refrigerator for around two days)
    125 g of room temperature butter, 1 crushed garlic clove, a handful of finely chopped parsley, 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard, small pinch of chili powder, 1 lemon (just the juice)
  • Follow our guide above to prepare your tails for grilling.
    4 lobster tails
  • Grilling the tails
    Preheat your grill to high. Place the tails into the grill for around 10 minutes, or until cooked through. With the remaining butter, you can drizzle over the top of your tails, or serve as a dipping sauce. Serve with lemon wedges and enjoy!