Lobster tails are delicious, but cooking them can be very intimidating. You can make them in several ways, but most methods are complicated and discouraging.
Additionally, lobster is very expensive, so people do not want to try the hit-and-miss method and prefer to avoid cooking them all together.
However, the biggest mistake people make is choosing tedious and difficult cooking methods. Instead, the fail-proof method of boiling them will reward you with tender, succulent meat.
But the biggest question is: how long to boil lobster tails? If you want answers, keep reading.
Boiling – The Easiest and Fool-Proof Way to Boil Lobster Tails
Most people refrain from cooking lobster tails as the recipes are difficult, and there is a high risk of doing things wrong. Also, special devices that are needed to cook them may not be available to everyone.
So, the best way to cook lobster tails is to boil them. Some of the advantages of boiling are:
- It is fail-proof, quick and easy
- It minimizes lobster meat sticking to the shells
- You can easily adjust the boiling time according to the size of the lobster tail
- If uncooked, you can re-cook the lobster tail in boiling water
- You can easily adjust the salt concentration if you like a salty flavor
Do you know how long to boil frozen lobster tails? Read on to find out.
Pre-cooking Preparations
Here are some tips to follow:
- Thaw a frozen lobster tail before boiling or it will dry out during cooking, resulting in something tough and rubbery
- Cut the lobster tails from the middle using kitchen shears
- Alternatively, use wooden or metal skewers to keep the lobsters straight; while not compulsory, straight lobsters have a better appearance
How to Thaw Lobster Tails
Because frozen lobster does not cook uniformly, not thawing prior to boiling will result in completely and incompletely cooked parts, requiring more heating. This ultimately overcooks the lobster, leading to an undesirable stretchy, rubbery dish.
As it is not always possible to get fresh lobster, here is how you can thaw your frozen lobster tails.
Place your lobster tails in a large bowl filled with cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes until the tails become completely thawed.
Important Tip: Don’t leave lobsters on the counter for self-thawing or use hot water to thaw them. This will promote the growth of bacteria and reduce the shelf-life of the lobsters.
To thaw lobsters, you can also simply transfer the lobster from the freezer to the refrigerator a day before cooking them.
This is the best method, as the meat will not stick to the shell, nor do you have to worry about your food going bad.
If you are wondering how you will know if the tails are thawed, it’s simple: check if they are easily curled or not. Thawed tails will curl easily, while cold ones will not.
Now, you may wonder how long to boil thawed lobster tails.
Once your lobster tails are completely thawed, it will take three to thirteen minutes to cook completely.
Exactly how long does it take to boil lobster tail? Well, this will depend on its size and the quantity you are boiling.
How to Cut Lobster Tails
Once you have thawed the lobster tails, you can easily cut them down the center of the shell. While serving the tails in the shell makes them easier to eat, some people prefer to keep the shells, as peeling the meat from the shells is quite fun.
Here is how to cut lobster shells:
- Rinse the lobster tails, and pat dry with paper towels
- Cut the lobster tails lengthwise from the middle, using heavy-duty kitchen shears or sharp kitchen knives
- Spread the middle part to expose the meat
How to Boil Lobster Tails
1. If frozen, thaw lobster tails.
2. Cut the lobster tails from the middle or put them through a skewer.
3. Select a pot large enough so the lobsters can easily fit.
4. Fill the pot with water and bring to a boil.
5. Reduce the flame so the water simmers, then and add salt.
6. Put in the lobster tails, one by one, and keep them on the stove for the recommended time (see below).
7. Once cooked, remove the tails from the hot water, and put them in ice or cold water.
How Long to Boil Lobster Tails
This depends onthe size of the tail you are boiling.
Lobster tails come in sizes ranging from 3 ounces to more than 24 ounces. And while you can use any size lobster tail, it will determine how long to boil it.
For example, 2-6 lobster tails of 3 oz each will take only 3–5 minutes to boil, while the same quantity of 20 oz ones will take 10–13 minutes.
So, if you are wondering how long to boil small lobster tails, the following table will answer all your queries.
| Tail Size | Cook Time |
| 3 ounces | 3 minutes |
| 3.5 ounce | 3.5 minutes (210 seconds) |
| 5 ounces | 5 minutes |
| 7 ounces | 7 minutes |
| 13 ounces | 13 minutes |
| 19 ounces | 19 minutes |
If you look closely at the details in the table, you will realize that the time required for boiling is directly proportional to the weight of the lobster.
You can now figure out how long to boil lobster tails per ounce. An ounce of lobster takes around one minute (60 seconds).
Keeping with the calculations, your answers to queries like how long to boil 3 oz lobster tailsand how long to boil 14 oz lobster tails will be 3 minutes, or 180 seconds, and 14 minutes, or 840 seconds, respectively.
The time taken will also depend upon the heat level and the quantity of water in the pot. Boiling a lobster tail on a stove at a lower heat will take more time. Similarly, if the amount of water is lower than optimal, it will necessitate more cooking time.
So, how long does lobster take to boil? Considering all the parameters, it takes one minute per ounce, considering the heating and water level are as required. The time taken may vary between 45 seconds to 75 seconds per ounce.
But if you want to cook frozen lobster tails, the time required will be much higher. The heat will first thaw the lobster and then cook it. However, it is highly inadvisable, as mentioned previously.
You might now wonder how long to boil 4 ounces of frozen lobster tails.
Thawing lobster tails will take around 24 hours (when thawed in the fridge) or a few hours (when thawed at room temperature).
Once the lobster tails are properly thawed, boiling 4 oz of lobster tails will take around 4 minutes.
How to Know When Your Lobster Tails Are Cooked Completely
All this talk about how long to boil lobster tails is pointless if you do not know when to stop cooking. You may have to stop cooking earlier or later than the prescribed one minute if you misjudge water calculations or if your stove flame is higher or lower than ideal.
So, if you are wondering how long to boil a 4 oz frozen lobster tail, your estimated answer will be 4 minutes. But after around 3 to 3.5 minutes, it is better to examine the lobster tails and see if they are completely cooked.
To do so, poke a fork in the lobster meat. If the meat is white and tender, your lobster tails are cooked, and you can remove them from the boiling water.
After a couple of attempts at making the dish, you will become an expert at figuring out when the meat is cooked! All you’ll need to do is look at the shell color. If the shell turns a bright hue of red, and the meat separates from the shell, the lobster tails are cooked.
If your 4 oz lobster tails have been cooking for 4 minutes but do not show signs of being completely cooked, let them cook for some more time. Check every 30 seconds or so, and remove the tails from the water as soon as the meat is cooked.
Conclusion
How long does it take to boil lobster tails? That is probably the most complicated question you will ask yourself when using the boiling method to cook.
However, boiling lobster tails is an easy, foolproof and quick method that yields excellent texture to satisfy your taste buds. After a few preparatory steps, like thawing (if frozen) and skewering or cutting, you can transfer your lobster tails to a pot of boiling water. Simply boil lobster tails for 1 minute per ounce, and serve with melted butter for a delightful meal.
