How do you clean a lobster tail

If you are new to cooking lobster like me, I recommend that you start with cooking lobster tails first. Cooking a whole lobster can be complicated, technical and its a serious commitment. And don't worry, I am here to guide you how to cook the perfect lobster tails each time.

Where Can I Get Lobster Tails?

You can get lobster tails in any major grocery store like Wholefoods, Ralphs, Vons, Albertson, etc.

If you are feeding more than two people, I recommend that you check out Sam's Club or Costco for a better deal. Because when you buy items in bulk, you get a discount.

How to Clean Lobster Tails?

Whether you purchased frozen or fresh lobster tails, you should always first rinse off the tails' exterior. To ensure the lobsters are clean, scrub the shell only, not the exposed meat. Do not submerge the tails in water as the meat can absorb the liquid, creating a watery tasting lobster.

It depends on where you purchased lobster tails, they may or may not be deveined. The vein is running through the center of the tails. To remove the vein from a whole, uncut lobster, grab the exposed vein at the tails' fleshy end and pull. It comes out in one long piece.

You can also devein a lobster tails by cutting the tails open. Butterfly the tails by cutting it lengthwise, through the tails' center, on the rounded side of the tails. Use kitchen shears or a sharp chef's knife, and remove the exposed vein with your hands.

How to Cook Lobster Tails?

You can cook lobster tails in many different ways: boil, steam, bake, pan-fry, broil, or grill.

I typically like baking it because I don't have to worry about the lobster tails being not cooked even or burned.

1.  In a large pot, bring a pot of water to a boil.
2. Reduce heat to a soft boil. Add salt if you desire.
3. Drop tails in one at a time and set your kitchen timer for the time listed below.
4. Don't forget you'll need metal tongs, gloves, or a strainer to get the hot tails out of the boiling water when it's done.
5. Cool the cooked lobster tails right away with fresh water to keep them from overcooking.

Lobster Tails Steaming Times (Tail Quantity 2 - 6)

1. Choose a pot large enough to hold your lobster tails with a tight-fitting lid.
2. Place a steamer basket or an upturned colander in the pot, so lobster tails are not submerged in the water.
3. Pour in cold water to a depth of about 2 inches.
4. Cover your pot and bring water to a boil.
5. Once the water is boiling, quickly add the lobster tails to the pot and cover.
6. Steam the lobster tails using the lobster tails steaming times below.
7. Once you have reached your cooking time, remove the pot from heat and check one of the tails. The tails should be completely cooked in the center of the meat.
8. Remove your lobster tails from the cooking pot using tongs or gloves so that your tails not to overcook.

Lobster Tails Steaming Times (Tail Quantity 2 - 6)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Split lobster tails in half lengthwise. With cut side up and using scissors, cut along the shell's edge to loosen the cartilage covering the tails meat from the shell; remove and discard cartilage.
3. Brush some cooking oil (coconut, ghee, butter, your choice)
4. Place entire tails on a baking sheet and bake time below. Test for firmness but do not overcook.

Lobster Tail Baking Times (Tail Quantity 2 - 6)

1. Preheat the broiler.
2. Place lobster tails on a baking sheet. With a sharp knife or kitchen shears, carefully cut the top side of lobster shells lengthwise. 
3. Broil lobster tails until lightly browned, and lobster meat is opaque about 5 to 10 minutes. Make sure it is not burned!

1. Cut through the center of the underside of the tail and remove the meat.
2. Heat the oil in a large frypan over medium-high heat.
3. Season the lobster with salt and pepper. Sauté until cooked through, about 5 minutes, turning a couple of times to cook evenly.

What Is The White Foam?

When you are cooking lobster tails, you often get this white foam around the cooking area. Don't panic, this white foam is 'lobster fat' or 'lobster protein', which is normal.

Why Is My Lobster Tails Mushy?

Unfortunately, the lobster's sweet flesh sometimes comes out of the shell with a soft, almost mushy texture. It's a natural and not uncommon phenomenon, though still disappointing at the table.
Every living thing breaks down once it's dead, and in the case of fish, that process is hastened by natural enzymes that begin to digest and soften the flesh soon after death. Some varieties of fish and shellfish, including lobsters, contain higher levels of those protein-digesting enzymes. While they're alive, this enzyme helps convert muscle into energy. Unfortunately for us, the cook, this is purely an inconvenience.

If you have the misfortune to cook a mushy lobster or lobster tails, there's little you can do to improve its texture. However, its flavor should still be good. Set it aside for another meal, stirring the cooked meat into a risotto or turn into a lobster bisques.

Do you clean lobster tail before cooking?