How to Cook Lobster Tails

There are about as many recipes for cooking lobster tail as there are live lobsters scurrying the ocean floor. We've collected the best recipes available, ranging from lobster tail thermidor to a much more simple preparation of grilled lobster tails in butter. Lobster Tail Cooking Tips
1. When purchasing frozen lobster tails, closely examine the meat for any discoloration.Reluctant Gourmet: Buying Frozen Lobster Tails Online These are telltale signs of spoiled tails.
2. Frozen lobster tail prices tend to drop around winter time.Reluctant Gourmet: Buying Frozen Lobster Tails Online
3. Always try to thaw frozen tails before cooking, as thawed tails will come out more tender than frozen ones no matter how you cook them.
4. Keep a pocket timer handy to avoid overcooking, which produces tough, rubbery meat.
5. To keep tails from curling when you cook them, press down on the top of the tail firmly enough to crack the shell.HowStuffWorks: Cooking Lobster - Grilling
6. To prevent curling without damaging the shell, stick a skewer down the middle of the tail meat.Chiff.com: Lobster Tails
7. Try butterflying the lobster tail to give the final product an extra professional look.Expert Village: Preparing a Lobster Tail for Cooking (Time: 4:13)
8. Although boiling is a popular choice, lobster tails can be steamed, broiled, or grilled just as easily.

How to Cook Lobster Tails Resources
- Mahalo: How to Cook Lobster
- Expert Village: How to Cook Lobster Tail
- How Stuff Works: Grilling Lobsters
- Martha Stewart: Lobster 101
- Mahalo: Lobster
- Maine Lobster Promotion Council: Lobster How-To Guide
- The Lobsterman's Page: Lobster Facts
Where to Buy Lobster
How to Cook Lobster Tails Specific Recipes
- Better Homes and Gardens : Lobster Tails with Chive Butter
  - This recipe is one of the simplest and most delicious: lobster tails cook on the grill for a mere 6 minutes and the sauce is easy. Prep time: 10 minutes. Total cook time: 12 minutes.
- Food Down Under: Grilled Lobster Tails With Lemongrass Chive Butter
  - Another fairly simple variation on the above recipe, this one with lemongrass.
- Martha Stewart: Boiled Lobster Tails
  - Here, the lobster is simply prepared, though you'll take a bit more time with the cilantro-parsley pesto recommended to go with it (but you can make the pesto up to two days ahead).
- Epicurious: Grilled Lobster with Creamy Chili Vinaigrette
  - A delicious combination of flavors, this recipe is fairly easy to execute considering its sophisticated taste. The vinaigrette can be made a day ahead, and the pasta two hours ahead. Grilling time is only a few minutes.
- Food & Wine: Grilled Lobster Tails with Sorrel-Sauternes Sauce
  - This recipe involves the tasty combination of Sauternes wine and sorrel, a fruit-like leafy vegetable. The sauce is relatively easy to make, though you'll need a blender to puree it.
- Epicurious: Calcutta Lobster in Spinach and Yogurt Sauce
  - This preparation draws on Indian flavors to complement the lobster. You can prepare this recipe in 45 minutes, start to finish.
- Food Network: Lobster Tails Thermidor
  - A bit more complicated, lobster tails thermidor is still a classic preparation featuring milk, cheese, paprika, and onion, among other things. This dish will still only take about a half hour to make.