How To Butter Poach Lobster Tails

If you want an easy method to cook lobster that makes it juicy and tender look no further. Learn How To Butter Poach Lobster Tails with the shells on or off.

cooked lobster in the shell with butter and lemons

This post may contain affiliate links. See my Disclosure Policy for more info. Follow WonkyWonderful on Pinterest to stay up to date on all of the new recipes!

Poached Lobster Tails

Poaching Lobster in a bath of butter and lemon is just another great way to prepare this indulgent dish. I have shared Easy Broiled Lobster and Air Fryer Lobster Tails. But there is something about these super buttery lobster tails that take it next-level.

Lobster tails can be butter poached still in the shell or out. If leaving in the shell I cut them in half to ensure even cooking. If you are poaching the lobster to add to another dish and the shell isn’t necessary for the presentation, I find pulling the lobster meat out of the shell to cook the easier method.

raw lobster tails on cutting board next to knife

How To Prep Lobster Tails

For Shell On: Use sharp kitchen scissors to cut from the top open end to the tail fins. Use a large sharp knife to cut down along that slit all the way through, lengthwise. Remove legs.

For Shell Off: Use sharp kitchen scissors to cut from the top open end to the tail fins. Gently pry open the shell and pull the lobster meat out.

raw lobster tails in pan with butter and lemons

Ingredients Needed For Poached Lobster Tails (screenshot for grocery list)

  • Lobster Tails
  • Butter
  • Garlic
  • Lemon
  • Salt/Pepper
  • Chives

baster squirting melted butter over cooking lobster tail

How To Poach Lobster Tails In Butter

  1. Prep lobster tails.
  2. In large enamel pan, melt butter over medium heat.
  3. Add garlic, salt and pepper to butter. Place lobster into butter, shell side up if applicable.
  4. Add lemon wedges around lobster tails.
  5. Spoon butter over the lobster tails while cooking. Pro Tip: use a turkey baster instead of spoon for a more efficient way to coat the lobster in melted butter.
  6. If butter starts to boil, reduce heat to simmer.
  7. For shell on lobster tails: Cook 8-10 minutes, flip shell side down then cook 2 more minutes or until done.
  8. For no-shell lobster tails: Cook 8-10 minutes, flipping several times until cooked through.
  9. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and chives.

cooked lobster tails in the shell

What To Serve With Lobster Tails

Strawberry Spinach Salad – Lemon Garlic PastaShaved Asparagus SaladPressure Cooker ArtichokesFilet Mignon – Lemon Garlic Kale SaladTuscan Shrimp Pasta

cooked lobster tail out of the shell

cooked lobster in the shell with butter and lemons

Butter Poached Lobster Tails

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

If you want an easy method to cook lobster that makes it juicy and tender look no further. Learn How To Butter Poach Lobster Tails with the shells on or off.

Ingredients

  • 4 Lobster Tails (4-5oz each)
  • 1½ Sticks Butter - salted or unsalted (3/4 cups)
  • 2 Garlic Cloves - grated
  • 1 Lemon - cut into thick slices then quartered
  • Salt/Pepper - to tastes
  • Fresh Chopped Chives

Instructions

  1. Prep lobster tails.For Shell On: Use sharp kitchen scissors to cut from the top open end to the tail fins. Use a large sharp knife to cut down along that slit all the way through, lengthwise. Remove legs.
    For Shell Off: Use sharp kitchen scissors to cut from the top open end to the tail fins. Gently pry open the shell and pull the lobster meat out. raw lobster on cutting board
  2. In large enamel pan, melt butter over medium heat.
  3. Add garlic, salt and pepper to butter. Place lobster into butter, shell side up if applicable.
  4. Add lemon wedges around lobster tails.
  5. Spoon butter over the lobster tails while cooking. Pro Tip: use a turkey baster instead of spoon for a more efficient way to coat the lobster in melted butter.
    If butter starts to boil, reduce heat to simmer.
  6. For shell on lobster tails: Cook 8-10 minutes, flip shell side down then cook 2 more minutes or until done.
  7. For no-shell lobster tails: Cook 8-10 minutes, flipping several times until cooked through.
  8. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and chives.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 430Total Fat 36gSaturated Fat 22gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 168mgSodium 611mgCarbohydrates 4gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 23g

Nutritional information on WonkyWonderful is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.

butter poach lobster tails pinnable image with title text

16

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *