Are you a lobster lover wishing to make your own home version? Going to a fancy restaurant isn’t the only way to enjoy lobster. However, if you want to know how to prepare them at home, you’ll need to learn how to cut a lobster tail the right way, and that is exactly what we’ll be sharing with you today.
The lobster tail is, undeniably, the most popular portion of a lobster’s body to eat, and learning how to cut lobsters and take them apart requires some practice. With such a wide range of ways to cook lobster, there are several ways you may need to know how to cut it to match the cooking method.
While trying to cut a lobster tail for the first time may sound a bit intimidating, you have nothing to worry about. It is only a matter of having the right tools and following simple guidelines before you feel like a pro. Continue reading and take your lobster cutting skills to the next level as we share with you how to cut a lobster tail.
How to Cut a Lobster Tail FAQs
Why learn how to cut a lobster tail?
- When you cut lobster tail, you cut the crustacean through its shell and into the meat, essentially splitting it into two halves. Since lobster tails are so thick, it can be tough to cook them all the way through without splitting them this way.
- You might be able to cook them, but you’ll end up with tough outer meat while the inner meat has barely reached the proper temperature.
- Cutting your lobster tail allows heat from the grill, oven, or fryer to penetrate every piece of the tail’s meat for a more even cook.
- Cutting the lobster tails also helps you create more dishes with them.
What side of a lobster tail do you cut?
Hold a lobster tail in one hand with the top of the hard shell facing up. Using sturdy kitchen shears, cut through the top of the shell and the meat, stopping just before the bottom shell. Do not cut through the wide end of the tail.
Do you cut lobster tail before cooking?
Before you cook lobster tails, you need to do a small prep by cutting the tail shell.
How do you cut a lobster tail without scissors?
If you don’t own kitchen shears, you’ll also be able to cut through the shell with a sharp knife, but be exceptionally careful, so you don’t slice through the bottom of the shell. The next step is opening the shell. Grab each side of the lobster shell with your thumbs and fingers to further spread the halves apart.
Do you split lobster tails before boiling?
Use shears or a knife to cut the lobster tail along the middle. It would help if you cut the lobster all the way back to the very tip of the fin. Try to avoid cutting into the meat so that it does not break apart during the boiling. Instead, keep the shears well above the meat by pulling up on the shell as you cut.
How do you split a lobster tail in half?
Place a wire cooling rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. Cut the top shell of the lobster tails lengthwise down the middle with kitchen shears. Then, using a knife, cut all the way through the tails to split into two pieces.
What is the best way to cut a lobster tail?
Butterflying isn’t the only way to cut a lobster tail, but it’s probably the most common. Some people prefer to pull all the meat from the shell, although this can be tricky to do without drying out the lobster. Others prefer to split the tail right down the middle and cook each half in their shell. There’s not necessarily a wrong way to cut your tails, but butterflying them can give you the most foolproof, even cook to enjoy.
How to Cut a Lobster Tail
Tools
Bravedge Chef Knife 7″ Kitchen Knife
The Bravedge chef knife adopts the Japanese Santoku shape and advanced craftsmanship.
This kitchen knife is composed of a high-quality stainless steel blade, comfortable ergonomic wood grain handle, PP sheath. The metallic paint double Bevel blade is more robust, sharp, durable, firm.
The handle fits your palm with a finger guard, and it is lighter to hold without anybody’s fatigue. The sharp edge and the good balance make our knife faster and more efficient when chopping, slicing, dicing, and mincing.
Features:
- Unique Design
- High-quality Materials
- Stainless steel blade
Kitchen Shears, Acelone Premium Heavy Duty Shears
In addition to being widely used in the kitchen, it has more uses, which can be used as a nuts cracker, bottle opener, Scales scraper, with micro-serrated edge for slip-proof cutting, comfortable easy-grip handles. Great grip for both right and left-handed.
Made of 3CR14 steel, the Heavy Duty Kitchen Scissors are forged from top premium grade stainless steel that is rust- resistance and corrosion resistance,ultra-sharp blades, light and effortless while easily outperforming all other shears.
The kitchen scissors ensure non-slip cutting in various tasks, saving effort while avoiding accidental injury whenever you use them.
Features:
- Comfortable
- Safe
- Premium Quality
Methods
Butterfly Cut
- Pat thawed lobster tail dry. With kitchen scissors, starting at the open end of the tail, cut a lengthwise slit through the center, top of the shell, stopping just before the tail fins. When you do this, you’ll also cut into the meat, which will butterfly it and cause it to sit better on the shell.
- Use your hands to gently pull apart the shell and meat where you just cut to separate the halves. Be careful not to break the bottom shell. Carefully but firmly, spread the shell open where you’ve made the slit. Slip your fingers under the meat in the shell and carefully, but again firmly, pull it out in one piece.
- Use your fingers to gently pull meat up from the bottom of the shell without removing it entirely. The meat should remain attached to the end portion of the tail by the fins. Pull the meat just out of the shell enough to be slightly exposed.
- Close the empty shell. Set the lobster meat on top of the shell, and it is ready to be flavored and cooked.
Fan Cut
- Fan cutting a lobster is relatively simple. The idea is to remove the entire undershell so that the lobster meat cooks in a boat made up of the upper part of the shell.
- To fan cut a lobster tail, start by laying it on its back, with a pair of kitchen shears cut along the sides of the flexible undershell where it connects to the harder upper shell. Cut from the thick end down to the tail fan.
- Then, pull up the undershell and snip it free where it connects to the tail fan. Leave the tail fan in place, and then loosen the meat from the upper shell with your fingers and remove the vein.
- Now you are ready to cook your lobster.
Split Lobster Tail
- To split a lobster tail, simply lay it on its back on a cutting board. Cut evenly down the middle of the lobster tails with a sharp knife. Aim to create two even halves.
- Once you have separated the two halves, you’re ready to season and cook them.
Piggyback Lobster Tail
- Piggybacking a lobster involves cutting the shell so you can raise the meat out and up from the shell, bringing it to rest on the back of the shell. From here, you can grill, roast, or bake your lobster tails to perfection.
- Start by making an extended cut down the top of the shells of your lobster tails.
- Carefully open up the halves of the tail and gently loosen the meat from the bottom shell with your fingers.
- Ensure that you do not damage the meat’s connection to the tail fan.
- Once the meat is loose, raise it up and out of the shell. Lay it down to rest on top of the shell and allow the halves to pinch close again.
Lobster Tail Rounds
- Sometimes you might want to cut lobster tails into rounds. This can be ideal for panfrying, sautéing, or even grilling.
- Lay your lobster tail down, and curl it to make the filmy membrane beneath the shell plates visible.
- Insert a sharp-pointed knife into these sections, press down, and cut entirely through the tail.
- You will be left with around sections of the tail. From here, you can either keep the shell on or pop out the rounds with your fingers.
What other meats are you interested in knowing how to cut? Do you know How to Cut Chicken Breast into Strips? What about How to Cut Meat for Jerky? or How to Cut Frozen Meat?
