How do you crack a cooked lobster tail?

What is the green stuff in lobster?

Known also as tomalley, the substance acts as the liver and pancreas of the lobster. A red tide — or algae bloom — ranging from Northern New England to Canada this year has contaminated fishing grounds with high levels of toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning.

How long do you boil lobster?

Clamp the lid back on tightly and return the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and cook the lobsters for 12 to 18 minutes (hard-shell lobsters will take the longer time), until the shells turn bright red and the tail meat is firm and opaque when checked.

Should I boil or steam lobster tails?

Cooking lobster tails is a fairly simple process. When you buy lobster tails, you can steam them, boil them, grill them, bake them, broil them or even smoke them. If you aren’t sure which method to use, we strongly recommend boiling your lobster tails because it’s your best bet to avoid the tails sticking to the shell.

How long do I boil a 2 pound lobster?

Boil lobsters for 10 to 20 min, depending on size: Note the time at which the water comes to a boil again. From that point, boil the lobsters for 10-20 minutes or longer, depending on the size of the lobster. 10-13 minutes for 1 lb lobster, 12-18 minutes for a 1 1/2 pound lobster, 18-23 minutes for a 2-3 pound lobster.

Is it better to steam or boil lobster tails?

For recipes that call for fully cooked and picked lobster meat boiling is the best approach. In contrast, steaming is more gentle, yielding slightly more tender meat. It preserves a little more flavor and it’s more forgiving on the timing front. It’s harder to overcook a steamed lobster.

Why does cooked lobster stick to the shell?

Cook too fast by steaming, and some of the meat gets rubbery. Cook too slowly by roasting, and the meat sticks to the shell. … Steam or boil the lobsters just until the very exterior of their meat sets—about one minute—remove them from the steamer, then finish them off in the oven.

How long should you grill a lobster tail?

HOW TO GRILL LOBSTER TAILS. Once you’ve halved your lobster tails, pat the flesh dry with paper towel, brush them with a little olive oil, then season with coarse salt (like sea salt) and cracked black pepper. Place the lobster tails flesh-side down onto grill, and cook undisturbed for about 5 minutes.