Get a Lobster Tail out of Its Shell
The meat of a lobster's tail can be messy to get out of a shell. These easy steps will have you dunking chunks in butter in no time, with finesse and no need for a plastic bib!
Contents
Steps
- Get a bowl, a plate and a fork.
- Separate the tail section from the body:
- Center the lobster over the bowl to catch the water that will spill out. This doesn't always happen, some just do the whole process right on their plate.
- Hold the tail section in one hand
- Hold the body in the other hand
- Bend the two sections toward each other, across the lobster's back. You can also separate the body from the tail in a twisting motion. Be bold!
- Place the body in the bowl. Lobster freaks may actually twist off the little legs and suck the meat out, but it's a labor of love.
- Hold the tail section over the plate.
- Pull the fins off the end of the lobster tail. There's tiny bits of meat in the fins, if you're inclined to work them out.
- Wrap your fingers around the shell firmly, leaving the lobster meat exposed on both ends.
- Poke the fork tines into the end of the tail, where you pulled the fins off. If you're comfortable using your fingers, just poke one or two fingers into the rear end and push through the tail shell.
- The meat of the lobster tail will pop out the other side onto the plate! Dig in!
Tips
- If the lobster is still hot and you don't want to wait for it to cool, use pot holders to grab it.
- When the lobsters' antennae pulls out easily, your lobsters are ready.
Warnings
- Make sure the lobster has cooled to room temperature before holding it in your bare hands.
- This only works with cooked lobster.
