Air Fryer Lobster Tails
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Air Fryer Lobster Tails are a new favorite in my house! I never knew it could be SO SIMPLE! I always thought of Lobster as such a fancy dish – I just never realized it was simple! Plus – it’s on the table in under 10 minutes!
What You Will ❤️ About Air Fryer Lobster Tails
- Fast! These lobster tails are ready in just 10 minutes!
- Simple! Once you learn how to cut & open – you’ll be surprised at how easy they are to make!
- Fancy!!! There’s no fancier way to impress someone than to make them lobster tail
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Air Fryer Lobster Tail Recipe Ingredients
- Lobster – Frozen lobster tails are delicious – I would recommend at least a 4 oz tail and preferably 6-8 oz.
- Butter – fine to use salted butter for this as it adds to the flavor!
- Garlic – jarred minced garlic or fresh works for this
- Lemon – garnish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Can Lobster Tails be cooked in an air fryer?
Yup! This would be a short post if the answer was no! They are done in less than 10 minutes!
This recipe was made using the Paula Deen Air Fryer.
How do you prep a lobster tail?
I was shocked at how simple it was! I just used kitchen scissors – but shears work a bit easier.
- If lobster tails are frozen, seal in a ziploc bag and place bag in cold water for 30 minutes
- Start at the open end of the tail and snip up the center of the tail to the base of the tail – but NOT through the tail. (top right photo)
- Pull the shell open a bit so the lobster meat is exposed.
- Pull out the meat – leaving it attached at the tail – and rest it on top of the shell.
- I chose to leave it in the shell and just open it up a bit.
How do you air fry lobster tails?
- Butterfly lobster tails by cutting through the shell to the tail as noted above.
- Prepare butter mixture by placing 2 tbsp butter, salt and garlic in a glass bowl. Microwave for 45 seconds until melted. Stir. (You can also use a small saucepan)
- Place lobster tails in Air Fryer basket, open side up and baste with melted garlic butter sauce. Cook lobster tail at 360º for 3 minutes
- Open air fryer and baste again, cook for an additional 3 minutes
- If tails are larger than 3-4 oz, you will want to add 2-3 minutes for every few ounces
- While tails are air frying, melt additional butter in microwave.
- Remove cooked lobster tails from air fryer, pull open shell with fingers and pull out lobster meat. It’s basically only “attached” at the base of the tail – slip your fingers underneath and it pulls out easily
- Serve with drawn butter, sprinkle of fresh parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Tips & Tricks
I would not recommend it. You need to cut open the shell so the meat is easy to access and that is much easier to do when thawed.
Put your lobster tail(s) in a ziploc bag. Then place the bag in a bowl of cold water. They’ll be thawed in about 30 minutes!
Similar to shrimp, the flesh should turn from clear to an opaque white. The shells will be bright orange as well! It’s so cool to see the change in just a few minutes. You can also use an instant read meat thermometer and place into the thickest part of the meat. The lobster meat should be 140º when checked with thermometer.
Yes, bake at 350º and cook lobster tails on baking sheet for about 5-10 minutes.
For “drawn” butter – melt butter in microwave and pour out “clear” portion of butter into dipping bowl and stop before the cream comes out. Or you can spoon the cream off the top.
I highly recommend just eating all the lobster. It’s going to get tough when you reheat it. But if you have leftovers, store in an airtight container (I like these glass storage ones) in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350º for 3-4 minutes. (Or add make these Garlic Lobster Noodles!!!)
Best Air Fryer Accessories
Here’s my ultimate list of best air fryer accessories – whether you have a basket- or oven-style! I’ve also included a price guide as well as my favorite recipes for those accessories.
What goes with lobster tails?
Of course you can make a big juicy steak for a Surf & Turf meal – but if you’re looking for side dishes, here are some favorites:
If you have a big enough air fryer – you can also make your side dishes in the air fryer! Just be sure that if your veg takes longer – you start it first. You can have them in together!
- Asparagus made in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Carrot Fries
- Cheesy Tomatoes in the air fryer
Air Fryer Seafood Recipes
Air Fryer Lobster Tails
Ingredients
- 2 4-oz lobster tails
- 2 tbsp salted butter
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- 2 tbsp salted butter
- 2 wedges lemon
Instructions
- If frozen, seal lobster tails in ziploc bag (squeeze out air) and place bag in cold water for about 30 minutes.2 4-oz lobster tails
- Butterfly lobster tails by cutting through the shell to the tail (but not through the tail. Pop open parts of the shell to expose the lobster meat. You may have to break off parts of the shell to open it up a bit.
- Prepare butter mixture by placing 2 tbsp butter, salt and garlic in a glass bowl. Microwave for 45 seconds until melted. Stir.2 tbsp salted butter, 1 tsp salt, 1 tbsp garlic
- Place lobster tails in Air Fryer, open side up and baste with melted garlic butter
- Cook at 360 degrees for 3 minutes
- Open air fryer and baste again, cook for an additional 3 minutes
- If tails are larger than 3-4 oz, you will want to add 2-3 minutes for every few ounces
- While tails are air frying, melt 2 tbsp butter in glass – for 45 seconds in microwave. For “drawn” butter – pour out “clear” portion of butter into dipping bowl and stop before the cream comes out. Or you can spoon the cream off the top.
- Remove tails from air fryer, pull open shell with fingers and pull out lobster meat. It's basically only "attached" at the base of the tail – slip your fingers underneath and it pulls out easily
- Serve with drawn butter and lemon wedges2 tbsp salted butter, 2 wedges lemon
