How to Get a Lobster Tail out of Its Shell

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These easy steps will have you dunking chunks in butter in no time, with finesse and no need for a plastic bib!

Steps

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Get a Lobster Tail out of Its Shell
    [1]
    • 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.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Get a Lobster Tail out of Its Shell
    There's tiny bits of meat in the fins, if you're inclined to work them out. [2]
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  5. Watermark wikiHow to Get a Lobster Tail out of Its Shell
    If you're comfortable using your fingers, just poke one or two fingers into the rear end and push through the tail shell. [3]
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    Dig in!
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Is the red meat in the lobster good to eat?
    C Grace
    Community Answer
    The hard red "meat" you see in some lobsters is actually roe, and tells you it's a female lobster. In other words, you are eating lobster caviar. It's delicious.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    The lobster meat will not release from the tail. How come?
    Michele
    Top Answerer
    Every few years lobsters shed their shell and grow a new one. It can take up to a year for the shell to harden, and the meat will often remain slightly stuck to the new shell until then. Also, tails are usually frozen, and freezing can cause them to stick as well.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 12
  • Question
    I took the lobster tail completely out of the shell. How long should I boil it for?
    Michele
    Top Answerer
    The instructions are for removing the meat from a cooked shell. If you're going to boil or steam it, it should be kept in the shell to keep in the flavor. However, if you've removed the shell, it would be better to cut up the tail into cubes and sauté it up in a fry pan with some butter.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/2013/05/the-food-lab-how-to-cook-shuck-lobster.html
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOrc5EnDb_w
      3. ↑ https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/6660-technique-the-best-way-to-extract-lobster-meat?ref=HowTo_browse_13

      About This Article

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Marianne Lewis

        May 12, 2017

        "The fact that you don't have to increase cooking time whether you are cooking one tail or four tails was ..." more
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