Prepare your lobster tails
How to Butterfly a Lobster Tail
Cut the top shell, loosen the meat without detaching it from the tail fan, then lift it out and rest it on the shell. This simple preparation exposes the meat for seasoning and gives baked or broiled tails their familiar restaurant-style presentation.
Go to the five steps ↓
Thaw firstA flexible tail is easier to cut and open.
Cut the top shellStop before the tail fan.
Keep it attachedLeave the meat connected at the fan.
What you need before you start
Gather fully thawed raw lobster tails, sharp kitchen shears, a stable cutting board and paper towels. Butter and seasonings come after the cut; you do not need them to butterfly the tail.
Thaw in the refrigerator and follow the package directions. The center should feel flexible and contain no ice. Keep raw tails chilled until you are ready to prepare them.
Hold the tail securely and make short snips. Shell edges can be sharp, so keep your fingers out of the path of the blades and avoid forcing the shell open.
The technique
Butterfly a lobster tail in five steps
STEP 01
Cut the top shell
Set the tail on the board with the hard, rounded shell facing up and the fan pointing away from you. Start at the open end and snip down the center of the top shell. Stop before the fan; leave the bottom shell intact.
STEP 02
Gently open the shell
Ease the two cut sides apart with your fingers. Open them just enough to reach the meat. If the center still feels icy, return the tail to thawing instead of forcing it.
STEP 03
Loosen the meat
Slide your fingers between the meat and shell. Release the sides, then work underneath. Leave the meat attached near the tail fan. Lift away any dark vein you find and remove loose shell pieces.
STEP 04
Lift and rest on the shell
Raise the loosened meat through the opening without pulling it off the fan. Bring the shell halves together underneath and rest the meat on top. Keep it centered so the shell supports it.
STEP 05
Season and get ready to cook
Pat the exposed meat dry, brush it with melted butter or oil, and add your seasonings. Transfer it to a pan and follow the baking or broiling instructions for your tail size.
Watch the technique
See the butterfly technique with Vanessa Seder
Our original butterfly-and-bake demonstration shows the hand movements and preparation. The video also shows a separate baking approach; follow the linked written cooking method’s oven setting and timing together.
Watch the original MLN video ↗Three mistakes to avoid
- Cutting through the fan. Stop the shell cut before the fan and keep the meat attached there.
- Pulling the meat out completely. Loosen it gradually. If you detach it, it is still usable—cook the meat separately and check it sooner.
- Forcing a partly frozen tail. Finish thawing before cutting. Work gently to avoid tearing the meat or breaking the shell into fragments.
Next step
How to cook your butterflied lobster tail
The preparation is finished; choose the cooking method next. For these butterflied tails, follow the 425°F baking method or high-broiler method.
Cook the thickest meat to 145°F and check that it is pearly and opaque. Butterflying is not a cooking method and does not set a single cooking time.
Our grilling instructions use tails split all the way into two halves. That is a different cut from the meat-on-top preparation shown here.
Lobster-tail cooking guide →
Butterflying questions
Which side of a lobster tail do I cut?
Cut the hard, rounded top shell along its center. Leave the softer underside and the fan intact for this preparation.
Do I butterfly lobster tails before or after cooking?
Before cooking for the baked and broiled preparations in this guide. Start with fully thawed raw tails.
Do I need to butterfly a tail before boiling?
No. You can leave the shell intact for boiling and open it after cooking.
Can I butterfly the tails ahead of time?
Yes. Cover and refrigerate prepared tails until you cook them, staying within the package’s storage guidance. If you thawed them in cold water, cook promptly.
What if the meat will not lift out?
Check that the tail has thawed completely, then gently release the sides and bottom a little at a time. Keep the connection near the fan intact.
Shop Our Lobster Tail Collection!
You’ve come to the right place for the largest selection of lobster tails online. All our lobsters are wild-caught responsibly in accordance with local, federal, and international catch rules and limits. We sell lobster tails online from small 3 oz. sizes, all the way up to jumbo 36 oz. lobster tails. Place your lobster tail order online today to have them overnighted directly to you on any day you choose.
More articles
