Air Fryer Lobster Tails
Air Fryer Lobster tails are a quick and tasty way to make DELICIOUS lobster tails.This lobster tail recipe is a decadent dinner made with large or medium lobster tails smothered with a buttery garlic lemon herb sauce then air-fried to perfection in under 10 minutes making these lobster tails tender, juicy, and beautifully caramelized.
Ingredients
- 2 Whole lobster tails thawed
- 4 Tablespoons butter melted
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 lemon wedges
Instructions
- Using durable kitchen shears (I used KitchenAid stainless steel shears), cut down lengthwise the top hard shell of the lobster through the center all the way to the tail fins. This method is called "Butterfly lobster". Here's a good video tutorial on how to butterfly lobster tails.
- Spread the tail halves apart. (Picture 1).
- Using your fingers (or small fork or spoon), get under the shell and push the meat out of the shell. Do this on both sides. (Picture 3).
- Once you pushed out the meat with your fingers, take the whole lobster tail meat and pull it out of the shell and lay it on top of the empty lobster shell. (Picture 3).
- Preheat air fryer to 390F/195C for 3 minutes.
- While the air fryer is preheating, melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add lemon zest and garlic; heat until garlic is tender. About 1 minute.
- Place tails in the air fryer basket (tray) with lobster meat facing up and season lightly with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer 2 tablespoons of butter mixture to a small bowl and brush onto lobster tails. (Picture 4).
- Preheat air fryer to 390F/195C for 3 minutes.
- Cook lobster tails until lobster meat is opaque and slightly brown in spots, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Spoon reserved butter from the saucepan over lobster meat.11. Top with parsley and serve with lemon wedges. DELISH! Enjoy!
Notes
Lobster tails cooking guide by size
The secret is knowing exactly how long to cook the lobster tails and not overdoing it. Once you get the timing right, you'll have a delicious seafood meal ready in no time. You can do this by boiling or steaming, but I love air frying the lobster tail since they typically provide a more decadent taste and texture. 3-5 oz lobster tail, air fry for 5 minutes 6-8 oz lobster tail, air fry for 6-8 minutes 8-10 oz lobster tail, air fry for 8-10 minutes 10-12 oz lobster tail, air fry for 10-12 minutes On average, 8-ounce lobster tails will take about 8-10 minutes at 390-400°F to fully cook. If you're worried about over or undercooking your meal, I recommend using a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the tail - when it reads 140°F, your lobster is ready to be devoured!Recipe Notes
- You can use frozen lobster tails. They need to be completely thawed.
- You can cook the lobster tails on aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
- There’s no need to flip/turn lobster tails in the air fryer.
- This Lobster tails recipe is low-carb and keto-friendly.
- Watch this quick video tutorial on how to butterfly lobster tails. It helped me to prep my lobster properly and to extract the meat out of the shell.
Nutrition
Serving: 1Lobster tailCalories: 203kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 11gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 102mgSodium: 280mgPotassium: 184mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 876IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 75mgIron: 0.5mg
Nutrition Disclaimer Nutritional information is an estimate and may change based on products used.
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