How to 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!

Steps

1
Separate the tail section from the body:^{[1]
X
Research source}
- 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.
2
Hold the tail section over the plate.

Advertisement
3
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.^{[2]
X
Research source}
4
Wrap your fingers around the shell firmly, leaving the lobster meat exposed on both ends.
5
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.^{[3]
X
Research source}
6
The meat of the lobster tail will pop out the other side onto the plate!^{[4]
X
Research source} Dig in!

Community Q&A

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.
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.
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.

Warnings

Make sure the lobster has cooled to room temperature before holding it in your bare hands.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 6 Not Helpful 2
This only works with cooked lobster.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 12 Not Helpful 11