Preparing Lobster Tails

Lobster, once the food of poor farmers, is now considered a special treat for many. Although some people prefer the meaty claws, I think that lobster tails are the best tasting part of this delicious creature. A great meal of lobster tails might seem like a gourmet feast to your guests, but they are actually quite easy to prepare. Add a little sprig of garnish and a fancy side dish and you're sure to impress even your mother in law.

Your lobster tails might start off a fresh or frozen, being in New England, fresh lobster is easy to come by but frozen might be all you can get in some parts of the country and in the off season. If your lobster tails are frozen, you need to thaw them out (you can cook them frozen but they will not be as tender). Put them in the fridge for 10 hours or so or thaw them in the microwave on defrost - be very careful if you choose this method as you don't want them to start cooking in the microwave.

Bar-B-Q

After they are thawed, remove the meat from the shell by cutting open the back of the shell - split it down the middle and open it up to reveal the meat. Lift the meat out - you can leave the fan part of the tail on for show or not. Remove the vein.

Boiling Lobster Tails
Boil a pot of water large enough for all the tails to float in, add 1 tsp salt for each quart of water. Drop the tails in the boiling water and cook for about 1 minute per oz thawed (so 10 0z of tails needs to cook for 10 minutes). If you are cooking a lot of tails, add a minute or two on to the total time.

Cooking Lobster Tails in the Oven
Lobster tails can be baked or broiled in the oven. To cook thawed lobster in the oven,set the oven to 400 degrees F. Brush the tails with butter and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. If broiling, place the tails 4 or 5 inches from the heat and broil for 2 - 5 minutes. When broiling keep a very close eye on them so that they don't burn on the tops.

Cooking Lobster Tails On The Grill
Oil the grill to keep the lobsters from sticking. Put the grill on medium heat. Brush the lobster tails with butter and place on the grill. Make sure that the tails do not burn - if there are any flames on the grill move the lobster away from it. Grill on each side for 4-5 minutes.
Take care not to overcook your lobster or it will be rubbery and tasteless. Lobster is cooked when it is no longer transparent.

Preparing Lobster Tails

Lee Dobbins is owner and editor of Online Gourmet Foods where you can find out about your favorite foods, including gourmet seafood and lobster

Tags : Recipes Bookmark What is Nutrition

Preparing Dungeness Crab

It's simple! Preparing your Dungeness Crab is quick, easy & something the whole family or your guests can enjoy participating in. Dungeness Crab has become very popular with many folks who are more familiar with other types of crab. Preparing Frozen Dungeness Crab is different: cooking them as if they were live produces less than stellar results.

(Hint: Boiling the Crab on arrival is a definite No No)

Bar-B-Q

Frozen Dungeness Crab is ready to eat when you receive them! It has already been cooked & brine frozen. You can enjoy it hot or cold! Dungeness Crab is available as Whole Cooked Crab and as Crab Sections (Clusters). What's the difference?

Whole Cooked Crab - The entire crab is cooked from live, quick chilled & brine frozen. They are then placed in poly bags. When you receive the crab, they should be re-heated in a steamer (think spaghetti pot with strainer) or oven at 400 F under tented foil. It will take 9-12 minutes to get the interior temperature of the crab to 165 F. The crab can be steamed from frozen or thawed, cleaned and steamed. DO NOT OVER COOK THE CRAB! It is already cooked so you just want to re-heat it. If you steam or bake them for too long, you are cooking them twice and the end result will be stringy crab meat!

Directions:

Cleaning the Crab:

Hold the Crab in your left hand (claws towards the left) and place your right hand on the back of the top shell.

Put your right thumb under the shell and pull up. The whole top shell should remove in one piece. (Clean & save the shell for an oven baked side dish or ramekin for dipping sauce.)

Pull the green gill material off the inside of the opened Crab.

Next, there is a small "V" section of lower Crab shell in the back that cab be removed with your thumb as well.

Remove the loose brown material from the center of the crab.

Rinse the Crab in Cold Water for a few seconds; this will remove the remainder of the brine & internal pieces.

Heating the Crab before serving:

Take your Spaghetti Pot with Strainer inside, 2 or 3 cups of water in the bottom, bring to a boil and steam crab for about 9-12 minutes (Whole Crab) or 6-9 minutes (Cleaned Crab).

Oven or BBQ method:

Place Crab in a foil lined baking pan or Pyrex dish. Add about 3/8 inch water to the pan bottom.

Cover with an aluminum foil tent.

Place in pre-heated Oven or BBQ at 400 degrees for about 9-12 minutes (Whole Crab) or 6-9 minutes (Cleaned Crab). (165 degree internal temperature)

Dungeness Crab Sections (Clusters) - Most of the work is done for you! The crab may be butchered from live then cooked or cooked as whole crab and then cleaned. Dungeness Sections contain all the edible portion of the crab. Since they are cleaned before freezing, you may enjoy them hot or cold! If you want to eat them cold, just thaw in the refrigerator, rinse over the sink to remove the brine and eat! The crab can be steamed from frozen or thawed and steamed. It will take 6-9 minutes to get the interior temperature of the crab to 165 F. It is already cooked so you just want to re-heat it. If you steam or bake them for too long, you are cooking them twice and the end result will be stringy crab meat!

Directions:

Heating the Crab Sections before serving:

Take your Spaghetti Pot with Strainer inside, 2 or 3 cups of water in the bottom, bring to a boil, add crab & steam for 6-9 minutes. Depending on whether you are steaming thawed or steaming from frozen.

Oven or BBQ method:

Place Crab in a foil lined baking pan or Pyrex dish. Add about 3/8 inch water to the pan bottom.

Cover with an aluminum foil tent.

Place in pre-heated Oven or BBQ at 400 degrees for 6-9 minutes depending on whether you are steaming thawed or steaming from frozen. (about as long as a medium rare steak) (165 degree internal temperature)

Enjoy!

Preparing Dungeness Crab

Wild Ocean Seafoods continues a 112 year tradition of providing the finest in Wild Fresh Frozen Seafood to discriminating seafood lovers and fine dining restaurants. We offer direct from the processor to your door service at the most competitive prices available! Dungeness Crab at Wild Ocean Seafoods.

Friends Link : Steak Recipe Pizza Recipe Recipes Bookmark