Instant Pot Frozen Lobster Tails
Cook frozen lobster tails with the ease of an Instant Pot. This quick method transforms frozen lobster tails into tender, flavorful protein using simple ingredients! Enjoy Instant Pot Frozen Lobster Tails for your next holiday feast or when you’re looking for a quick way to enjoy lobster.
We’ve all been there, the realization that the lobster tails you want to make for dinner are still frozen solid. Traditional methods like thawing in the fridge or even quick thawing under cold water can take hours, pushing back your dinner timeline or even forcing you to change your main course entirely.
Can you cook lobster tails from frozen? Enter the Instant Pot. This handy device turns the potential disappointment of unthawed frozen lobster tails into dinner quickly and easily. The high-pressure environment within the pressure cooker not only ensures rapid cooking but also guarantees tender, perfectly cooked lobster tails, even straight from the freezer!
🦞Ingredients You’ll Need
- Frozen Lobster Tails (about 4-6 oz each) – These are the main focus of the dish, providing the rich, luxurious flavor and texture that lobster is known for.
- Water– Acts as the steaming agent in the Instant Pot, creating the high-pressure environment needed for quick and even cooking of the lobster tails.
- Sliced Lemon – Imparts a zesty, tangy flavor, complementing the natural sweetness of the lobster and helping to cut through its richness.
- Minced Garlic – Adds a depth of aromatic flavor, enhancing the overall taste profile of the lobster without overpowering it.
- Unsalted Butter – Serves as a velvety base for the sauce, amplifying the lobster’s natural flavors and adding a rich, creamy texture to the dish.
- Fresh Parsley – Provides a splash of color and a fresh, herbaceous note, which balances and brightens the dish.
- Salt & Pepper – Essential seasonings that accentuate and uplift the natural flavors of the lobster, ensuring every bite is perfectly seasoned.
📖How To Make Frozen Lobster Tails Instant Pot
1️⃣Prepare the Instant Pot: Pour the water into the Instant Pot and place the metal trivet or a steamer basket inside. Arrange the frozen lobster tails on the trivet or in the basket, ensuring they don’t overlap.
2️⃣Pressure cook lobster tails: Secure the lid and set the vent to “sealing.” Set the Instant Pot to “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” mode on high for 2 minutes (for smaller tails, 4-6 oz) or 3 minutes (for larger tails).
3️⃣Release & Serve: Once the cooking cycle completes, turn the vent to “venting” for a quick release. After pressure releases and the float valve drops, open the lid and remove the lobster tails with tongs.
4️⃣Cut open the shell: Once cooled enough, using kitchen shears, cut down the center of the hard top shell of the lobster tail, stopping at the base of the tail. Gently pry the shell apart without completely breaking it off. Run your finger between the meat and the shell to loosen it and remove any visible veins.
5️⃣Make a lemon garlic butter: Prepare a sauce by mixing melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Drizzle the sauce over the tails, garnish with parsley and lemon slices, and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Note: Cooking time may vary based on lobster tail size and Instant Pot model. Test one tail first to optimize cooking time if unsure and adjust for future batches.
👩🍳Recipe Tips
- Always inspect the lobster tails before cooking. They should be translucent and not have any off-putting odor; this ensures freshness, even if they are frozen.
- When placing lobster tails in the Instant Pot, ensure they’re spaced evenly and aren’t overlapping, which guarantees uniform cooking.
- Before cooking, consider cutting through the top shell of the lobster tail. This not only makes it easier to eat later but also allows flavors from the butter and seasonings to penetrate deeper. Only do this if its not dangerous as using a sharp knife on frozen food can be dangerous.
🥘More Instant Pot Frozen Recipes
- Instant Pot Frozen Whole Chicken
- Instant Pot Frozen Corn On The Cob
- Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breast
- Instant Pot Frozen Pork Tenderloin
Instant Pot Frozen Lobster Tails
Equipment
- 1 Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot)
Ingredients
- 2-4 frozen lobster tails about 4-6 oz each
- 1 cup water
- 1 lemon sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- Fresh parsley chopped (for garnish)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pour the water into the Instant Pot and place the metal trivet or a steamer basket inside. Arrange the frozen lobster tails on the trivet or in the basket, ensuring they don’t overlap.
- Secure the lid and set the vent to “sealing.” Set the Instant Pot to “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” mode on high for 2 minutes (for smaller tails, 4-6 oz) or 3 minutes (for larger tails).
- Once the cooking cycle completes, turn the vent to “venting” for a quick release. After pressure releases and the float valve drops, open the lid and remove the lobster tails with tongs.
- Once cooled enough, using kitchen shears, cut down the center of the hard top shell of the lobster tail, stopping at the base of the tail. Gently pry the shell apart without completely breaking it off. Run your finger between the meat and the shell to loosen it and remove any visible veins.
- Prepare a sauce by mixing melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Drizzle the sauce over the tails, garnish with parsley and lemon slices, and serve immediately. Enjoy!
