Instant Pot Lobster Tails

Cooking lobster has never been easier. With these step-by-step Instant Pot Lobster Tails instructions, you can make fresh or frozen lobster tails in literally minutes. These lobster tails are perfect with melted butter and simple sides. Serve with steak, chicken, or pork for the ultimate homemade surf and turf dinner.

Lobsters are an expensive, delicate crustacean commonly reserved for special occasions like anniversaries and Valentine’s Day, so cooking them correctly is of the utmost importance!

These Instant Pot Lobster tails eliminate the margin for error, so if you follow the instructions precisely, you will steam lobster tails like the pros. The meat turns out flakey, tender, and juicy every time.

Cooking lobster tails in the Instant Pot is the best because the pressure cooker builds up the precise amount of pressurized heat needed to steam the tails perfectly. This method cooks fresh or frozen lobster tails quickly and efficiently.

❤ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Pressure-cooking lobster tails result in creamy, melt-in-your-mouth meat.
• There’s no need to worry about undercooking or overcooking expensive seafood.
• This method works with fresh or frozen lobster tails without thawing or adjusting the pressure cooking time.
• This is a great way to quickly make lobster for any special occasion; dinner parties, holiday meals, anniversaries, etc.
• Lobster is naturally gluten-free, high-protein, and keto. These lobster tails are a great way to treat yourself to something extravagant while sticking to your health and wellness goals.

🦞 Ingredients You’ll Need

• Lobster Tails – Be sure to start with premium quality lobster tails. What’s most important is that they are purchased from a reputable seafood retailer. They should be fresh (of freshly frozen) without any discoloration. Opt for cold-water lobster, if possible. Warm-water lobster is less expensive, but the taste and texture can be pretty disappointing.
• Water – The liquid element necessary for the pressure cooker to build steam.
• Spices & seasonings – Lobster tails are naturally sweet and buttery, so a pinch of salt, pepper, and garlic pepper is yall you need.
• Unsalted butter – For serving. This is optional but recommended.

📖 How To Make Lobster Tails In The Instant Pot

1️⃣ Clean and butterfly. Using sharp kitchen scissors, make an incision from the top of the lobster tail down to the bottom of the tip. Then, invert the shell under the meat, exposing the meat on the outside. Season the meat with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

2️⃣ Pressure cook lobster tails. Place the trivet at the bottom of the pot. Pour in one cup of water and place the seasoned lobster tails on top. Secure the lid shut and turn the pressure knob to the sealed position. Cook on manual HIGH pressure for 0 minutes (it will take about 15 minutes to reach pressure).

3️⃣ Manually release pressure. When the Instant Pot is finished cooking, manually release the pressure. Carefully remove the lid, and let the lobster tails steam in the residual heat, uncovered, for 5 minutes.

4️⃣ Serve. Immediately remove the lobster tails with tongs. Serve with a side of melted butter and your favorite side dishes.

🗨 Recipe Tips

• To clean and butterfly the tails properly, start by cutting down the center of the tail to crack the shell open. Then, push the meat up through the shell without detaching it.
• With these fool-proof instructions, your lobster tails will reach a perfect 140F. To check for doneness, feel free to use a meat thermometer.
• Do not let the lobster sit in the water once they’re done, or they will definitely overcook.
• It’s perfectly fine to pressure cook the lobster tails directly from frozen. However, they must already be butterflied. If not, thaw them in the fridge, and then clean and butterfly before pressure cooking.
• If buying lobster tails from a seafood counter or fish market, you can request they clean and butterfly the tails for you.

🍽 Best Side Dishes for Lobster Tails

If you ask me, drawn butter and lemon wedges are non-negotiable lobster tail condiments. To make it a meal, serve with any of these delicious sides.

• Air Fryer or Sous Vide Asparagus
• Instant Pot, Sous Vide, or Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
• Sous Vide Baked Potato
• Horseradish Mashed Potatoes

Serve these Instant Pot lobster tails “surf n’ turf” style with proteins like seared steak, grilled chicken, or baked pork tenderloin.

♻ Storage

Storing: If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, keep them refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days. Meat pulled off the shell will last up to four days in the fridge. Once cooked, do not freeze lobster tails.

Reheating: To reheat lobster tails without overcooking them, set them on a baking sheet and place a pat of butter on the surface of the meat. Wrap securely with foil, and reheat at 350 degrees for 5 to 10 minutes.

❔FAQ

🍗 More Instant Pot Recipes

• Instant Pot Crab Legs
• Instant Pot Pork Ribs
• Instant Pot Crispy Chicken Wings
• Instant Pot Whole Chicken
• Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs