Tips on How to Buy Lobster Tails

Lobster tails can be a delightful treat for family dinners, get together with friends and other occasions. The key in creating a really delicious meal starts with choosing the best lobster tails that you can possibly afford. Since this means spending money, it is important to ensure that you really are getting the best out of the budget that you are willing to spend.

When people buy lobster tails, they often resort to the frozen ones. Of course, the freshly caught ones are the most ideal. However, if you can not find them in the nearest market or you can not possibly go to ports where the fresh lobsters are found, you do not have to be too apprehensive about buying frozen tails. All it takes knows how to choose the right ones to order.

Cold Water vs. Warm Water Tails

It is important to understand that when you buy lobster tails, there are two types that you can choose from. These are the cold water and warm water tails. Cold water tails often cost a bit more. That is because these are also more tasty and tender than the ones from warm water. Cold water tails come from spots in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Maine. On the other hand, warm water tails come from places like Florida, Caribbean and Latin America.

It does not mean that the warm water lobster tails would not taste good. It is just that the cold water lobster tails are often more preferred even by first class restaurants because of the exquisite texture of the meat. Also, warm water lobster tails tend to become a bit mushier especially when it is cooked longer.

Ideal Color

Scrutinizing the color is a good way to determine if the lobster tails are perfect for the dish that you have in mind. Whether it is fresh or frozen, there should be no discolorations on the surface. When you see black spots, you might want to avoid these because the lobsters might no longer be fresh enough and it would not taste as good when cooked. Do not buy lobster tails with grayish discolorations too.

Size Matters

It is important to choose the right size of lobster too. Ideally, when you plan to cook them in a single dish, the sizes have to be almost the same. Smaller ones can be about three ounces. On the other hand, you can buy lobster tails which can weigh up to 24 ounces. The ones that come in small sizes are often more soft and tender. However, there are certain recipes which work better when the meat is fuller so buying bigger ones would be necessary.

How to Thaw Lobster Tails

Once you buy lobster tails that are frozen, it is important to know how to thaw them properly too. If you have sufficient time, the best way to thaw it is to place it inside the refrigerator. The cool temperature will keep its freshness while causing it to thaw slowly. This might take about 12 to 24 hours. A faster option is to put them inside tightly sealed bags and place them inside a bucket of water. Just make sure that the water would not get into the bag because this will soak the tails. Avoid using the microwave because this will cause the meat to start cooking.

Once you got your lobster and it is ready to be cooked, now is the time to decide what lobster dish will you be making. Here are some lobster recipes that you can try.