How to Eat Lobster Tails

Some people make eating lobster look easy, while the rest of us are frustrated by these spiny crustaceans. Fortunately, there is a simple trick for getting the meat out of a lobster's tail that just about anyone can do. The only thing you will need is a strong fork.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

The Fork Technique

1. Hold the lobster's body with one hand, and the tail with the other. Twist the tail back and forth until it is released.
2. Shake out the tomalley. The tomalley is the yellow stuff that comes out of the section where the tail meets the body, and it is very hot. Some people like how it tastes, but many find it bitter. If you are an adventurous seafood connoisseur you may want to experiment with it, or you can shake it out. Shaking out the tomalley also helps to loosen the meat in the lobster tail.
3. Remove the center fin at the tip of the tail by twisting it off.
4. Insert your fork into the hole at the tip of the tail where you just removed the fin. If you are at a more upscale restaurant they may be able to provide you with a specialized fork for this job, but with a little bit of creative thinking you should be able to use any standard fork.
5. Push the fork through the tail. Be careful not to jam the fork through the shell. The meat should come out cleanly through the wider end of the tail.

Opening the Tail the Hard Way

6. Turn the lobster over and locate the soft underside.
7. Insert a single tine of your fork into the soft underside of the lobster. The soft part of the shell should now be sandwiched between the tines of your fork.
8. Use your fork to tear through the soft part of the shell by rocking the fork forward and backwards.
9. Punch through the shell with the tip of your fork. This will provide you with enough of a start to finish ripping the shell down the middle.
10. Pull the meat out and enjoy your hard-earned meal.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are feeling really adventurous, you can bypass the fork and use a finger. Be careful not to cut or burn yourself if you choose to forgo the fork.
• Some people recommend removing the digestive track before eating the tail. If you want to do this, it is easily identifiable as the thin dark line that runs laterally along the topside of the tail.
• Be careful when removing the tail from the body. If the lobster was boiled then it probably has some residual water left inside. Crack the lobster away from you (and other people) to avoid being burned by any hot water or steam that may erupt from the lobster.