Can You Freeze Lobster Tails? Yes, and Here’s How to Do It Right!
Updated on March 2, 2023
When you find expensive foods on sale, you want to make sure you make the most of them. But since you can’t eat everything in one sitting, you may want to freeze them off. That’s exactly the situation when it comes to lobsters because this is generally expensive and when you do find them for a lower price, you want to buy as much as you can, especially if they’re a favorite food of yours.
As with any other thing we love, we want it to keep forever (well, close to that at least), so the question arises whether or not lobster tails can be frozen or not.
Can You Freeze Lobster Tails?
Since lobster tails are expensive but delicious, we’re always on the lookout for sales. Much like one of our readers who sent us a message, we wanted to know all about whether or not freezing lobster tails was something we could do.
Q. My husband and I really enjoy eating lobster tails, but since they are generally pretty expensive we tend to save it for special occasions. However, our local fishmonger occasionally gets some fresh lobster tails in and is able to sell them for a pretty good price. My husband wants to go in the next time they’re on sale and buy a large batch to freeze so we can always have them on hand for when we want them. I don’t know if it’s possible to freeze lobster tails without ruining them. Even on sale they are far too expensive to just see them go to waste. So, before we buy a batch, I want to be sure! Can you freeze lobster tails?
Yes, you can freeze lobster tails! Buying in bulk when they’re on sale and then freezing them for later is a great idea and a perfect way to save money! I will say that you must make sure that they are as fresh as possible, and that you have to keep them chilled before freezing them so that they don’t grow any harmful bacteria.
How to Freeze Lobster Tails?
In order to freeze lobster tails, there are a few steps you need to go through.
- lobster tails should first be blanched in a brine of about ½ cup non-iodized salt dissolved in 2 quarts of water, according to the Maine Lobster Marketing Cooperative
- bring the water to a rolling boil, and then place the lobster tails in the water for 60 seconds
- remove from the water with a slotted spoon and then chill in a mixture of 50% cold water and 50% ice to stop the cooking process.
- allow the meat to completely cool by letting it sit in the cold water for 15-20 minutes.
- remove the lobster tails from the cold water and ice mixture and dry thoroughly
- then, place the lobster tails in freezer-safe bags. Remove the excess air, then seal the bags. Label and date the bags
- then, place each freezer bag inside another freezer bag and seal it, providing a double layer of protection
- place the bags in the coldest part of the freezer
Properly stored frozen lobster tails will last between 9-12 months in the freezer.
How to Make Frozen Lobster Tails Last Longer?
If you want to make sure your frozen lobster tails keep for longer in the freezer, you want to make sure they are properly stored away. One of the ways you can do this is by using a food saver which will seal your portions perfectly, effectively taking away all the air that will eventually damage the contents of the bag. Instead, if you use one of these devices, your lobster tails will keep for longer in the freezer and the flavor will also be better preserved.
We enjoy the FoodSaver V4840 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine which works with bags of 8 and 11 inches, so you can put away portions of different sizes. It’s been a great money saver to have this device on hand.
How to Thaw Frozen Lobster Tails?
Before you eat the next batch of lobster tails, you need to thaw them out. To thaw, allow the lobster tails to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before cooking. Cook lobster tails in a 2% brine, the same ratio of salt to water as what you used to blanch the lobster in the first place.