Air Fryer Lobster Tails (Crayfish)

This is the fastest and easiest method to prepare seafood: Air Fryer Lobster Tails or Crayfish as they are known here in Australia. No boiling, no grilling or baking in the oven, this recipe will blow you mind with how easy it is to make! Perfect as an appetizer, main meal, part of a Seafood platter or making Surf and Turf with a Tomahawk Steak!

This recipe is super easy and bursting with garlicky flavor. Easy cleanup in the Air Fryer saves time because the mess is contained to the basket. Plus it allows you to multitask in the kitchen, saving your oven or bbq for other dishes.

Ingredients

• Lobster Tails or Crayfish (6-8oz or 500g)
• Butter
• Garlic Cloves
• Fresh Parsley
• Old Bay Spice (optional)
• Lemon Wedges - for serving

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• Tongs
• Sharp Knife for Cutting Lobster or Crayfish
• Cutting Board
• Bowl for Garlic Butter
• Basting Brush

How to Make Air Fryer Lobster Tails

1. Prepare Lobster Tails - if frozen, thaw completely in fridge before preparing. Sedate or kill the Crayfish or Lobster before slicing them.
2. Slice Lobster/Crayfish - Lay flat, belly side down, on a cutting board. With the pointy end of the knife, slice through the middle of lobster, and continue through. You should have 2 symmetrical halves.
3. Clean - rinse any organs or tomalley under running water. Pat dry with a paper towel.
4. Preheat - turn on Air Fryer to 380°F/193°C.
5. Prepare Garlic Butter - mix together softened Salted Butter, Garlic and Parsley. Set aside.
6. Brush - generously spread Garlic Butter on the lobster tails using a Basting Brush.
7. Cook - place in Air Fryer basket, meat side up in a single layer. Don't overcrowd, might need to cook in batches. Air Fry for about 6-8 minutes for larger 6-8oz (500g) Lobster or Crayfish. For smaller Lobster Tails 4-6oz (300g) Air Fry for 4-6 minutes. Baste with extra garlic butter half way through cooking.
8. Check Internal Temperature - Lobster Tails are done when meat is firm and opaque with an internal temperature of 145°C/63°C in thickest part.
9. Serve - garnish with fresh Parsley and Lemon Wedges. Melt additional Garlic Butter and serve as a dipping sauce.

Garlic Butter Flavor Ideas

• Peri Peri Honey Butter - skip the Garlic Butter Dip and make this spicy treat! Melt ½ cup Butter, 3 tablespoons Peri Peri Seasoning, 2 tablespoons Honey
• Cajun Butter - add 1 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning and ¼ teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper for a Southern Twist
• Honey Sriracha Butter - mix 1 generous tablespoon of Honey and 1 generous tablespoon of Sriracha Sauce
• Lemon Herb Garlic Butter - add Lemon Zest and chopped Dill into your Garlic Butter
• Chipotle Garlic Butter - add a finely diced Chipotle Pepper, or a tablespoon of Chipotle Pepper Sauce
• Chili Garlic Butter - add 1 tablespoon of Aleppo Pepper or Chili Flakes to the Garlic Butter for a spicy kick

Recipe Tips and FAQs

• Double the Butter - make twice the Garlic Butter and separate in half before using. Set aside one half for melting and dipping the cooked seafood, and use the other for basting the Lobster or Crayfish
• Don't Overcrowd the Basket - for the larger Lobster Tails or Crayfish, you can fit 3 half tails into the basket, so technically can use 3 whole Lobsters or Crayfish (cut into half, make six servings) cooked in two batches
• Don't Trust the Cook Time - always check with an internal thermometer to ensure temperature is correct. At six minutes, pull out to check with thermometer and add extra Air Frying time until cooked
• Use Shell On Lobster (Crayfish) - this helps seal the flavor when cooking, as the flavored butter drips down the inside of the shell while cooking to infuse flavor
• Cut them in Half - some Lobster Tail recipes use kitchen shears to cut the membrane off. However, it's preferred to cut the Lobster Tail in half when grilling. This ensures even cooking, faster cooking and halves tails looks better when presenting on a plate.

How to Cut Lobster Tails Using Kitchen Shears

1. Place Lobster Tails - belly side up on a cutting board.
2. Insert tip of shears on the edge of the underside of the membrane and cut alongside the hard shell toward tail fin. Repeat on the other side.
3. Gently spread the two halves with your hands, exposing the meat. You can remove the meat if you want the butterflied lobster look, but leave the meat attached at the tail fin.
4. Rinse with water, remove digestive vein and pat dry.

Can I Use Frozen Lobster or Crayfish in Air Fryer Without Defrosting?

No. Always defrost in the fridge overnight before cooking. This ensures even cooking and better flavor absorption.

How Do I Know Lobster is Fully Cooked?

The shells will turn bright red, the tail curls, the meat is opaque and firm with an internal temperature of 145°C/63°C.

Are Lobster and Crayfish the Same?

They are very similar, and for the purposes of this recipe, are interchangeable. Crayfish don't have claws like Lobster do, but the the body (the meaty part) is the same. Crayfish are also called Rock Lobsters and are found in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and the Caribbean. Lobster Tails come in various sizes, from small to large, just adjust cooking time as needed.

What Dipping Sauces to Serve with Lobster Tails?

Garlic Butter is the classic flavor, but you can also serve with Tartar Sauce, Peri Peri Honey Butter (like I use in my Smoked Wings recipe), Aioli, Creamy Sweet Chili Sauce, Chimichurri Sauce, Sriracha Mayo, or try drizzling with Indonesian Sambal Kicap just before serving!

Seafood Recipes You'll Love

• Grilled Crayfish with Mango Salsa
• Boiled Crawfish with Dill
• Grilled King Prawns (Shrimp)
• Asian Oysters
• Grilled Snapper with Mango Salsa
• Shrimp Mango Salad
• Beer Battered Fish and Chips
• Grilled Oysters Kilpatrick with Bacon

Air Fryer Lobster Tails or Air Fryer Crayfish (Rock Lobsters) are an easy timesaver and my favorite way to prepare Crayfish. So easy to baste with Garlic Butter and drop into the Air Fryer. With endless serving possibilities, you'll want to eat this again and again. So dig in: simple, easy and delicious! Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!

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