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how long to cook lobster tail in oven

You’ll bake lobster tails in the oven for about 10–15 minutes, depending on size, at 350–400°F (175–205°C), until the meat is opaque and the internal temperature reaches about 135–140°F.

Quick Scoop

Ideal oven time and temp

  • For standard 6–7 oz lobster tails: bake at 350°F for about 10–12 minutes.
  • For slightly larger 8–10 oz tails: bake 12–15 minutes at 350°F.
  • Another common method: bake at 400°F for about 12 minutes, loosely covered with foil, until the center of the meat hits about 140°F.
  • Visual doneness cues: meat turns opaque white, looks firm (not jelly-like), and the shell is bright red.

Simple step‑by‑step

  1. Preheat oven to 350–400°F, depending on recipe.
  1. Butterfly or “piggyback” the tails (cut shell down the top and lift meat up onto the shell).
  1. Place on a baking sheet, brush with melted butter, lemon, and seasoning of your choice.
  1. Bake:
    • 6–7 oz tails: 10–12 minutes at 350°F.
 * 8–10 oz tails: 12–15 minutes at 350°F.

 * Or 10–12 minutes at 400°F as in many home‑cook recipes.
  1. Check internal temperature in the thickest part: pull at 135–140°F.
  1. Rest 2 minutes, then baste with more melted butter and serve.

Time guide by method (oven only)

[1] [7][5] [3]
Method Oven Temp Approx. Time Notes
Gentle bake 350°F 10–12 min (6–7 oz)
12–15 min (8–10 oz)		 Even, hands‑off cooking; great for beginners.
Hot bake / roast 400°F ~12 min for medium tails Faster, slightly more caramelization on top.
High‑heat bake / broil‑style 500°F 8–10 min Very quick, watch closely to avoid overcooking.

Mini tips so you don’t overcook

  • Always go by temperature and appearance, not just the clock; lobster overcooks fast and gets rubbery.
  • Start checking a couple of minutes before the earliest time, especially with small tails.
  • If using a broiler instead of regular bake, 4–6 minutes under high broil is typical for medium tails, placed a few inches from the element.

In early 2026, most popular recipes online still recommend the same ranges: roughly 10–15 minutes in the oven, depending on tail size and oven temperature, with an internal target of about 140°F.

TL;DR: For a typical 6–8 oz lobster tail, bake at 350°F for about 12 minutes (or 400°F for about the same time), and pull it as soon as the center hits 135–140°F and looks opaque.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.