How Much Does the Average Lobster Tail Weigh? A Detailed Look at Typical Weights

Lobster tails are a prized seafood delicacy. When cooking lobster tail recipes or ordering them at restaurants, it’s helpful to know how much a typical lobster tail weighs. Lobster tail weights can vary based on size, type of lobster and preparation method. This article will provide a detailed overview of the average weight of lobster tails so you know exactly what to expect.

Typical Lobster Tail Weight Ranges

On average a single raw lobster tail with shell will weigh between 3 and 8 ounces (85 to 227 grams). Here’s a breakdown of the common size categories and average weight ranges

• Small lobster tails – 3 to 4 ounces (85 to 113 grams)
• Medium lobster tails – 4 to 5 ounces (113 to 142 grams)
• Large lobster tails – 5 to 6 ounces (142 to 170 grams)
• Jumbo lobster tails – 6 to 8 ounces (170 to 227 grams)

The most frequently seen sizes sold are medium and large tails in the 5 to 6 ounce range. Jumbo lobster tails over 6 ounces are generally found at higher-end restaurants or specialty seafood markets.

Average Weight by Lobster Type

The two main types of lobster tails come from Maine lobsters (Homarus americanus) and spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus). Here is the typical weight for each variety:

• Maine lobster tails – Average 5 to 6 ounces (142 to 170 grams)
• Spiny lobster tails – Average 3 to 5 ounces (85 to 142 grams)

Maine lobster tails tend to run slightly heavier than spiny lobster tails on average. The cold Atlantic waters produce larger lobsters with bigger meatier tails compared to spiny lobsters found in warmer waters.

Frozen vs. Fresh Tail Weights

Fresh raw lobster tails straight off the boat will weigh a bit more than frozen tails you buy at the supermarket. Here is a comparison:

• Fresh tails – Average 5.5 to 7 ounces (156 to 198 grams)
• Frozen tails – Average 4 to 6 ounces (113 to 170 grams)

Freezing causes some loss of moisture, so frozen tails will be towards the lower end of the overall weight ranges. Fresh tails have more water weight before cooking.

Effect of Cooking on Lobster Tail Weight

Cooking also significantly reduces the weight of lobster tails. Here is how much weight a typical 6 ounce raw lobster tail loses after cooking:

• Raw weight – 6 oz (170 grams)
• Cooked weight – 4 oz (113 grams)

Cooking causes lobster tails to lose around 30% of their original raw weight. The remaining shell and water loss accounts for this decrease in total grams after cooking.

Weight Ranges for Popular Serving Sizes

Knowing the average weight of lobster tails makes it easy to estimate portion sizes.

• 1 small tail – 3 to 4 oz (85 to 113 grams)
• 1 medium tail – 4 to 5 oz (113 to 142 grams)
• 2 medium tails – 8 to 10 oz (227 to 283 grams)
• 1 large tail – 5 to 6 oz (142 to 170 grams)
• 2 large tails – 10 to 12 oz (283 to 340 grams)
• 4 large tails – 1.5 to 1.75 lbs (682 to 794 grams)

These serving sizes can help inform recipes. For example, a recipe serving 4 people may call for 4 large lobster tails, weighing approximately 1.5 pounds total.

Average Weight of Lobster Tail Sections

Whole lobster tails are often divided into sections for individual servings. Here are typical weights for lobster tail sections:

• 1 tail section – 1.5 to 2 oz (42 to 57 grams)
• 3 tail sections – 5 to 6 oz (142 to 170 grams)
• 4 tail sections – 6 to 8 oz (170 to 227 grams)

If a recipe calls for lobster tail pieces instead of whole tails, these averages provide gram estimates per section.

Factors Affecting Weight

Several factors impact the precise weight of individual lobster tails:

• Overall lobster size – Older, larger lobsters have heavier tails
• Environment – Colder water produces larger lobsters
• Processing – Freezing and cooking reduces weight
• Shell thickness – Some variance in shell density

Even tails from lobsters of similar size can vary slightly in exact weight. Weighing each tail is the best way to know precise gram amounts for recipes or tracking calories and nutrition.

Weighing Lobster Tails

When developing recipes or closely monitoring nutrition, weighing tails is advised. Here are some tips:

• Weigh raw, whole lobster tails including shells
• Use a digital kitchen scale for accuracy
• Record the weights for each recipe serving
• Refer to an online converter for grams to ounces

Weighing removes guesswork and provides the real gram amounts for your specific lobster tails.

Comparing Lobster Tail Weight to Other Seafood

To put lobster tail weights into perspective, here’s how they compare to other types of seafood:

• Lobster tail – 5 to 6 oz (142 to 170 grams)
• Salmon fillet – 5 to 6 oz (142 to 170 grams)
• Halibut fillet – 6 to 8 oz (170 to 227 grams)
• Tuna steak – 6 to 8 oz (170 to 227 grams)
• Swordfish steak – 5 to 7 oz (142 to 198 grams)

A lobster tail is very similar in weight and portion size to a salmon fillet or tuna steak. Lobster meat can be substituted into recipes calling for these other fish in equal weight amounts.

Tracking Calories Based on Weight

Knowing the weight of lobster tails also makes it easy to estimate calories and nutrition facts. Here are the typical calories per gram:

• Cooked lobster – 2.4 calories per gram
• Raw lobster – 0.9 calories per gram

Multiply the gram weight by these figures to calculate calories. A 170 gram cooked tail has about 408 calories (170g x 2.4 calories/g).

Use weighed gram amounts along with these per gram calorie estimates to determine nutrition info for meal planning or diet tracking.

Cost Comparison by Weight

When purchasing lobster tails, compare cost by weight to identify the best values. Calculate price per gram to compare tails of different sizes.

For example, if a 7 ounce tail is $14 and a 5 ounce tail is $12, the 7 ounce option actually offers a lower price per gram and is the better buy.

Fresh vs. Frozen Tail Prices

On a price per gram basis, fresh and frozen lobster tails are typically close in cost. Added processing and transportation makes frozen tails slightly more expensive in most cases.

Here are some estimated price comparisons:

• Fresh tail per gram: $0.60 to $0.70
• Frozen tail per gram: $0.65 to $0.75

Check prices locally to determine the better deal, but fresh and frozen options are usually very comparable in price per weight.

From small to jumbo sizes, lobster tail weights can range widely, but average between 3 and 8 ounces for a single tail. Typical serving sizes are 1-2 tails per person. For recipes and nutrition tracking, weigh tails for precise gram amounts. Compare price per gram when purchasing tails to identify the best lobster tail values.