Frozen shrimp are always a good thing to have around. Those small, pre-peeled, and deveined uncooked shrimp in the frozen aisle are super convenient, highly nutritious, and come in handy for a delectable shrimp dinner on the fly or a protein-packed lunch. You've probably a bag of them tucked in the back of your freezer right now.
However, frozen shrimp can be tricky to cook. One wrong step, and you've got tiny sponges that taste dry and rubbery, or soggy and bland or turn your sauce into a too-thin, watery mess.
Well, good news, convenience-minded shrimp lovers. We've got a few tips and tricks to make frozen shrimp taste almost as good if they were just pulled from the bay. Keep reading to learn the best methods to cook frozen shrimp, so they stay juicy and never dry.
The best way to thaw shrimp is overnight in the refrigerator, allowing the shrimp to thaw gradually. If you need your shrimp to be ready quicker, remove them from the packaging, transfer them to a strainer in the sink, and let them thaw under cold running water. Once thawed, place them on a plate lined with paper towels to soak up any excess water.
Depending on how you plan to prepare your shrimp, cooking them will prevent them from watering down your dish. Add the thawed shrimp to a large pan and cook on high heat for 1 to 2 minutes until they begin to release some of their liquid. Let the shrimp sit in the pan without stirring for 1 minute, then stir quickly, and let them cook another minute. Then remove the shrimp from the pan with a slotted spoon. This method will remove the excess moisture from the shrimp, so expect them to shrink slightly in size.
Save the shrimp juices in the pan.
If you're making a dish that calls for stock, water, or wine, include the shrimp-flavored juices from the pan as part of your sauce's measured amount of liquid. But be careful that the added shrimp liquid isn't more than the amount of stock the recipe calls for. Then, once your sauce is done, add in your cooked shrimp.
Boil the shrimp on the stove.
Boiling shrimp is a quick and easy way to cook frozen shrimp, making them perfect for shrimp co*cktail or sushi rolls. Bring a large pot of water to a boil on the stove. Add salt, pepper, lemon wedges, Old Bay seasoning, and bay leaves to the water and stir. Add thawed shrimp and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the shrimp turns gray to pink. Turn the heat off, and transfer the shrimp into an ice bath to stop the cooking.
Cook frozen shrimp in the air fryer.
The air fryer is an effortless way to get juicy, tender shrimp that can be used in a variety of shrimp recipes. The best part about air fryer frozen shrimp is there's no need to defrost the shrimp first; you can take them right from the freezer to the fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F and place the shrimp into the air fryer basket. Cook for 5 minutes if using frozen cooked shrimp or for 10 minutes if using frozen raw shrimp. Flip the shrimp halfway through to ensure they are evenly cooked.
Place the thawed shrimp on a paper-towel lined baking tray or platter. Soaking up excess moisture will help the shrimp cook and prevent any soggy situations in the skillet.
Place the thawed shrimp on a paper-towel lined baking tray or platter. Soaking up excess moisture will help the shrimp cook and prevent any soggy situations in the skillet.
If you're planning dinner in advance: Thaw frozen shrimp in the refrigerator 24 hours before you need to cook with them. Be sure to place the frozen shrimp in a bowl or a plastic bag to thaw. Only thaw the amount of shrimp that you plan to cook, as you shouldn't re-freeze previously frozen seafood.
Simply melt some butter in a pan, add minced garlic, and sauté the shrimp for a few minutes until they are heated through. You can also add a squeeze of lemon juice and some chopped parsley for extra flavor.
Steaming is much gentler on seafood and helps lock in the shrimp's flavor. Additionally, steaming is more convenient than boiling because you need less water, which means you don't have to wait as long for it to come to a boil. The sooner your water comes to a boil, the sooner you can eat!
Cook for 5 minutes if using frozen cooked shrimp or for 10 minutes if using frozen raw shrimp. Flip the shrimp halfway through to ensure they are evenly cooked.
Cooking frozen shrimp won't harm you, but the texture won't be as appetising as if you cook from thawed. If time allows, leave your shrimp in the fridge overnight to thaw. Avoid thawing at room temperature, as this also impacts the texture.
Improper thawing: Shrimp should be thawed properly before cooking. Thawing them in the microwave or using warm or hot water can lead to uneven cooking and a mushy texture. It is best to thaw shrimp overnight in the fridge or in a bowl of cold water if you're short on time [2].
"But by using the cold water-start method, you can restrict that upper bound." The sweet spot for perfectly cooked edge-to-edge tender shrimp, just stop heating your water once it hits 170°F (77°C). It's that simple (and at roughly seven minutes, still pretty darn quick).
It takes just 15 minutes to thaw the shrimp in a bowl of cold water. If you're really in a rush, the best cooking methods for frozen shrimp are boiled shrimp or steamed shrimp: increase the cook time by 1 minute and check often to assess doneness.
The answer, it turns out, is that you probably don't need to do anything to clean it. Not only is this true for frozen shrimp, but it's true for pretty much all shrimp; cleaning is ultimately a matter of preference far more than one of necessity. Whether you want to is another matter entirely.
These savory little crustaceans taste best with seasoning that complements their unique umami flavor. The top three spice blends for shrimp are garlic butter, Old Bay Seasoning, and blackened seasoning, and they are easy to make at home!
So we often apply a mild baking soda solution to meat before cooking it. In our Fisherman's Pie, we use the same trick on shrimp, allowing them to stay plump and juicy throughout cooking.
Your best bet is going to be to move that frozen package of shrimp from your freezer to your fridge the night before you want to cook it. Allow it to thaw overnight, or for up to 24 hours. To prevent drips, put the package in a bowl or lay it flat on a rimmed baking sheet.
Yes and no. You can grill shrimp from frozen, but you probably shouldn't. "It makes the outside tough and cooks unevenly, tending to leave the inside raw," Price says. "It's best if the shrimp is thawed, peeled, deveined, marinated, then grilled."
These savory little crustaceans taste best with seasoning that complements their unique umami flavor. The top three spice blends for shrimp are garlic butter, Old Bay Seasoning, and blackened seasoning, and they are easy to make at home!
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