Quick Answer: How To Cook Frozen Shrimp?
Shrimp can be cooked from frozen, and not just in one or two ways, but several. In this article, we tell you how to prepare and cook shrimp in no less than five different ways, from boiling to air frying, breaded or not. Shrimp is quick and easy to prepare, and is versatile. This marvelous source of protein is also low in calories, carbs and fat.
We think of shrimp as a staple hors d’oeuvre at parties where it commonly appears as a shrimp cocktail. It’s elegant and delicious.
However, shrimp can also take the place of your regular source of protein at family dinners. We can often get stuck in a rut with evening meals, pulling out the same type of meat on the same day each week.
If you want to change up the rotation and introduce something fun and delicious, not to mention fast, shrimp is a terrific option.
Cooking shrimp from frozen means you don’t even have to be organized in the morning and take the shrimp out of the freezer to thaw.
Frozen shrimp is also a tasty treat if you don’t have anything planned for dinner. Make a quick stop at the grocery store, and pick up a bag of frozen shrimp.
Another huge benefit of cooking shrimp, even from frozen, is the short amount of time required for the shrimp to be fully cooked. Some of the recipes we share with you will have your family or guests enjoying delicious shrimp in 5-10 minutes.
If you have felt intimidated by the idea of cooking shrimp, these recipes will show you how easy it is, and completely take the fear out of preparing this popular seafood.
Shrimp cocktail for your next party? You bet!
How To Cook Frozen Shrimp By Boiling?
Cooking shrimp by boiling is super easy. There are only three basic steps, and no fancy ingredients or equipment required.
Grab your bag of frozen shrimp and a large pot, and get on your way to boiling some delicious shrimp!
The water will take a bit of time to come to a boil, so you want to get it on the stove right away, before you do anything else.
Putting the shrimp into an ice bath after they are cooked prevents them from cooking more and becoming dry. You can prepare the ice bath while the shrimp are cooking.
If you are planning to make a shrimp cocktail, you will want to let the shrimp cool completely.
RELATED: Good Side Dishes To Go With Bang Bang Shrimp Recipes
How To Cook Frozen Shrimp In An Air Fryer?
Shrimp cooked in the air fryer turns out crispy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside.
Cooked at 400, the shrimp will be done in merely 5-10 minutes.
The air fryer has increased in popularity in recent years. A few reasons for this are how fast it cooks all kinds of food, how easy it is to use, and the pleasing results.
Pop vegetables into the air fryer after your shrimp have cooked and have an easy, fully-cooked meal with great, crispy texture.
Use any seasonings you like to add an interesting flavor to your shrimp. You might enjoy Italian flavor, or perhaps Mexican with chili powder.
The size of the shrimp you are using will play a part in how long they take to cook. Larger shrimp will take longer than smaller shrimp.
If you are cooking a larger quantity of shrimp, do them in batches as too much shrimp in the basket will not cook evenly.
If you are going to dip your shrimp in a sauce, there are many great options from ranch to tzatziki, and cajun if you want some heat. Experiment with different sauces to see what everyone likes.
How To Cook Frozen Shrimp Breaded In An Air Fryer?
If you love breaded shrimp this recipe that uses an air fryer is for you. The air fryer produces a great, crispy result.
Buy frozen breaded shrimp at the grocery store, or bread the shrimp yourself if you have a little extra time. You just need an egg and some bread crumbs. This is a fun activity for children to help with.
You’ll definitely want sauce for dipping. Choose your family’s favorites.
If you have picky eaters in your family, this may be a recipe they like. Using an air fryer instead of a deep fryer allows you to avoid the heavy oil and saturated fat, but gives a crispness to the shrimp that kids love.
Pair this with a quick veggie like frozen corn, or with celery and carrot sticks. Add rice for a balanced meal,
How To Cook Frozen Shrimp Steamed?
Served hot or cold, steamed shrimp seasoned, and with a little lemon juice sprinkled over the top, is a delicious treat.
You may choose to eat the shrimp on its own, make tacos or wraps, or toss the shrimp in a salad.
Don’t forget to cover the pot after adding the shrimp to the boiling water, or you will end up with boiled rather than steamed shrimp.
The size of shrimp you use will partly depend on how you plan to use it. If you are making shrimp cocktail then a larger shrimp size is better for dipping. Choose jumbo or extra-large.
If you plan to put shrimp in a seafood stew or salad, a smaller-sized shrimp is better.
If you are just looking for something in your freezer to feed your family tonight, then any size will do. They’ll be happy to dig into this tasty seafood, no matter what size it is.
How To Cook Frozen Shrimp Broiled?
Broiling frozen shrimp gives it a lovely, smokey flavor. The seasonings are put on the shrimp before you put them in the oven. This allows the seasonings to cook into the shrimp, giving it a full, rich flavor your tastebuds will love.
Buy the x-large shrimp if possible, 1 -1½ pounds.
Be very careful when handling the heated baking sheet as it will be very hot, but do not skip this step as it lessens the broiling time of the shrimp and ensures the shrimp stay tender and juicy.
When you place the seasoned shrimp on the baking sheet they should be in a single layer, and not touching each other. This will produce an even broil.
Any assortment of seasonings may be used. Make your decision based on how hot and spicy you like your shrimp. Pass on the spicy paprika and cayenne pepper if you have people who prefer less heat. A simple seasoning of a little garlic salt and pepper might be perfect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Remove The Shells Before Cooking Or Leave Them On?
The shell can be left on or removed. For the shrimp cocktail, remove the shell but leave the tail. This makes for a nicer presentation.
The shell can also contribute to the flavor when you are cooking the shrimp. An option is to remove the shell before cooking, and add the shell to the water to flavor it.
If I Want To Thaw The Shrimp Before Cooking, What Is The Best Method?
If yu want to stir-fry or barbecue your shrimp, you do need to thaw it first. Simply run cold tap water over the shrimp for 10 minutes.
What Are Good Sides To Serve With Shrimp?
There are a lot of great options for sides that pair well with shrimp. Potatoes, corn, rice, broccoli, celery, carrot sticks, cole slaw or cucumber salad are good choices. A loaf of garlic bread would be a tasty addition.
How To Cook Frozen Shrimp By Boiling?
Frozen shrimp is run under cool water for a few minutes then placed in a pot of boiling water, and let cook for 2-5 minutes until pink. The shrimp is then placed in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.
Materials
- 1 bag of frozen shrimp, a little over 1 lb.
- Boiling water
- Juice of a lemon
- Pepper
- Garlic salt
Tools
- Large pot
- Colander
- Bowl
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water, put it on the stove and bring the water to boil on high.
- Remove shrimp from the freezer.
- Run the shrimp under cool water for only a few minutes to remove large ice crystals and separate the shrimp.
- Add the shrimp to the boiling water, cover, and cook for 2-5 minutes.
- The shrimp will be done when it turns pinky, opaque and firm.
- Drain the shrimp into the colander and put them into a bowl with ice water.
- Remove shrimp from the ice water and squeeze the juice from a lemon onto the shrimp
How To Cook Frozen Shrimp In An Air Fryer?
Frozen shrimp are placed in an air fryer on 400 and cooked for 5-10 minutes. The basket is shaken halfway through. When cooked, season as you wish.
Materials
- Shrimp
- Salt and pepper or other seasonings you like
- Dipping sauce if desired
Tools
- Air fryer
- Food thermometer
Instructions
- Turn on the air fryer to 400.
- Take the bag of frozen breaded shrimp from the freezer.
- Put the shrimp on the tray or in the basket of your air fryer.
- Cook for 5-10 minutes depending on the size of the shrimp.
- Shake the basket halfway through the cooking time.
- When shrimp reads 120 with a meat thermometer, remove from the air fryer.
- Season as you wish and serve with dipping sauce if desired.
How To Cook Frozen Shrimp Breaded In An Air Fryer?
Frozen breaded shrimp are placed in an air fryer on 400 and cooked for 8-10 minutes. The basket is shaken halfway through. When cooked, season as desired. Serve with dipping sauces.
Materials
- Breaded shrimp
- Seasonings
- Sauces
Tools
- Air Fryer
- Food thermometer
Instructions
- Turn on the air fryer to 400.
- Take the bag of frozen shrimp from the freezer.
- Put the shrimp on the tray or in the basket of your air fryer.
- If you are breading the shrimp yourself, dip the shrimp in a beaten egg, and then dip them in bread crumbs before putting the shrimp on the tray or in the basket.
- Cook for 8-10 minutes depending on the size of the shrimp.
- Shake the basket halfway through the cooking time.
- When shrimp reads 120 with a meat thermometer, remove from the air fryer.
- Season as you wish and serve with dipping sauce.
How To Cook Frozen Shrimp Steamed?
Shrimp are run under cool water then placed in a steamer basket and in a pot of boiling water. The shrimp will be done in 5-6 minutes depending on their size. The shrimp are removed from the pot and sprinkled with seasonings and lemon juice.
Materials
- Shrimp
- Seasonings
- Juice of a lemon
Tools
- Large pot
- Colander
- Steamer basket
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water, cover it, and put it on the stove to boil on high.
- Take the shrimp from the freezer, place in a colander, and run under cool water.
- When the water is boiling, put the shrimp into the steamer basket and place in the pot.
- Cover the pot with the lid and let the shrimp steam for 5-6 minutes.
- The shrimp will be done when they are pinky and opaque.
- Remove the shrimp from the pot, and season.
- Sprinkle the juice of a lemon onto the shrimp.
How To Cook Frozen Shrimp Broiled?
X-large shrimp are rinsed, placed in a bowl and tossed with seasonings. The shrimp are placed on a preheated baking sheet and put in the oven set on broil. The shrimp will be cooked in 5 minutes.
Materials
- Shrimp
- Seasonings
Tools
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Medium-sized bowl
- Measuring spoons
- Colander
- Tongs
Instructions
- Set the oven to broil.
- Preheat the rimmed baking sheet under the broiler for 10 minutes.
- Take the shrimp from the freezer and rinse in a colander under cool water.
- Put the shrimp in a bowl and toss with the seasonings of your choice.
- Remove the preheated baking sheet and, with the tongs, place the shrimp on the baking sheet.
- Put in the oven under the broiler for 5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven when the shrimp are opaque and curve slightly.
- Serve with dipping sauce if you like.
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
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