One of the happiest discoveries ever has to be the ability to cook shrimp straight from the freezer. The resulting shrimp are so juicy and tasty, and you’ll never bother to defrost your shrimp before cooking ever again. Skipping the thawing time also helps you move along quicker in the cooking process.
In this article, you’ll learn how to cook frozen shrimp, as well as best practices to achieve the best results. Pay attention to the tips and recommendations outlined in this article, and you’ll be sure to get delicious shrimp every time you cook it.
Frozen Shrimp Nutrition Facts
Tips for Cooking Frozen Shrimp
These tips outlined below will help you achieve the best results with frozen shrimp recipes:
When shopping for shrimp – Check each package of frozen shrimp for a sign that says “IQF,” which stands for “Individually Quick Frozen.” This means that each shrimp was frozen separately, reducing clumping and enhancing flavor and texture when cooked.
The kind of shrimp to use – The best shrimp to use are medium to large shrimp. Also, check to see if they’ve been deveined; the deveined label will be visible on the package. You want them deveined since you won’t be able to remove the veins while they’re frozen, and it’ll be difficult, if not impossible, to do so after they’ve been cooked. As a result, deveined shrimp are needed.
Aside from that, it’s best if they’re peeled but with the tail on or if they’re easy to peel. You may cook them frozen and serve them either way. After the peels have been fried, you can simply remove them.
Thaw your shrimp depending on the method you choose – If you’re going to bake, broil, or stir-fry your shrimp, don’t start with frozen shrimp. It’s always best to thaw your shrimp first when using these methods.
Don’t worry about safety concerns – Shrimp are so little-sized and quick to prepare that it’s difficult to undercook or serve them underdone, unlike chicken or salmon, which must be cooked to a specific temperature to assure their safety. Cooking the shrimp from a frozen state prevents overcooking, resulting in more juicy, tender shrimp.
Try broiling – Broiling shrimp is by far the quickest and easiest method of shrimp preparation. The key is to preheat the oven and sheet pan while preparing the spice combination and coating the shrimp. Make sure to use a baking sheet made of stainless steel.
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Cooking Time for Frozen Shrimp
The time it takes to cook frozen shrimp depends on the cooking method you choose to employ. You may follow the timing guidelines in the table below to achieve the best results with your frozen shrimp recipes:
| Cooking method | Cooking time |
| Air frying frozen shrimp | 5 to 10 minutes at 400 F |
| Boiling frozen shrimp | 2 to 5 minutes |
| Cooking frozen shrimp in the instant pot | 10 to 15 minutes at high pressure |
| Steaming frozen shrimp | 5 to 6 minutes |
| Cooking frozen shrimp sous vide | 30 minutes at 140 F |
Frozen Shrimp Recipe (4 Servings)
Ingredients
- 1 pound of frozen shrimp
- seasonings: salt and pepper or sauce, for added taste
- olive oil optional
Instructions
Cooking frozen shrimp in the air fryer
- In the air fryer basket, place the frozen shrimp. They don’t need to be defrosted.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Depending on the size and whether or not they’re pre-cooked, cook for 5-10 minutes.
- Season the shrimp with salt and pepper, if desired. Alternatively, you could mix it with a teriyaki sauce.
Boiling frozen shrimp
- Bring a big pot half-filled with water to a boil.
- Submerge the frozen shrimp in the saucepan fully.
- Cook for 2–5 minutes, depending on the size of the pot.
- Drain the shrimp and set it aside. Optional seasonings, such as salt and pepper, can also be sprinkled on top.
Cooking frozen shrimps in the instant pot
- In the Instant Pot, place a steamer basket.
- Toss in the shrimp and the water. Then close the lid.
- Set the Instant Pot to “Pressure Cooking” and then “High” pressure. Set the timer for 0 minutes.
- Allow 10 to 15 minutes for the pressure cycle to complete.
- The steam will come out of the vent if you open the Quick Release.
- Open the lid when there is no more steam coming out. Drain the liquid and remove the prawns. Optional seasonings or sauce can be added for extra taste. Serve your shrimp and enjoy.
Steaming frozen shrimp
- Fill a big saucepan with water up to 1 inch. Let the water come to a boil.
- In the pot, place the steamer basket.
- Toss the shrimp into the steamer basket with kitchen tongs. Cover and steam for 5 to 6 minutes, depending on the size of the dish.
- Serve with additional seasonings as desired and enjoy your shrimp.
Making frozen shrimp sous vide
- Pour water into a big saucepan till it gets full, then attach the sous vide precision cooker to the pot. Keep the temperature at 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a zip-top bag, season the frozen shrimp with salt and pepper.
- Seal the bag with the “water displacement” method, which entails sealing all the corners except for one and slowly placing the bag in a pot of water. Make sure the area below the zip-line is completely submerged in water. The rest of the bag should then be sealed. If you have a vacuum sealer, ensure to use it. Make sure everything is arranged in a single layer. Use additional bags if the bag you’re using isn’t big enough.
- Place the vacuum-sealed bag in the water bath once the temperature reaches 140 F and set the timer for 30 minutes. Make sure the shrimp are thoroughly submerged in the water. If it’s floating, use a hefty kitchen item to weigh it down.
- Remove the shrimp from the bag when the timer goes off. If required, season with additional seasoning agents.
This recipe describes five fantastic ways to cook frozen shrimp and all of them deliver great-tasting results. If you’d like more ideas on how to cook frozen shrimp, then take a look at this video recipe.