How to Cook Frozen Shrimp

When I worked as a restaurant chef, I always dreaded the nights we ran out of food. It was the quickest way to go from easy-breezy to panicked and in the weeds! I tried to stay ahead of it and “86” any items no longer available, but I was sometimes caught off guard—like the time when several customers simultaneously ordered shrimp recipes before I realized I hadn’t thawed enough. That could have turned into a handful of two-star reviews for the restaurant if I hadn’t known how to cook frozen shrimp.

Cooking frozen shrimp can be a dinner saver, even if you’ve never managed a busy restaurant. Have you ever forgotten to thaw a protein for dinner? Accidentally burned something and needed a backup plan? Welcomed unexpected guests just before dinnertime? These scenarios can be stressful, and having a trusty, ready-to-cook bag of shrimp in the freezer can help you get through the challenge.

Can you cook frozen shrimp?

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it’s perfectly safe to cook frozen shrimp. The FDA recommends several methods for thawing shrimp (such as in the refrigerator, in cold water or in the microwave), but thawing is not required. Shrimp are safe to eat if cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F (when the flesh becomes firm, pearly and opaque).

Safety aside, cooking frozen shrimp is just so easy. They need only a brief rinse under cold water to remove exterior ice crystals that can cause the shrimp to stick together. Overcooking shrimp can cause the tiny crustaceans to lose moisture and become chewy. However, frozen shrimp are filled with small ice crystals that release steam when they melt. That extra moisture keeps the shrimp juicier and more tender so they’re less likely to become dry and tough.

Ingredients for Cooking Frozen Shrimp

• Frozen raw shrimp: We like medium shrimp sized 26 to 30 shrimp per pound. They cook more quickly than larger shrimp but don’t tend to dry out like smaller shrimp. Before you leave the store, check the bag for freezer burn or excessive ice crystals, which could indicate signs of thawing during transport.
• Olive oil: A little oil helps the seasonings stick to the frozen shrimp. Feel free to swap in melted butter or any other type of cooking oil.
• Shrimp seasoning: This all-purpose seafood seasoning blend is made with salt, garlic powder, pepper, ground mustard, onion powder, celery salt and crushed red pepper flakes. You can swap in other spice blends, like Old Bay or Cajun seasoning.

How to Cook Frozen Shrimp in the Oven

Of all the ways to cook frozen shrimp, the broiler is by far my favorite. The oven’s cooking element cooks the shrimp with direct, high heat that quickly melts the ice and locks in the shrimp’s natural juices. As long as you avoid common broiler mistakes, like using the wrong temperature setting or positioning the food unevenly, the shrimp will go from completely frozen to perfectly cooked in only about six minutes.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the frozen shrimp

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Preheat the oven to a broil. In a large bowl, combine the salt, garlic powder, pepper, mustard, onion powder, celery salt and, if desired, red pepper flakes. Set aside.

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Place the frozen shrimp in a colander and rinse with cold water for one minute or until the shrimp can be separated.

Editor’s Tip: The shrimp won’t cook evenly if they’re clumped together in a frozen ball. Running them under cold water will help break apart any stuck-together shrimp.

Step 2: Season the shrimp

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Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel.

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Transfer the shrimp to the bowl with the seasoning mixture. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat.

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Transfer the shrimp to a foil-lined baking sheet and spread into an even layer.

Editor’s Tip: Give the shrimp a little space on the baking sheet. This allows air to circulate around the shrimp for even cooking.

Step 3: Broil frozen shrimp in the oven

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Broil for three to four minutes per side or until the shrimp have slightly curled.

Editor’s Tip: Turn frozen shrimp into a sheet pan meal by cooking veggies on the sheet pan before adding the shrimp. It’s a great way to prepare one-pan dinners like sheet-pan shrimp fajitas!

How to Cook Frozen Shrimp in the Air Fryer

Step 1: Prepare the frozen shrimp

Preheat the air fryer to 375°. Prepare the shrimp as for broiled shrimp, and toss them with the oil and seasoning mixture.

Step 2: Air-fry frozen shrimp

In batches, arrange the shrimp in a single layer in greased air-fryer basket. Cook until shrimp turn pink, 8 to 10 minutes.

Editor’s Tip: Every air fryer is slightly different, so check on air-fryer shrimp early. Remove them from the air fryer when pink and curled into a loose C shape.

How to Cook Frozen Shrimp on the Stovetop

Step 1: Season the water

Fill a large saucepan with 2 quarts water for every 2 pounds shrimp. Add seasonings, like a sliced lemon, onion and 2 teaspoons seafood seasoning.

Editor’s Tip: I always recommend including aromatics when making boiled shrimp or steamed shrimp. Without them, the shrimp won’t taste nearly as good.

Step 2: Boil the shrimp

Bring the water to a boil. Add the frozen shrimp and cook until they just turn pink, two to three minutes.

Editor’s Tip: Boiled shrimp are an excellent option for chilled seafood dishes. If you don’t plan on serving them hot, transfer the shrimp to a bowl of ice water until fully chilled.

How to Grill Frozen Shrimp

Step 1: Prepare the shrimp

Preheat the grill to medium heat. Prepare the shrimp as for broiled shrimp, and toss them with the oil and seasoning mixture. Divide the shrimp among 18×12-inch pieces of heavy-duty foil, placing the shrimp on the dull side of the foil. Squeeze lemon juice over the top, and put the squeezed lemon wedges in the packets. Fold the foil around the shrimp, sealing tightly.

Step 2: Grill foil-wrapped shrimp

Grill, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes or until the shrimp turn pink. Open the foil carefully to allow steam to escape.

Editor’s Tip: Turn the frozen shrimp into a complete meal by adding veggies from your favorite wrap-and-cook foil packet recipes. Add sections of corn on the cob and diced potatoes to make a Cajun boil on the grill, or add instant rice and sausage for foil-packet shrimp and sausage jambalaya.

Ways to Use Shrimp

• Appetizers: These shrimp taste fantastic when served as a shrimp cocktail appetizer. Try different dipping sauces, like a zesty cocktail sauce, sweet-hot Asian dipping sauce, creamy remoulade or tzatziki yogurt dip.
• Sandwiches and wraps: Use the frozen shrimp to make shrimp po’boy sandwiches or shrimp lettuce wraps.
• Pastas: Toss the shrimp with pasta sauces to make shrimp Alfredo or shrimp marinara. You can also add lemon and garlic when cooking frozen shrimp to create pasta dishes like lemon garlic shrimp.
• Salads: Serve the shrimp on a bed of salad greens, or use the shrimp to make cold salads like shrimp salad or shrimp pasta salad.
• Tex-Mex or Cajun cuisines: Season the shrimp with taco seasoning if you plan on creating Tex-Mex recipes like shrimp enchiladas, shrimp tacos or shrimp quesadillas. Or, use Cajun or Creole seasoning to make dishes like Cajun shrimp and grits.

How to Store Shrimp

Let the shrimp cool slightly, then transfer them to an airtight container. Store leftover shrimp in the refrigerator for up to two days.

Can you refreeze frozen shrimp?

You can freeze cooked or raw shrimp for up to three months, although it may affect their flavor and texture. If the shrimp are still raw, it’s important to note how they were thawed. It’s safe to refreeze meat and seafood thawed in the refrigerator, but you’ll want to cook any shrimp thawed in the microwave. Let the cooked shrimp cool completely before transferring to a freezer-safe container.

Tips for Cooking Frozen Shrimp

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How do you know if frozen shrimp are fully cooked?

Frozen shrimp give the same visual indicators of doneness as thawed shrimp: The shrimp should turn from gray to pink, and the tails should curl toward the heads in a loose C shape. How long to cook frozen shrimp depends on the cooking method and the size of the shrimp, so we recommend looking at the visual indicators instead of using a timer.

Can you cook unpeeled frozen shrimp?

You can cook peeled or unpeeled frozen shrimp, although you won’t be able to clean shrimp until they’re thawed. For ease, I usually recommend buying peeled and deveined shrimp if you plan on cooking them from frozen. If you decide to use unpeeled shrimp, consider increasing the amount of seasoning. The shell can protect the shrimp from overcooking, but it also prevents the meat from absorbing flavor.

What is the best way to thaw shrimp safely?

The safest way to thaw shrimp is in the refrigerator overnight. Shrimp can also be thawed quickly by submerging the bag in cold water. Replace the water every 30 minutes until the shrimp are no longer frozen.