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Wondering how to thaw frozen shrimp quickly, easily, and most importantly – safely? It’s simple! Stop stressing and learn how to defrost crustaceans using three different methods depending upon how much time you have to clean shrimp for cooking.
Having a bag of shrimp in your freezer is a convenient and easy way to ensure you can get a fresh and delicious dinner on the table fast. It’s why I always stock pile my freezer with frozen seafood. Shrimp especially is an MVP dinner winner as it cooks quickly and pairs well with most sides.
If you are wondering how to get shrimp from frozen to the dinner table – I’ve got you covered! Whether you’re a person who plans ahead or you are hungry NOW, here’s everything you need to know about how to thaw shrimp!
Table of Contents
What does thawing mean?
In the culinary world, thawing, also known as defrosting, is the gentle process of changing a frozen item from a frozen state to a temperature where there is no residual ice, typically at a temperature above 32°Fahrenheit.
When thawing, the transition in temperature needs to be gentle and slow in order to maintain the integrity of the substance. In this case, it’s imperative to thaw frozen shrimp gently so you maintain the delicate texture of the shrimp meat.
Three methods for thawing shrimp
There are three methods for safely thawing shrimp while maintaining their quality: overnight thawing (slow method), bag and cold tap water thawing (medium speed method), and cold water thawing (quick thawing method).
The technique you use will directly depend upon the amount of time you have to prepare for dinner. Please keep in mind that the precise thaw time will depend upon the size of each shrimp.
Thawing frozen shrimp in fridge
In a perfect world, the best, safest way to defrost shrimp is in the refrigerator overnight. To do so, simply place a colander into a large bowl, dump the frozen shellfish into a colander, cover the bowl, place it into the refrigerator, and it’ll be defrosted and ready to cook the next day.
Thawing shrimp in water with bag
The second best way to thaw shellfish is in a sealed zip-top bag in cold water. To do this, simply place the frozen seafood into a resealable bag, press out the air, and seal it closed. Place the bag of shrimp into a large bowl filled with cold water and use a plate of small heavy object to weigh the bag down and keep the shrimp submerged in the water.
Thawing frozen shrimp in water (no bag)
If you are in a pinch and need your shrimp thawed in a matter of minutes, you can dump the shrimp into a large bowl of cold water. Let the shrimp thaw on the counter for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so to break up any large clumps of icy shrimp.
Please note and take caution: while this is a safe and effective way to defrost seafood, it is not the best method. Moisture is the enemy of shrimp and submerging it directly into water can cause the shrimp to become waterlogged. If you decide to use this method to defrost your shellfish, please use care and do not leave raw seafood in cold water for more than 15 minutes.
How to never thaw shrimp
Shrimp meat is very delicate and in order to preserve the quality, it’s imperative to never do more harm to the meat than absolutely necessary. It’s also necessary to keep the shrimp safe for consumption.
Before you grab that bag of shrimp from the freezer, see below to find out all are the ways you should absolutely NEVER defrost shrimp.
- Never use the microwave for defrosting frozen shrimp as this is a food safety hazard and it will damage the shrimp meat.
- Do not let the shrimp thaw on the kitchen counter for an extended period of time as this is a food safety issue. (Play it safe and don’t leave shrimp out for longer than an hour. However, the FDA states food should not sit out for more than 2 hours, or 2 hour in temperatures above 90-degrees Fahrenheit.)
- Never defrost shrimp in warm or hot water as it will cause the shrimp to have a mushy texture.
So what’s the best way for thawing shrimp?
The best way to defrost frozen shrimp is covered in a colander in the refrigerator overnight (or for 12 hours).
The second best way is to place the shrimp into a storage bag, seal the bag, and place into a bowl of cold water for and a bowl of cold water for 40 to 50 minutes.
Why? Water is the enemy of shrimp and both of these methods keep the shrimp dry. And this prevents the delicate shrimp meat from becoming soggy and waterlogged.
FAQs: defrosting shrimp
How long does it take to defrost shrimp?
The precise amount of time it takes to defrost frozen shrimp will depend upon the thawing method you use. The shortest defrost time for shrimp is 15 to 20 minutes.
How to thaw frozen shrimp fast?
To thaw frozen shrimp fast you’ll want to place them directly into a bowl of cold water. Let the shrimp sit in the cold water for 15-20 minutes, stirring once or twice to speed the process along. Be sure to promptly store leftovers – and never leave shrimp at room temperature for more than two hours to avoid the growth of harmful bacteria.
How long does shrimp take to thaw in water?
15 to 20 minutes, depending upon the size and amount of shrimp you are working with.
How long to thaw frozen shrimp in fridge?
Frozen shrimp will take approximately 12 hours to thaw in a colander in the fridge.
How long to defrost cooked shrimp in fridge?
Cooked shrimp will take approximately 12 hours, or overnight to thaw in an airtight container or resealable storage bag in the refrigerator.
How long can thawed shrimp stay in the fridge?
According to the USDA food safety (United States Department of Agriculture) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), defrosted frozen shrimp needs to be used and cooked within 2 days.
How to tell when shrimp are done thawing?
You can tell when shrimp are done thawing by sight and touch. The exterior of thawed shrimp will be translucent in color and they will feel pliable, without any frozen clumps or stiffness. When you run your fingers over the outside of the shrimp, you shouldn’t feel any remaining ice crystals.
Ideas for using thawed shrimp
If you’re in search of recipe inspiration, here are some more delicious ideas for using defrosted shrimp:
- Cajun Shrimp Étouffée is a classical shellfish dish.
- Stir-fries are a wonderful way to use up this freezer MVP and get a fresh dinner on the table fast.
- Devein, cook, and chop shrimp. Then, toss with chopped shallots, diced celery, fresh lemon juice, and mayonnaise. Stuff the shrimp salad into a soft bun with lettuce and tomato. Or turn your shrimp roll into a healthy lettuce wrap by using bibb lettuce instead.
- Make the best dilly shrimp salad by roughly chopping thawed cooked shrimp and mixing it with mayonnaise, pickled onions, minced dill pickles or pickle relish, minced celery, an lots of fresh dill.
- Pick up a ball of pizza dough and make a white shrimp pizza with ricotta cheese, mozzarella, and plenty of garlic.
- Unexpected entertaining on your hands? Roast, grill, poach, or steam the prepared shrimp and arrange them on a platter with lemon wedges. Serve with your favorite seafood sauces, like cocktail sauce with fresh horseradish and fresh ginger, blue cheese dressing, green goddess dressing, honey mustard sauce, or tartar sauce, for an easy last-minute appetizers.
Recipes using shrimp
Now that you know how to defrost frozen shrimp, you might be looking for some delicious inspiration for a weeknight winner dinner. Try these these fan-favorite shrimp recipes:
- Seafood Bisque
- How to Prepare Shrimp Cocktail
- Shrimp Ceviche Tostadas
- Grilled Shrimp Salad
- Shrimp in the Air Fryer
- Blackened Shrimp Tacos with Slaw
- Shrimp Ramen Pasta
- Oven Risotto with Shrimp
- Sheet Pan Shrimp and Potatoes
- Shrimp Saganaki
- Honey-Garlic Sauce Shrimp
- Cajun Butter Shrimp
- Remoulade Sauce (my favorite sauce for shrimp!)
Next time you’re at the store and see frozen shrimp on sale, grab a bag. And know that you can thaw them quickly to create the restaurant-quality meal of your culinary dreams!
Cheyanne
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Three methods for properly thawing and defrosting shrimp👇
How to Thaw Frozen Shrimp
Equipment
- 1 Large Bowl
- 1 Colander (optional)
- 1 Resealable Storage Bag (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 pound Frozen Raw Shrimp
Instructions
- Night Before (recommended method): Suspend a colander over a large bowl. Remove the frozen shrimp from their packaging and place into the colander. Cover the colander with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator. Let the shrimp thaw in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours, or overnight. Once the shrimp are thawed, be sure to use them within 48 hours.
- 45 Minute Thaw (second best method): Remove the frozen shrimp from their packaging, discarding the package. Transfer the frozen shrimp to a large resealable storage bag. Then press all the air out before sealing the bag. Fill a large bowl with COLD water. Place the sealed bag of shrimp into the cold water. Then use a plate or other small heavy object to weigh the bag down and keep the frozen shrimp submerged in the cold water. Set aside on the counter and let the shrimp thaw for 40-50 minutes. Once the shrimp are thawed, be sure to use them within 48 hours.
- 15-20 Minute Thaw (emergency back-up method): Fill a large with COLD water. Remove the frozen shrimp from their packaging, discarding the package. Transfer the frozen shrimp to the bowl of cold water. Set aside on the counter and let the shrimp thaw, stirring every 5 minutes or so to break up large clumps of frozen shrimp, for 15-20 minutes. Once the shrimp are thawed, be sure to use them within 48 hours.(Note: While this is a safe method, it's important to note that moisture is the enemy of shrimp. Soaking them in water may cause the meat to become waterlogged. Make sure you thoroughly dry the shrimp before using.)
Notes
- CAUTION: Never thaw frozen shrimp in the microwave, at room temperature, or in hot water.
- Thawing shrimp at room temperature will cause the shellfish to enter to temperature “danger zone” – this is the range of temperatures where bacteria grow the most rapidly (between 40-140 degrees.)
- Defrosting shrimp in the microwave will destroy the shrimp's delicate meat and cause the shrimp the enter the "danger" temperature zone.
- Likewise, thawing shrimp is hot water will destroy the shrimp’s delicate meat, causing your shrimp to taste rubbery and gummy.
Nutrition
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