Learn how long to boil shrimp and get juicy, delicious shrimp every time, whether you’re making shrimp cocktail or another dish. We cover how to boil shrimp quickly and easily with boiling times and tips for every kind of shrimp! Show
Boiling is one of the best ways to cook shrimp, whether you’re making shrimp cocktail, shrimp salad, or another recipe. We’re often asked “how long does it take to boil shrimp?” and the answer is “it depends” on size and type of shrimp! Given how expensive shrimp can be, we all want to make sure it won’t turn out dry and chewy! Along with plain boiled shrimp, you can use a similar technique to make a southern shrimp boil in an aromatic broth with corn, potatoes, sausage and seasonings. THE BEST SHRIMP FOR BOILINGYou can boil any type of shrimp, including Gulf shrimp, tiger shrimp, white shrimp and rock shrimp. Wild-caught shrimp from the Gulf coast or Florida is the best if you can find it in season. Imported shrimp is usually farmed in Asia and is less expensive, although considered less safe as well. Any shrimp size is fine, whether raw or frozen, shell-on or shell-off. I prefer deveined shrimp, but that’s just a preference. Note that shrimp are very perishable, so cook raw shrimp within a day of purchase or thawing. HOW LONG DO YOU BOIL SHRIMPHow long to boil shrimp depends on shrimp size and type. Also, if you have a large pot of boiling water, it’ll stay hot more easily. I recommend at least 2 quarts of water per pound of shrimp. Follow the chart below to determine shrimp boil time for your setup: Shrimp Size (Count per lb)How Long to Boil ShrimpRawFrozenSmall (51-60)30 sec1 minMedium (41-50)1 min1 1/2 minLarge (31-35)2 min3 minJumbo (21-25)3 min4 minExtra jumbo (16-20)4 min5 minSince shrimp behave differently, it’s best to ignore rules of thumb such as shrimp turning pink when done, or floating or curling, etc. For example, frozen shrimp turns pink on the outside before it’s cooked through, while red shrimp don’t curl much during cooking. Boiling time is still the most accurate measure of doneness. Here are other questions on boiling shrimp:
HOW DO YOU BOIL SHRIMPHere’s how to boil shrimp in three simple steps:
How to tell when shrimp is done? Shrimp will have curled, turned pink and begun floating in the water when done. Whitish formations near the tail indicate overcooking. Follow the shrimp boil time above. It’s easiest to scoop the shrimp straight out of the pot using a slotted spoon. Serve boiled shrimp with fresh lemon, cocktail sauce and some salt and pepper. Print5 from 5 votes Leave a review » How to Boil ShrimpLearn how to boil shrimp and get juicy, delicious shrimp every time, whether you're making shrimp cocktail, shrimp salad or any other dish. Shrimp make their way into all kinds of cuisine because their delicate flavor and tender meat make every recipe seem special. A meal of shrimp and grits feels like a party, shrimp cocktail an elevated appetizer, and shrimp scampi an Italian delicacy. But shrimp are such a fast-cooking ingredient that it's a snap to add them to just about anything. Whether you need to know how to cook frozen shrimp (just thaw it first, more on that below) or you're dealing with how to cook raw shrimp, we'll walk you through how to cook shrimp multiple ways and even show you how to peel and devein it. BHG / Cara Cormack How to Peel and Devein ShrimpMost of us can easily find peeled and deveined shrimp at our grocery stores. But if you can't, or you want to know how to cook shrimp through the entire process, here's how to prepare shrimp by peeling and getting rid of that icky-tasting (really, you don't want to eat this) vein. If you already purchased peeled and deveined shrimp, skip this section and get straight to cooking shrimp, below. How to Peel ShrimpBHG / Cara Cormack Before we can get to cooking, or even deveining, the first step in preparing shrimp is peeling.
How to Devein ShrimpBHG / Cara Cormack Once you accomplish this step of how to prepare shrimp, the hardest part is over.
Test Kitchen Tip: The vein is actually the intestinal tract and can impart an unpleasant taste if left in the shrimp. Blaine MoatsHow to Cook Shrimp in the OvenPart of the reason we love shrimp recipes is that they cook so fast. When it comes to cooking shrimp in the oven, we opt to broil. Many baked shrimp recipes start by first boiling shrimp (or using precooked shrimp) then baking as part of a dish like this Baked Shrimp Curry. But broiling shrimp will cook shrimp faster than baking. Here's how to broil shrimp: Get Our Broiled Shrimp Scampi Recipe
How to Cook Shrimp on the StoveThere are a couple of methods for cooking shrimp on the stove; each of them will get your seafood on the table in a flash. How to Boil Shrimp
Try boiling shrimp in our Shrimp and Sausage Boil recipe. How to Cook Shrimp in a Skillet (aka How to Sauté Shrimp)
Put your new skills sautéing shrimp to work in this Sautéed Shrimp and Noodles recipe. Blaine MoatsHow to Grill ShrimpA skewer of grilled shrimp is one of our favorite summertime cookout treats, not to mention a favorite way to cook shrimp. After peeling and deveining, season or marinate shrimp as desired, then thread onto skewers leaving a ¼-inch space between each. Follow these instructions for grilling shrimp kabobs (note that how long to cook shrimp on the grill depends on their size): Get Our Grilled Shrimp Kabobs Recipe
Check for the shrimp to change to a pink color on the outside. Cut into a skewered shrimp to make sure the flesh is opaque throughout. How to Buy ShrimpThere's a little bit of extra know-how needed when shopping for shrimp. Use these pointers when buying shrimp:
How to Store ShrimpAs with most seafood and meats, store fresh shrimp in the original packaging or in a covered container in the refrigerator 1 to 3 days. Keep frozen shrimp in the freezer up to 18 months. How to Thaw Frozen ShrimpBecause shrimp are bought and sold in large quantities, most of the shrimp available in U.S. supermarkets have been previously frozen. Shrimp freeze remarkably well. If the shrimp you purchase are frozen, place them in a sealed container in the refrigerator to thaw overnight. One pound will thaw in 1 to 2 days. To speed up the thawing process, place shrimp in a resealable plastic bag and immerse in cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes to be sure it stays cold, To retain their succulent texture, avoid thawing shrimp in warm water or at room temperature. When you're learning how to cook frozen shrimp, you can follow the same instructions for grilling, boiling, and skillet-cooking, as long as you thaw the shrimp before cooking. Guide to Shrimp SizeUse this list as a reference for market names and the number of shrimp per pound to better understand shrimp sizing:
With all this information in your arsenal, there's no shrimp recipe you can't tackle. Cook up something that seems special for dinner tonight, no one has to know it only took a couple minutes of cooking to get to the table. How long does it take to cook jumbo shrimp?How long to boil jumbo shrimp: Raw jumbo shrimp need 3 minutes of boiling time and frozen jumbo shrimp need 4 minutes.
How long do you cook jumbo shrimp on the stove?Cook the shrimp for 2-3 minutes on each side, flipping only once midway. Depending on the size of your shrimp and how many you have in the pan, this will usually take 4 to 6 minutes. Lastly, transfer to a serving dish. Serve seared shrimp immediately with pasta or rice.
How do you know when jumbo shrimp are done?This is the trick: You want to keep an eye on the crevice in the back of the shrimp where the vein was removed. Stay locked onto the thickest part of the shrimp (the opposite end as the tail), and when the flesh at the base of that crevice turns from translucent to opaque, the shrimp is done. It's cooked through.
How to cook raw jumbo shrimp?Add 8 cups water and bring to a boil over med/high heat. 2. Once water boils, add the peeled and deveined shrimp and simmer until pink, about 2-3 minutes depending on the size of the shrimp. Drain and transfer cooked shrimp to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process and let cool.
|