Here’s an easy guide on how to thaw(defrost) shrimp in 30 minutes.
If you like your seafood then chances are you’ll have a few bags of frozen shrimp in your freezer.
Not only does frozen seafood keep well in freezers but they are easy to thaw or defrost and prepare within an hour.
What to do with thawed shrimp
- They can be turned into quick meals, especially on busy weeknights.
- From soups to pasta dishes to appetisers or simply serve them over a bowl of rice.
- Since the freezing is done almost immediately, the shrimp or prawns stay fresh for a longer period.
- less time to prepare a meal. most proteins take a longer time to thaw, you have to leave them out for hours before you can cook them.
But not with frozen shrimp it takes less than 20 minutes to properly defrost them and cook your favourite shrimp recipe for lunch or dinner.
how to thaw shrimp the correct way.
Shrimp is a very delicate shellfish and any type of extreme temperature can result in affecting the texture and taste of the shrimp.
You will probably end up slightly cooking them if you keep the shrimp in warm or hot water to defrost quickly.
If you simply dump the frozen shrimp in a bowl of water and leave it for a longer period of time, you’ll have the shrimp turning mushy and too soggy.
Faq: Thawing frozen shrimp.
- Can you cook shrimp without thawing?
- You can but shocking the delicate shrimp from extreme cold to extreme heat can affect the texture of the shrimp.
- How long is shrimp good for in the fridge?
- You can store frozen shrimp for 3 to 6 months or even more but it depends on two things.
- Do you have a good-quality fridge that maintains the freezing temperature at all times?
An old freezer or fridge may not be the best place to store shrimp for months. - If you are constantly having power outages then avoid freezing shrimp for months.
- Can I thaw shrimp by simply placing them on the counter to reach room temperature?
No, as this will lead to contamination of the shrimp as bacteria form at a certain temperature.
- After thawing the shrimp, how long can I keep the shrimp in the fridge?
- Not more than a day. But I would advise you to cook them within an hour of thawing the shrimp.
- After thawing, how do I keep the shrimp fresh longer?
- After thawing if you are unable to cook the shrimp for a few hours.
- Cover them with a cling film and refrigerate. but please cook them within 24 hours.
- How long does it take to thaw shrimp?
- It will take about 20-30 minutes depending on the method you use to defrost them.
Recipes to Cook with thawed shrimp.
Garlic butter shrimp in 20 minutes
How to defrost shrimp.
How to defrost shrimp easily within 30 minutes.
If you like cooking various shrimp recipes then chances are you’ll have a few bags of frozen shrimp in your freezer.
Not only does frozen seafood keep well in freezers but they are easy to defrost and prepare within an hour.
Ingredients
- 500g(about 30 medium-sized shrimp depending on the size)
Instructions
There are 2 ways you can thaw frozen shrimp
1. Thawing the shrimp overnight.
This method of thawing shrimp is ideal when you know you want to make a shrimp dish but not sure if it is for lunch or dinner.
Remove the frozen shrimp bag from the freezer, place the packaging in a tray or bowl, and store it in your fridge.
This allows you to take out the frozen shrimp any time, keep it in a bowl of water for 5-10 minutes to further thaw, and use it as you need.
This method is also good when you are out the whole day but want to prepare a quick seafood pasta for dinner.
2. How to thaw shrimp in 30 minutes.
This method would probably take less than 30 minutes but it is the most common method of thawing shrimp.
If you are using frozen shrimp within an hour and want to quickly defrost the shrimp,
remove the frozen shrimp from the freezer and submerge it in a bowl of water for 10 minutes.
Check the water temperature and if it turns cold, drain and dunk the shrimp package in tepid water again.
Once the shrimp loosens up, remove the frozen shrimp into a bowl of tepid water. let them defrost for 10-20 minutes.
Once the shrimp turn soft, immediately drain them over a colander. leave it to drain excess water for a few minutes(2-3).
Pat dry excess water with a paper kitchen towel.
Use the thawed shrimp to make any of the dishes mentioned above.
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