Having perfectly cooked shrimps on your dinner table is a blessing. How many times have you made mistake when cooking shrimp? Cooking shrimp is not something you do regularly. As you know that overcooking totally changes the taste of a whole recipe. That’s why it’s important to know how long to cook shrimp either on the stovetop or on the grill.
Table of Contents
How Long to Cook Shrimp?
The cooking time of shrimp depends on the size and type of shrimp whether you are using raw or precooked shrimp. The method of cooking also matters when cooking shrimp. You can cook shrimp on the stove, on the grill, in the oven, and in the air fryer also. You just have to follow some steps to get the perfectly cooked shrimp on your dinner table.
How Long to Cook Raw Shrimp on Stove?
Once you have removed the shells of shrimp as well as cleaned them up. Rinse well with water in a colander and dry with a paper towel.
Now, take a cast iron skillet or pan. Add olive oil and wait until it is hot, add shrimp making sure they are in a single layer for even cooking. For seasoning, you can add simple salt and pepper. Once they start changing color and turn pink from the bottom after cooking for 3-4 mins, flip them over and cook for about 2-3 mins. When all the pieces are pink, opaque, and loosely curled, you can finish the cooking.
Don’t leave them in the skillet and quickly transfer them to the serving dish to avoid overcooking. Garnish with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
How Long to Cook Frozen Shrimp?
There is a myth about fresh being the best. When an animal dies, its body starts to decompose. Freezing is the process to suspend the decomposing time and remain fresh for a longer time. You have to thaw frozen shrimp before using it in cooking.
How to Thaw Frozen Shrimp?
Take a bowl and put all the shrimps you want to thaw. Add cold tap water only, don’t add warm water to fasten the process. Let them stay in the water for about 10 mins. Change the water two times during 10 mins and you’ll end up having thawed shrimp.
I peel shrimp before cooking, so I thaw them for about 5 minutes in cold tap water. They become semi-frozen, hard but easy to peel.
Once it’s done. You can follow the above instructions for cooking raw shrimp. The only difference between the process of cooking raw and frozen shrimp is the timing. Frozen shrimp takes 1-2 mins. extra when cooked in a skillet or pan.
How Long to Cook Precooked Shrimp?
Cooking a precooked shrimp is an easy task. You can simply cook them in a little bit of oil or butter on medium heat. The total cooking time will take about 2-3 mins. on each side.
How Long Does Cooked Shrimp Last in Fridge?
Cooked Shrimp last in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. You can reheat them and use them in your cooking. The life of cooked shrimp can be increased by keeping them in a freezer-safe bag for about 3 months.
Tips to Cook Shrimp on Stove:
- It’s better to purchase peeled and deveined shrimp to save time when preparing.
- You should pat dry the shrimp before you add them to the skillet so they sear instead of steam.
- If you are using frozen shrimp, make sure you have thawed them in tap water.
How Long to Cook Shrimp on Grill?
In the grill method, the time may differ from gas grill to charcoal grill. First, we are going to explain how long to cook shrimp on a charcoal grill.
Before cooking shrimp on the grill, you have to preheat the grill to medium-high heat 375°F to 450°F. Take a bowl and add shrimp, olive oil, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Mix them all using your hand. Place shrimp directly on the grill for about 1-2 mins. when it’s cooked, flip them over and cook for 1-2 mins. from another side. When it’s done remove it from the grill and squeeze lemon juice to enhance the flavor.
How Long to Grill Shrimp on Gas Grill?
If you are grilling shrimp on a gas grill, it will take about 3-4 mins. on each side to cook perfectly.
How Long to Grill Jumbo Shrimp?
The total grilling time of jumbo shrimp is 5-7 mins over medium heat. Turn the shrimp halfway through the grilling process. You can check the doneness of the shrimp easily. It should turn its color to light pink and the inside meat should be white and opaque.
How Long to Grill Shrimp Kabobs?
If you are grilling shrimp kabobs, it will take about 3 mins. from one and 3 mins. from another side to cook perfectly. Make sure to preheat the grill at 325-350°F.
