Season the shrimp, coat them in bread crumbs, and then cook them in an air fryer until they are golden, crispy, and seriously tasty! Serve with cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, or warm marinara for a tasty appetizer that everyone will love!
I didn’t like the grease, the weight, the oil, or the splatters if you make it at home. So I just opted out.
And so when the Air Fryer hit the shelves and was all the rage, I jumped right in.
(To note, I normally hate getting on board with the new popular thing. Maybe it’s my stubborn side. But the promise of this appliance was just too much for me to resist. ).
Now I love air-frying everything to get my fried food fix without the mess or the bad habits.
Air Fryer mozzarella sticks are a favorite appetizer, as are Air Fryer zucchini sticks for a veggie app. And these air-fried ravioli are a hit with my kids. They can be served as an appetizer or as a main dish.
You can also get protein from these Air Fryer BBQ chicken legs, which are delicious, and everyone loves Air Fryer chicken tenders.
Yes, this easy southwest Air Fryer shrimp recipe is just what you need if you want to cook shrimp in the Air Fryer without breadcrumbs or a coating.
However, today we’re covering our shrimp in a tasty, thick breading that gets really crispy in the air fryer, with lots of little browned bits all over for a lot of crunch.
Before being dipped in egg, these shrimp are dredged in seasoned flour. Then they are covered in a seasoned Panko breadcrumb mixture, which makes them extra crispy.
Then they are golden brown, hot and ready to serve with your favorite dipping sauce. Everyone will go crazy for these!.
Here are some notes and tips on how to make breaded shrimp that is crispy in an air fryer. Just tryin’ to be helpful.
If you want to get to the recipe, just scroll down through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.
Season the shrimp, coat them in bread crumbs, and then cook them in an air fryer until they are golden, crispy, and seriously tasty! Serve with cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, or warm marinara for a tasty appetizer that everyone will love!
Shrimp: I used a pound of extra large shrimp, which come 26-30 a pound. You can substitute another size shrimp, but you’ll need to adjust your cooking time.
Frozen shrimp: For this recipe, the shrimp need to be cleaned, peeled, and deveined (more on that in a minute). Please plan accordingly. (You can ask your seafood counter to prep these for you if needed. Or buy the deveined easy-peel frozen shrimp that are almost ready to go. ).
Shrimp tails: You can leave the tails on if you prefer. It adds some extra flavor while cooking, but can be a bit more fussy for eating. Up to you.
You should use Panko breadcrumbs because they make these really crispy, so don’t use regular breadcrumbs instead.
Spicy: Would you like it hot? Add a pinch of cayenne and/or serve this with a sauce that is also hot.
Leftovers: Leftover cooked shrimp, once cooled, can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
To reheat, put the shrimp in the Air Fryer tray and set it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for two to three minutes.
Fried shrimp is one of those dishes that we just can’t get enough of. The crispy, golden exterior enveloping the tender and juicy shrimp inside is an irresistible combination. However, reheating leftover fried shrimp can be tricky. Often, it ends up soggy and loses that satisfying crunch we crave.
Thankfully the air fryer has revolutionized the way we reheat fried foods. Using an air fryer is hands down the best way to reheat fried shrimp so it comes out crispy and delicious just like it was freshly fried.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to reheat fried shrimp in the air fryer perfectly every time. You’ll learn the ideal time and temperature, preparation tips, common mistakes to avoid, and troubleshooting techniques to end up with crispy, mouthwatering shrimp you’ll want to dig into again and again.
Why Reheat Fried Shrimp in an Air Fryer?
Before we get into the nitty gritty details, let’s first go over why the air fryer is the best tool for this job.
The air fryer uses super hot air that circulates around the food to reheat it evenly and cook the surface to crispy perfection. This is a game changer for reheating breaded and fried foods like shrimp.
Reasons why an air fryer beats out the oven, microwave, or stovetop reheating methods include:
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Restores Crispiness: The fryer’s hot air revives the crispy texture of the breading or batter.
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Quick Shrimp reheats lightning fast in the air fryer, in just 4-5 minutes No preheating needed either
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Even Heating: Air circulates around each piece for uniform reheating without hot or cold spots.
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No Oil Needed: The air does the crisping, not oil, resulting in healthier reheated shrimp.
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Retains Moisture: Air frying prevents the shrimp meat from drying out.
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Intensifies Flavor: The high heat brings out the shrimp’s sweet, briny notes.
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Easy Cleanup: With no oil splattering, cleanup is a breeze!
With all those benefits, it’s easy to see why the air fryer is the clear winner over other reheating methods for fried shrimp. Now let’s look at exactly how to make it happen.
Step-By-Step Guide
Reheating fried shrimp in an air fryer is simple and straightforward. Just follow these easy steps for tender shrimp encased in an ultra crispy shell:
1. Preheat Air Fryer
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Preheating is an important first step as it gets the air inside hot enough to crisp up the shrimp.
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Set your air fryer temperature to 370°F. This high heat helps revive the crispy texture.
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Let it preheat for 3 minutes before adding the shrimp.
2. Prepare the Shrimp
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Pat any excess moisture from the shrimp with paper towels. This prevents it from steaming instead of frying.
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Make sure shrimp are in a single layer and not touching. Crowding will steam the shrimp.
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Brush lightly with oil if desired. This adds a touch of fat to really amplify the crispiness.
3. Cook Shrimp
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Air fry the shrimp for 4-5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. This short cook time prevents overdrying.
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For frozen shrimp, add 1-2 minutes to the cook time. Monitor closely as frozen items can cook faster.
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Check for doneness by cutting into a thick piece. It should be hot throughout.
4. Enjoy Immediately
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Fried shrimp is best enjoyed right out of the air fryer. The coating will start to lose its crispness the longer it sits out.
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Serve with dipping sauces and lemon wedges to balance out the rich, indulgent shrimp.
And that’s it! In just a few short minutes, you can have restaurant-quality fried shrimp sans the greasy feel or taste. Keep reading for tips to take your air fried shrimp up another notch.
Tips for Reheating Perfection
With a few simple tweaks and tricks, you can maximize the air fryer’s ability to yield ultra crispy, mouthwatering fried shrimp every time.
Lightly Oil Shrimp
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Right before frying, brush the shrimp very lightly with oil. This adds back a touch of fat needed for ultimate crispiness and flavor.
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Opt for a high smoke point, neutral oil like avocado, grapeseed, or canola oil.
Preheat Longer For Frozen Shrimp
- If reheating frozen shrimp, let the air fryer preheat for 5 minutes instead of 3 to account for the temperature drop when adding cold shrimp.
Finish Under Broiler
- For an extra shatteringly crisp crust, finish under the broiler for 1 minute after air frying. Keep a close eye to avoid burning.
Cut Larger Shrimp
- For jumbo shrimp, slice them in half lengthwise before air frying. This allows them to reheat faster all the way through.
Work in Small Batches
- Avoid cramming too many shrimp in the basket at once. Work in smaller batches for the best texture.
Give Room to Breathe
- Shrimp should be in one layer, not touching, so air circulates completely around each piece.
Common Air Fryer Shrimp Mistakes to Avoid
While air frying shrimp is quite simple, there are a few pitfalls to watch out for. Avoid these common mistakes for the best results:
Overcrowding the Basket
Placing too many shrimp pieces close together steams them instead of frying. Always leave space between each piece. Work in batches for larger amounts.
Cooking Too Long
It’s easy to overcook shrimp in the air fryer since it cooks so rapidly. Stick to the 4-5 minute cook time, and check frequently for doneness.
Not Preheating
Skipping this step can lead to uneven cooking. Those first few minutes bring the air up to cooking temperature.
Breading Is Overly Brown
Lower the temperature to 360°F if shrimp browns too quickly before heating through. Panko crumbs brown faster than other breadings.
Breading Falls Off
Be sure shrimp is dry before breading, and the breading adheres properly to prevent it slipping off during cooking.
Rubbery Texture
This happens if shrimp is overcooked. For tender, juicy shrimp, pull it as soon as it is heated through and opaque.
Uneven Cooking
Shaking halfway and keeping shrimp in a single layer prevents hot and cold spots for balanced, even reheating.
Troubleshooting Reheated Shrimp
Even when following the proper technique, you may occasionally run into an issue or two with reheated shrimp. Here are some common problems and ways to troubleshoot:
Shrimp is soggy
- Pat shrimp very dry before cooking
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket
- Brush shrimp with oil before air frying
Breading falls off
- Ensure shrimp is dry before breading
- Press breading onto shrimp so it adheres
- Use a very light touch when shaking basket
Shrimp is rubbery
- Do not overcook; remove as soon as opaque
- Cut larger shrimp in half before cooking
- For frozen shrimp, reduce cook time
Shrimp is not crispy
- Increase air fryer temperature to 390°F
- Let air fryer fully preheat before adding shrimp
- Finish under broiler for 1 minute
With a few simple adjustments, you can easily rectify any texture issues with your reheated shrimp.
How to Store Leftover Fried Shrimp
Leftover fried shrimp maintains its quality and texture best when stored properly after initially cooking. Here are some storage tips:
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Let shrimp cool completely before refrigerating in an airtight container.
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Separate shrimp pieces so they are not touching. This prevents sogginess.
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Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
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For longer storage, place cooled shrimp in freezer bags or containers. Remove as much air as possible.
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Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
With proper storage, you can enjoy air fryer reheated shrimp even weeks after initially frying them.
More Crave-Worthy Air Fried Shrimp Recipes
Fried shrimp is just one of the many shrimp recipes you can make in the air fryer. Here are a few more irresistible air fried shrimp dishes to try:
- Coconut Shrimp – Tender shrimp encrusted in sweet, flaky coconut is so addictive when air fried.
Notes on making Air Fryer breaded shrimp:
- Shrimp: I used one pound of extra-large shrimp, which cost between 26 and 30 cents a pound. You can use shrimp of a different size, but you’ll need to change the cooking time.
- Frozen shrimp: For this recipe, the shrimp need to be cleaned, peeled, and deveined (more on that in a minute). Please plan accordingly. (If you need help, you can ask the seafood counter to prepare these for you.) Or, you can buy frozen shrimp that have already been deveined and peeled. ).
- Tails of shrimp: If you’d rather, you can leave the tails on. It makes food taste better when cooked, but it can be a little tricky to eat. Up to you.
- You should use Panko breadcrumbs because they make these really crispy, so don’t use regular breadcrumbs instead.
- Spicy: If you like things hot, you can add a pinch of cayenne to the seasonings or serve this with a spicy dipping sauce.
Really though, you probably have all the ingredients you need for this recipe on hand in your kitchen. And that makes them super easy to throw together!.
Also, because I know this is a go-to question:
How long do you cook shrimp in an Air Fryer?
Shrimp between the sizes of 26 and 30 are large and extra-large. They will cook in the air fryer at 400 degrees F for about 6 to 8 minutes. You want them cooked through, but not overdone.
– Smaller shrimp, such as the medium 36-40 size, will be done in 5-6 minutes.
– Check at the earlier side of the time and add an extra minute or two if needed.
And in case you are in the market for an Air Fryer, I highly recommend mine.
I had a small one at first, but it wasn’t big enough for everything I wanted to fry in the Air Fryer.
So I got this one (it’s usually on sale, which is nice) and I’ve loved it. It’s a better fit for families with children, or just if you’re cooking for bigger groups.
Here are all of my Air Fryer recipes for those of you who are as crazy about this machine as I am.
And stay tuned because I have many more Air Fryer recipes planned for you!
If you sign up for my free e-newsletter, all of my new recipes will be sent right to your email box, so you never miss a thing. I’ll even send you my free e-cookbook, Healthy Weeknight Dinners, as a thank you!.
OK, back to today’s recipe.
Only have frozen shrimp? Me too most of the time.
If you don’t live near the coast, shopping for seafood that is frozen is often the best way to get it very fresh. That’s because the seafood is flash frozen right after it’s off the boat, preserving it at peak freshness.
It’s also getting close to the end of its shelf life because some “fresh” seafood at the grocery store counter has already been thawed.
I have a lot of experience with frozen shrimp and seafood, so here are a few ways to thaw it, depending on how much time you have.
How to reheat shrimp in air fryer?
Can You reheat fried shrimp in an air fryer?
If you have an air fryer that you aren’t sure what to do with, you’re in luck – reheating fried shrimp in an air fryer is a great way to reheat them. Air fryers maintain the shrimp’s texture while reheating, unlike the microwave or a pan that has too much oil added to it. This is one of the major benefits of this method.
How long do you fry shrimp in an air fryer?
Set the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the fried shrimp inside the air fryer basket. Air fry for 3 to 4 minutes. Check if they are warm enough after this time. If not, continue to fry them for 1 to 2 additional minutes. Once they are golden and crispy, remove from the air fryer basket and serve.
Can You reheat fried shrimp?
Avoid Excess Moisture: Pat the shrimp dry if they seem excessively moist before reheating. Excess moisture can steam the shrimp in the air fryer, affecting the crispiness of the breading. Serve Immediately: For the best texture and taste, serve the reheated fried shrimp immediately after reheating.
How do you reheat fried shrimp in a microwave?
Here are the steps to reheat fried shrimp in a microwave: Place a damp paper towel over your fried shrimps, to help your food maintaining its original texture. Microwave on medium power for 5 seconds and check if they’re ready. Heat your fried shrimps at intervals of 5 seconds each. Regularly check the temperature.