Find out how to boil shrimp to make shrimp cocktail, party snacks, and more! This simple cooking method is almost foolproof and fun to change up.
If you don’t want your shrimp to turn into rubber, read this guide on How to Boil Shrimp. It’s a quick, easy, and foolproof method. The flavors are fun to play with, too!.
It’s as easy as it sounds: the shrimp are cooked in a pot of boiling water with aromatics that add flavor. When they turn pink, they are moved to an ice bath.
After that, the shrimp can be dipped in tangy remoulade sauce, seafood boil sauce, or cocktail sauce, put on top of shrimp sushi bowls, or used anywhere you want a tasty and healthy protein.
Did I also say it’s done in less than 10 minutes? One of the great things about boiled shrimp is how quickly it cooks. You’ll never want to go back to grilled or pan fried again!.
Think of boiled shrimp as a blank canvas. You can incorporate all kinds of flavors using herbs, spices, and aromatics. If you’re just getting started, stick to these easy ingredients:
Cooking shrimp can be intimidating. Undercook them and they are rubbery and unappetizing. Overcook them and they are tough and flavorless. So how long does it actually take to cook shrimp in boiling water to juicy, tender perfection? In this complete guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to boil shrimp like a pro, including how to choose your shrimp, prep them, boil them to doneness, and more.
Choosing Your Shrimp
The first step is selecting high-quality shrimp. You can use fresh or frozen – both work well. Make sure frozen shrimp is thawed completely before boiling. I like buying sustainably caught wild shrimp when possible. Here are some tips
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Go for shell-on shrimp. The shell helps lock in moisture and flavor as it cooks.
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Pick a size based on your recipe. For shrimp cocktails or presenting whole go with extra-large. For stir fries salads, and pasta, medium provides nice bite-sized pieces.
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Buy shrimp that’s already deveined to save time and hassle.
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Look for “[color] shrimp” to get an idea of size. For example, 16/20 per pound means there will be 16 to 20 shrimp in a pound. The lower the number, the bigger the shrimp.
Prepping Raw Shrimp for Boiling
Prepping raw shrimp only takes a few minutes:
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First, peel the shell, leaving the tail intact if desired. Discard shells.
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Next, use a paring knife to devein the shrimp by slicing down the back and removing the digestive tract.
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Finally, rinse the shrimp under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
That’s all there is to it! Now let’s talk about boiling times.
How Long to Boil Shrimp Based on Size and Shell On vs Off
Shrimp cooks fast, so boiling times are short. The cooking time depends on two factors:
1. Shrimp size
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Extra-large: 2-3 minutes
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Large: 1 1/2 – 2 minutes
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Medium: 1 – 1 1/2 minutes
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Small: 30 seconds – 1 minute
2. Shell on vs peeled
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Shell on: Add 1 minute
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Peeled, tail on: Follow times above
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Peeled, tail off: Subtract 30 seconds
So for example, if boiling large shrimp with the shells on, cook for 2 to 3 minutes. If boiling peeled, tail off medium shrimp, cook for just 1 minute.
These quick cooking times ensure tender, juicy shrimp straight through.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Boiling Shrimp
Follow my simple step-by-step instructions for perfect boiled shrimp every time:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- Lemon wedges
Directions:
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Prep the shrimp according to size and shell on vs off.
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Bring a large pot with 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Add the salt.
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Once boiling, carefully add the shrimp. Start timing immediately.
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Boil for the recommended time based on above guidelines.
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After the time is up, use a slotted spoon to transfer shrimp to a bowl filled with ice to stop the cooking.
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Peel the shells from the tail if needed. Sprinkle with more salt and lemon juice if desired.
That’s all it takes for tender and juicy boiled shrimp ready to use in shrimp cocktails, salads, pasta and more!
Other Important Tips for Perfectly Cooked Shrimp
Here are some additional useful tips to ensure boiling success:
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Use plenty of water – at least 4 quarts for 1 lb of shrimp. This helps ensure even cooking.
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Don’t overcrowd the pot. Cook shrimp in batches if needed to allow water to return to a boil quickly.
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Season the boiling water. Add aromatics like lemon, herbs, garlic, or Old Bay seasoning for flavor.
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Use fresh water for each batch. Don’t reuse boiling water or the shrimp absorbs unwanted flavors.
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Chill in ice bath immediately to stop carryover cooking. This prevents overcooked, rubbery shrimp.
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Store peeled, cooked shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge up to 2 days.
Common Boiling Shrimp Questions
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about boiling shrimp:
How do you know when boiled shrimp is done?
Look for an opaque, pinkish color throughout. A good way to check is to peel back the tail – the flesh should be opaque all the way to the tip.
Can you boil frozen shrimp? Absolutely! Just add 1-2 minutes to the cooking time depending on size. Make sure it’s fully thawed first.
Is it better to boil shrimp with shells on or off? I prefer shells on for maximum flavor and moisture, but peeled works too. Just adjust cook times.
Can you reuse the shrimp boiling water? Don’t reuse the water for additional batches of shrimp. Use fresh water each time for best results.
Should you rinse shrimp after boiling? Only if planning to eat the shrimp plain. For recipes, you can skip rinsing. The light seasoning from the boil water adds flavor.
What’s the best way to flavor boiled shrimp? Add aromatics to the water like lemon, garlic, herbs, or seafood seasoning blends. Sprinkle extra after cooking.
Recipes to Use Your Boiled Shrimp
Boiled shrimp stays tasty for a couple days in the fridge, making it easy to use in recipes. Here are some of my favorites:
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Classic shrimp cocktail with homemade cocktail sauce
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Shrimp tacos with mango salsa
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Lemony shrimp pasta salad
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Air fryer coconut shrimp
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Easy shrimp and grits
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Shrimp spring rolls with peanut dipping sauce
How to boil shrimp
Bring a large pot of water up to a boil on the stove. Once it starts to boil, add the lemon halves and salt, then the shrimp.
While you wait, fill a bowl with cold water and ice.
Cook the shrimp until they turn from gray to pink. When they’re done, immediately transfer them to the ice bath to cool.
Remove the shrimp from the ice bath when completely cool and pat them dry. Serve them with cocktail sauce for dipping or anywhere else you love to eat shrimp!.
How long you boil the shrimp will depend on how big they are, but it shouldn’t take more than 8 minutes. The large shrimp I used here only took 2 to 3 minutes to cook.
When the shrimp go from being gray and see-through to a light pink color, they are done and can be moved to the ice bath. Here’s my full post on how to tell when shrimp are done.
Yes, this recipe works just as well with frozen shrimp. To thaw them first, put the bag of frozen shrimp in a bowl of cold water or put them in the fridge overnight.
What should you do with your boiled shrimp? The best thing to do is make shrimp cocktail! Serve the big boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce or any of these tasty dipping sauces:
Tip: Make your shrimp a meal by serving them with any of these 30+ Sides for Boiled Shrimp.
More ways to serve boiled shrimp
- Any shrimp that is left over can be kept in the fridge for one to two days in a shallow, airtight container.
- Chardonnay tastes like butter and citrus, which go really well with shrimp.
- Sauv Blanc has bright citrus and herbal notes that go well with the shrimp that has lemon juice squeezed over it.
- With their acidic and mineral notes, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Blanc go well together.
- For something unexpected, and budget friendly, try a Vinho Verde.
How to Boil Shrimp | How Long to Boil Shrimp | Boiling Shrimp
How do you boil shrimp?
The basic instructions for boiling shrimp is to flavor the water so that the water flavors the shrimp! It’s that easy. Set a large pot of fresh water on to boil. Add the seasonings, herbs and other items to season the water. Once simmering, add the shrimp!
How do you cook already cooked shrimp?
To cook already cooked shrimp, add it to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process and let cool. This Quick and Easy Boiled Shrimp Recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen suggests adding 8 cups water and bringing it to a boil over medium-high heat. Once the water boils, add the peeled and deveined shrimp and simmer until pink, about 2-3 minutes depending on the size.
How do you cook shrimp in an ice bath?
Prepare your ice bath. Set a large bowl of ice water off to the side. Fill a large pot with cold water and add the salt. Bring it to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and add the lemon, bay leaves and shrimp to the boiling water. Let the shrimp cook for 2-4 minutes or until they are opaque and pink to orange in color.
How long do you boil 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 boil shrimp in shell: Boiling time is identical for shell-on and shell-off shrimp. Here’s how to boil shrimp in three simple steps: