If you’ve ever had one of our Calabash-style seafood platters at NC Seafood Restaurant, you know that the portions are very big. So, you may have brought the leftovers home and want to heat them up for lunch or dinner. However, what is the best way to reheat seafood? Is it possible to do so without losing the crunchy texture?
For short, the answer is yes, but you need to be careful that it tastes just as good as the first time. Join NC Seafood Restaurant in Raleigh as we uncover top-tier tips for reheating our crispy Calabash-style seafood.
Fried shrimp is one of life’s culinary joys. That crispy, golden batter enveloping plump, juicy shrimp is heavenly when fresh out of the fryer. But enjoying leftover fried shrimp poses challenges. Refrigeration renders fried foods soggy. And reheating fried food often leaves it greasy or dry.
However with the right techniques you can resurrect leftover fried shrimp to its original glory. In this article, I’ll share my top tips for reheating fried shrimp so it emerges from your oven, skillet or air fryer as crispy and delicious as the day it was cooked.
Why Reheating Fried Shrimp is Tricky
Fried shrimp gets its crunchy texture from a light batter that forms a delicate, crispy shell around the shrimp as it cooks. However, this crispness comes at a cost. As Harold McGee writes in On Food and Cooking, “The crisp crust that makes fried food so attractive is unfortunately very unstable.”
This instability has two causes
Moisture – When fried shrimp cools down, moisture condenses on the surface, sogging up that crispy crust.
Oil – Oil oozes out of the fried coating over time, penetrating and softening the batter.
Additionally, fried coatings are prone to steam buildup when reheated, which causes them to lose their crunch.
So when you reheat fried shrimp, you want to:
- Evaporate excess moisture
- Limit oil absorption
- Allow steam to escape
Do this while avoiding overcooking the shrimp, and you’ll have success! Now let’s look at the best reheating methods.
Oven Baking
The oven is my go-to for reheating fried shrimp and seafood. It thoroughly dries the exterior and crisps the batter without overcooking the interior.
To reheat fried shrimp in the oven:
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Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment.
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Arrange shrimp in a single layer, without crowding.
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Bake 7-10 minutes until hot and crispy. Watch closely to avoid overbaking.
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Enjoy immediately for maximum crispness.
Tips for best results:
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Let shrimp come to room temperature before baking for more even reheating.
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Flip shrimp halfway through for even browning.
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Avoid steaming shrimp by leaving them uncovered.
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Bake in a single layer on a large pan so shrimp reheat faster.
The oven yields consistently crispy, delicious fried shrimp. The only downsides are the time required and the heat added to your kitchen. So next we’ll look at faster methods.
Skillet or Pan Fry
My next favorite way to reheat fried shrimp is in a skillet or frying pan on the stovetop. It adds a nice sizzle and color while avoiding the oven’s heat.
To pan fry leftover shrimp:
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Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a skillet over medium heat.
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When oil shimmers, add shrimp in a single layer.
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Cook 2-3 minutes per side until hot and crispy.
Tips for best results:
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Use a nonstick pan to limit oil usage.
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Choose a pan with tall sides to minimize splatter.
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Flip shrimp frequently to prevent overbrowning.
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Remove shrimp as soon as they are hot to avoid overcooking.
The downside to this method is you have to babysit the shrimp more than in the oven. But the results are worth it. The shrimp emerge hot, sizzling, and with a bit of extra crunch from pan frying.
Toaster Oven
If you want oven-quality results without heating up your full-size oven, a toaster oven is the perfect solution.
To reheat in a toaster oven:
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Preheat toaster oven to 375°F.
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Place shrimp on a small baking pan or oven-safe plate.
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Toast 5-7 minutes until crispy.
The toaster oven gives you concentrated heat that crisps up the batter nicely. Just be sure not to overload it, and keep a close eye to prevent overcooking.
Microwave
I’ll be honest – the microwave is my last choice for reheating fried shrimp. It often leaves shrimp soggy and sad. However, it can work in a pinch.
To microwave leftover shrimp:
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Place shrimp on a microwave-safe plate. Don’t overlap.
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Microwave in 30 second intervals until just heated through.
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Let stand 1 minute before eating.
Tips for best results:
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Use a paper towel or clean napkin to absorb excess moisture.
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Skip the microwave cover to allow steam to escape.
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Sprinkle with a bit of cornstarch before microwaving to revive crispness.
While the microwave can do in a hurry, for best results, use it cautiously and stick to the other methods.
Air Fryer
Air fryers use super hot air to mimic fried results. They work great for reheating fried shrimp.
To reheat shrimp in an air fryer:
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Preheat air fryer to 375°F.
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Place shrimp in air fryer basket in single layer.
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Cook 4-6 minutes, shaking basket occasionally.
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Check frequently and remove as soon as shrimp are hot and crispy.
The circulating hot air crisps up the coating evenly. Just be careful not to overcook the shrimp, as air fryers heat food very quickly.
How to Store Leftover Fried Shrimp
To make the most of your leftover shrimp, proper storage is key. Here are my tips:
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Let shrimp cool completely before refrigerating.
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Store shrimp in a sealed container to prevent drying out.
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If shrimp came with sauce, store it separately to keep the crust crisp.
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Use shrimp within 3-4 days for best flavor and texture.
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Refrigerate shrimp pieces separately from whole shrimp to prevent batter damage.
Following these guidelines will buy you a few days to enjoy leftover fried shrimp at its best.
Make the Most of Your Fried Shrimp Leftovers
With the right techniques, you can revive leftover fried shrimp to be as delicious as the original. Here are some tasty ways to reuse them:
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Toss into salads, pasta, or rice bowls
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Stuff into tacos, sandwiches or wraps
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Top pizzas, nachos or baked potatoes
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Mix into fried rice or stir fries
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Add to seafood pasta bakes or casseroles
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Make shrimp po’ boys, shrimp burgers, or shrimp salad
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Skewer for shrimp kebabs
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Fold into omelets, frittatas or quiches
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Serve as an appetizer with cocktail or tartar sauce
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Garnish soups, stews, chilis or gumbos
With a little creativity, leftover fried shrimp unlocks a world of possibilities. Just be sure to reheat it properly using my tips.
How do you reheat seafood without overcooking it?
- Use a meat thermometer: Now is a great time to use your meat thermometer. The most common seafood reheating mistake is overcooking. Make sure the temperature inside is at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Check on it often: Fry seafood can heat up quickly, so check on it often. Most seafood takes about 15 minutes to cook, but that depends on the type of seafood, how thick it is, and the temperature you want it to reach.
How to Reheat Seafood: The Proper Way
If you want to know how to properly reheat seafood, you’re in the right place! Let’s look at the steps you should take to get your seafood back to its best.
- Use an oven that’s already hot: It’s important to get your oven hot before reheating your seafood. Making this change will help the seafood cook evenly and keep its crispiness. It’s best to reheat battered and fried seafood between 350°F and 375°F.
- Flip the food. Reheating fried seafood can take a variety of times. An average cooking time is about 15 minutes. You can make sure that all sides of your fried seafood get crispy by flipping it every 5 minutes or halfway through.
- Use parchment paper: Put parchment paper on the baking sheet to keep the seafood from sticking to it. Also, this will help soak up any extra oil and keep the seafood crispy.
- Don’t crowd! Make sure the baking sheet isn’t too crowded, because that can make the seafood soggy. Make sure there is enough space between each seafood piece for the steam to escape. If you need to reheat a lot of seafood, like our combo plates, use a big baking sheet or do it one at a time.
- As we already said, don’t cover it! The steam needs to be able to escape. Don’t put anything over it that would keep steam and moisture in and stop it from getting crispy.
- Don’t leave it on the baking sheet for too long; serve right away. As soon as it’s done cooking, serve it and enjoy.
How to Cook Already Cooked Shrimp Safely & to Retain Flavour?
How do you reheat fried shrimp?
To reheat the fried shrimp by frying it in a skillet, heat 1-2 tablespoons of oil or butter over a medium heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the fried shrimp and let it fry for about 3 to 4 minutes, turning them every so often to crisp all the sides. You can also deep fry the shrimp if you’d prefer, but this is a lot more effort. Flash frying:
How do you cook leftover fried shrimp?
If you want your leftover fried shrimp to maintain its crispy coating while heating thoroughly, using an oven is your best bet: Preheat: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) for optimal results. Baking Sheet Prep: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. This step will make cleaning up afterward a breeze!
Can shrimp be reheated in the oven?
Yes, you can reheat shrimp in the oven. This method takes the longest but produces ultra-succulent shrimp. First, preheat your oven to 300 °F.
How to reheat fried shrimp in air fryer?
Switch on your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the fried shrimp inside the air fryer. Heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Check if the fried shrimp have warmed enough. Once crispy and golden, take the shrimp out of the air fryer. Serve and enjoy. And that’s it, you have discovered how to reheat fried shrimp in several ways.