Most home cooks don’t know that the shrimp shells and tails they throw away can be used to make a great homemade shrimp stock. It’s so easy and takes very little time. This flavor powerhouse will boost your fish dishes like no other!.
Seafood lovers rejoice – those shrimp shells you’d normally throw away can be transformed into a rich, flavorful stock with just a few simple steps. Freezing the shells ensures you can make this handy pantry staple anytime. But how exactly does it work, and what’s the best way to freeze shells for long-term stock use? I’ll answer all the key questions so you can effortlessly freeze shells and make delicious shrimp stock from scratch.
Shrimp shells are packed with nutrients like calcium, iodine, and chitin that deliver health benefits. And their natural glutamates enhance the savory umami flavor of dishes. Hate to waste them? Freezing preserves all these qualities so shells don’t just get tossed. They become the key to homemade stock that adds beautiful depth and complexity to soups, risottos, sauces, and more.
Here I’ll share tips on preparing, freezing, storing, and cooking with shrimp shells so you can eliminate waste and enjoy this versatile ingredient anytime. Let’s dive in!
Can Shrimp Shells Be Frozen for Stock?
The short answer is yes – you can absolutely freeze shrimp shells to use later for making stock. Freezing is an ideal way to preserve the shells’ flavor, nutrients, and usefulness for future cooking. The freezing process stops enzyme activity and bacteria growth that causes spoilage.
Frozen properly, the shells keep for at least 2-3 months in the freezer before use. Some tips for effective freezing:
- Clean shells thoroughly before freezing
- Blanch briefly to halt enzyme action
- Dry shells completely
- Store in airtight freezer bags or containers
- Freeze as soon as possible after cooking
Follow these steps and shells stay fresh for stock-making down the road.
What’s the Best Way to Freeze Shrimp Shells?
Freezing shrimp shells correctly preserves freshness and flavor. Here are some tips:
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Clean – Rinse shells to remove debris Remove any meat or innards
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Blanch – Boil shells for 60 seconds then ice bath for 1 minute Halts enzyme activity
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Dry – Pat shells very dry before freezing. Moisture causes ice crystals.
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Portion – Divide shells into recipe-ready amounts in freezer bags.
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Press air out – Remove excess air from bags before sealing. Prevents freezer burn.
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Label – Mark bags with contents and freeze date.
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Freeze quickly – Place bags flat in coldest freezer area like bottom drawer.
Follow this process, and shells stay fresh for stock for 2-3 months.
How Long Can Frozen Shrimp Shells Last?
Stored properly in airtight freezer bags, shrimp shells will keep well for 2-3 months in the freezer before use. Shells frozen longer than 3 months may start to lose some flavor and aromatics. Freezer burn also degrades quality over time.
Tips for optimal freezer life:
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Place shells in freezer immediately after cooking
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Remove as much air as possible from freezer bags
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Pack flat bags efficiently so shells freeze quickly
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Avoid overfilling bags which exposes shells to air
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Seal bags tightly
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Store in coldest part of freezer like bottom drawer
Follow freezing best practices, and shells stay fresh and flavorful for months. Cook within 3 months for best quality.
What’s the Ratio for Shrimp Shell Stock?
The basic ratio for making shrimp shell stock is:
- 1 lb shrimp shells
- 1 gallon cold water
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- Fresh parsley and peppercorns
Simmer ingredients for 45 mins to 1 hour until flavor is extracted from shells. Strain out solids. The resulting stock concentrates the briny seafood essence of the shells into a versatile cooking liquid.
Adjust aromatics to taste. Add leek, fennel, garlic, wine, lemon peel, thyme, bay leaf, etc. The longer shells simmer, the more intense the stock.
How Is Shrimp Shell Stock Used in Cooking?
The uses for homemade shrimp shell stock are endless! Here are just a few ways to incorporate this flavor powerhouse into recipes:
- Base for seafood soups, stews, bisques
- Deglazing liquid for seafood pan sauces
- Cooking liquid for rice, grains, or legumes
- Flavor foundation for sauces like shrimp scampi
- Umami boost for smoked seafood dips and spreads
- Cooking water for shrimp boils or shrimp & grits
- Braising liquid for seafood dishes like cioppino
- Dashi stock alternative in Japanese cooking
- Sauce enhancer in pasta, risotto, stir fry, and more
With its rich aroma and savoriness, shrimp shell stock brings delicious complexity and ocean essence to virtually any dish. Get creative with this versatile ingredient!
Can You Make Stock With Previously Frozen Shells?
Yes, you can absolutely use shrimp shells that were frozen to make a flavorful stock later. As long as they were frozen and stored properly, previously frozen shells work great.
Thaw frozen shells completely before making stock. Place bags in the refrigerator overnight or in a bowl of cool water for quicker thawing. Simmering from frozen may cause shells to clump.
Use thawed frozen shells within 3 months for best quality. Cook for 45-60 minutes to extract maximum flavor.
The key is freezing shells correctly in the first place. As long as air is removed and they stay frozen solid, you can revive shells directly from the freezer into delicious homemade stock.
Should Shrimp Shells Be Peeled Before Freezing?
It’s best to freeze shrimp shells unpeeled. Leaving the shells intact helps protect the flavorful innards from freezer burn during storage. Peeled shells have more exposed surface area, which can degrade quality over time.
You can peel shells after thawing when ready to use. Peeling first also lets the shells dry out, while intact shells retain moisture better in the freezer.
Only remove large dangling legs or loose bits before freezing. Keeping shells mostly unpeeled preserves freshness best.
Freezing shrimp shells for homemade stock is an easy, sustainable way to get more use out of these flavorful leftovers. Stored properly, frozen shells keep for 2-3 months before transforming into rich, aromatic stock. Follow the tips above for successfully freezing, thawing, and cooking with shrimp shells. Soon you’ll have tasty stock on hand to give seafood dishes an instant flavor upgrade. Get ready to cut waste and savor the flavors!
What kind of shrimp to buy, anyway?
I prefer to buy shell-on, easy-peel, deveined shrimp. Shrimp are labeled by the approximate number of shrimp per pound. 32/40, 16-21, etc. The bigger the shrimp, the more tender they will be when you cook them because you have more control over how long you cook them.
I buy several bags of shrimp on sale and store them in the freezer. Unless you live on the coast, the loose shrimp in the fish case were probably frozen as well. Shrimp are very perishable and won’t easily survive the trip here to Pennsylvania without spoiling. Good thing they freeze beautifully!.
I never buy cooked shrimp for several reasons. To begin with, the shrimp farmer cooks them in huge batches, and they are usually already too cooked. Secondly, if I’m making a cooked shrimp dish they’ll be horribly overcooked even with just reheating. Third, I like to cook my shrimp myself when I’m making a cold shrimp dish like shrimp cocktail.
It costs a lot to buy shrimp, and I don’t want to waste my money. I trust myself more than big companies, and you should too. I also buy American shrimp whenever possible.
Don’t throw out those shells!
I made this stock from the tails and shells of 1. 5 lbs. (24oz) of 16/21 count deveined easy-peel shrimp. Peel them and remove any remaining veins (digestive tracts) separately; you don’t want veins in your stock. A coral-colored vein, by the way, is a female’s reproductive tract. It looks like an egg sac. Take that out, too.
Heat a saucepan and add a small drizzle of oil such as vegetable or canola oil. Add the ends and outside layer of an onion. I used the onion I chopped up for dinner. I also added a few chives, it’s what I had handy.
Saute it for a minute or two then add the shells and saute another minute or so. They’ll begin to turn pink. Cover with water and bring it to a light simmer. Simmer gently for approximately 30-40 minutes. Perfect amount of time to finish cooking dinner and sit down to eat.
When your stock is nicely colored, strain and cool. This yielded about 2 cups. If you have shells from more shrimp, you’ll have more stock, and vice versa. Now that those shells have given you everything they had to offer, you can throw them away!
Stop Throwing Away Shrimp Shells!
Can you freeze shrimp shells?
Yes! You can freeze shrimp shells to use later for stock. Store your shrimp shells in a freezer bag until you have enough to make stock with. See more Seafood Recipes Did you love this recipe? It would be AMAZING if you left a comment or rating and shared it on social media!
Can you freeze shrimp stock?
It’s best to use it right away to prolong the shelf life of the recipe you are using it in. Freeze: Freeze shrimp stock in ice cube trays or souper cube trays for ease of use. Store in the freezer for 2-3 months. Make ahead: You can make this shrimp stock a day in advance of when you want to use it.
Can you use uncooked shrimp shells to make stock?
Only use uncooked shrimp shells to make stock. Less is more. Shrimp stock only needs to simmer for about 30 minutes. While beef and chicken stock benefits from a long simmer time to bring out all the flavor from the bones, shrimp stock starts to lose its flavor if you boil it for too long. Roast if you want to!
How do you make shrimp stock?
Here’s how to make your own seafood stock. Peel and reserve shrimp shells. Chop veggies into 2 inch chunks. Smash and peel garlic. Sauté onion, celery, carrot, and garlic with a pinch of salt in olive oil until starting to brown. Add in shrimp shells and cook for a few minutes until the shells develop some color and start turning brighter pink.