Can You Freeze Shrimp? A Guide to Storing Shrimp for Later

As a seafood lover and home cook, I’m always looking for ways to make my grocery budget stretch further. Shrimp is one of my favorite proteins to cook with, but it can be pricey. I discovered that buying shrimp in bulk when it’s on sale and freezing the extra is a great way to save money and always have it on hand. But can you really freeze shrimp without ruining the texture or flavor?

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share everything I’ve learned about properly freezing both raw and cooked shrimp so you can enjoy it later. We’ll cover:

• The best methods for freezing raw vs cooked shrimp
• How long shrimp stays fresh in the freezer
• Tips for thawing frozen shrimp
• Signs of spoiled shrimp to watch out for
• Creative recipes to use up frozen shrimp

After reading this you’ll be a pro at freezing shrimp yourself and getting the most out of your seafood budget!

Can You Freeze Shrimp from the Grocery Store?

The short answer is yes – you can absolutely freeze store-bought shrimp if you do it correctly

In fact, freezing is the best way to extend the shelf life of shrimp you bought at the regular grocery store. Refrigerating raw shrimp only keeps it fresh for 1-2 days. But with freezing, the shelf life gets extended to 3-6 months.

I like to stock up on raw, shell-on shrimp when my local grocery store runs specials like “buy one, get one free”. Then I portion it out into meal-size bags and pop it in the freezer for future recipes.

Freezing cooked shrimp from the grocery store deli is also handy for quick weeknight meals. I just thaw the pre-cooked shrimp in the fridge overnight and I’m ready to make tacos pasta, or stir-fry.

The key is freezing shrimp properly and storing it at a constant 0°F temperature. Follow my tips below for best results.

How to Freeze Raw Shrimp

Freezing raw, shell-on shrimp helps lock in moisture and flavor. Here’s my step-by-step process:

Prep the Shrimp

• Rinse under cold water and drain well
• Remove heads by pinching off with your fingers
• Leave shells and tails on
• Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels

Pack Shrimp for Freezing

• Line a rigid freezer-safe container with wax paper
• Place shrimp in single layer without overlapping
• Pour chilled brine (2 Tbs salt per 1 quart water) over shrimp
• Seal container, leaving 1-inch headspace
• Label package with contents and freeze-by date

Freeze Properly

• Freeze shrimp immediately at 0°F or below
• Never allow shrimp to thaw during transport to freezer
• Once frozen, shrimp keeps 3-6 months stored at 0°F

Follow this process, and your frozen raw shrimp will taste amazingly fresh when you go to cook it later on.

Tips for Freezing Cooked Shrimp

Freezing already-cooked shrimp is convenient for whipping up quick meals. But the high water content makes it prone to freezer burn. Here are some tips:

• Cool cooked shrimp completely before freezing
• Remove shells, tails, veins and seasonings
• Place in single layer on cookie sheet and freeze initially
• Once frozen, transfer to freezer bags or airtight containers
• Squeeze out excess air before sealing
• Store at 0°F up to 3 months

I like to boil or steam a couple pounds of shrimp, cool it completely, and peel/devein it. Then I lay the shrimp flat in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until hard. Finally, I transfer the frozen shrimp to zip-top bags for longer storage.

Freezing cooked shrimp this way prevents it from clumping into a solid block. And it saves me loads of time defrosting and prepping shrimp for recipes!

How Long Does Shrimp Last in the Freezer?

Now let’s talk freezer storage times. How long exactly can you keep frozen shrimp before it goes bad?

Here are the shelf life guidelines to follow:

• Raw shrimp keeps 3-6 months in the freezer at 0°F
• Cooked shrimp keeps 3 months maximum frozen at 0°F

The freezing process itself doesn’t make shrimp go bad. As long as it stays solidly frozen, it won’t ever technically expire.

However, the taste, texture, and moisture content will degrade over time. I recommend using frozen shrimp within 6 months for raw, and 3 months for cooked.

Pay attention to signs of spoiled shrimp like faded color, strong odor, and dry, mushy flesh once thawed. If in doubt, it’s better to be safe and toss it out.

Thawing Frozen Shrimp the Right Way

Improper thawing is a common way people ruin perfectly good frozen shrimp. Here are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to thawing:

DO:

• Thaw in the refrigerator overnight
• Submerge sealed bag in cold water and change water every 30 mins
• Cook frozen shrimp directly in soups, stir fries or other hot dishes

DON’T:

• Leave shrimp to thaw at room temperature >2 hours
• Microwave frozen shrimp (cooks unevenly)
• Refreeze thawed shrimp (breeds bacteria)

I like to plan ahead and thaw shrimp overnight in the fridge on a plate. This gradual thawing helps it retain moisture. If I’m in a pinch, I’ll do a cold water thaw by sealing the frozen shrimp in a zip top bag and submerging in cold water, changing it out every 30 minutes.

Once thawed, cook the shrimp within the next 1-2 days and don’t refreeze. Follow these tips, and your thawed shrimp will taste delicious in any recipe!

Creative Ways to Use Frozen Shrimp

My frozen shrimp stash makes it easy to throw together quick meals on busy nights. Here are some of my favorite ways to use it:

• Shrimp tacos – Top warmed corn tortillas with thawed shrimp, pico de gallo, avocado and cilantro sauce.

• Lemon garlic shrimp pasta – Toss thawed shrimp with cooked linguine, garlic, lemon juice, parsley and Parmesan.

• Coconut shrimp curry – Simmer thawed shrimp in an aromatic Thai red curry sauce with coconut milk served over rice.

• Shrimp salad – Mix thawed shrimp with celery, lemon juice, dill, and mayo. Serve in avocado halves.

• Shrimp fritters -Combine thawed shrimp with egg, flour, and herbs. Fry into patties and serve with spicy mayo.

• Shrimp skewers – Marinate thawed shrimp in teriyaki. Thread onto skewers with bell peppers and pineapple. Grill until charred.

The possibilities are endless! Freezing shrimp makes enjoying seafood easy any night of the week.

Troubleshooting Frozen Shrimp Issues

Freezing shrimp is simple when you know how, but problems can arise if not done properly. Here’s how to avoid common mishaps:

Mushy, dry texture: Caused by poor freezing technique. Freeze shrimp flat in single layer before bagging to prevent ice crystals.

No flavor: Result of an old bag of freezer-burned shrimp. Use frozen shrimp within 3-6 months.

Rubbery, chewy bite: Happens when shrimp is overcooked after thawing. Be gentle when cooking previously frozen shrimp.

Weird color/smell: Sign of spoiled shrimp. Watch for fading color and off odors before cooking. When in doubt, throw it out!

Following my tips for careful freezing, storage and thawing will help avoid these pitfalls. Always inspect shrimp closely before cooking as an extra precaution.

The Bottom Line on Freezing Shrimp

The right techniques make all the difference between freezer-burned, flavorless shrimp and fresh-tasting seafood months after freezing. Patience is key – don’t rush the thawing process and use it up within 6 months.