Does Dried Shrimp Need to Be Soaked? A Complete Guide

Dried shrimp is an ingredient that is found in so many dishes in South East Asia.

Dried shrimp is a popular ingredient in many Asian and Southeast Asian cuisines. Its intense umami flavor makes it a great addition to soups, curries stir fries, and more. However, there is an ongoing debate around whether dried shrimp needs to be soaked before cooking. Here is a complete guide to soaking dried shrimp including the reasons for and against soaking, proper soaking techniques, and how to use dried shrimp without soaking.

What is Dried Shrimp and How is it Used?

Dried shrimp are whole shrimp that have been sun-dried or dehydrated until completely dried out. This drying process concentrates the flavor of the shrimp into a very intense, almost salty umami taste

Dried shrimp is especially popular in Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Filipino cuisine. It is used to add a savory kick to soups, broths, curries, noodle dishes, rice dishes, stir fries and more. The tiny dried shrimp are also sometimes deep fried until crispy and used as a garnish or snack.

The Benefits of Dried Shrimp

In addition to its bold umami flavor, dried shrimp provides some health benefits:

High in protein – Dried shrimp is over 50% protein by weight, making it an excellent source of this important nutrient especially for vegetarians.
Rich in minerals – Dried shrimp contains substantial amounts of iron, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and copper.
Low calories – Since all the moisture has been removed, dried shrimp is very low in calories, while still providing nutrients.
Long shelf life – Properly stored dried shrimp will keep for up to 1 year.

The Soaking Debate: Should You Soak Dried Shrimp?

Many traditional Asian recipes call for dried shrimp to be soaked before cooking. However, some chefs argue soaking is unnecessary and might dilute the flavor. So what’s the verdict?

Reasons to soak:

Rehydrates the shrimp, making it softer and easier to bite into
Can remove excess saltiness
Makes the flavor milder and less fishy

Reasons not to soak:

Alters the texture from crunchy to mushy
Dilutes the intense umami flavor
Causes the shrimp to absorb water and become bland

So whether to soak comes down to personal preference and the needs of the recipe. For example, soaking makes sense for something like shrimp pad thai, where you want tender shrimp. Frying the dried shrimp straight for garnish maintains the crunch.

Proper Techniques for Soaking Dried Shrimp

If you do opt to soak your dried shrimp, here are some tips for doing it right:

Use room temperature or lukewarm water, not cold. Cold water will make the shrimp tough.
Only soak 10-20 minutes. Any longer will make the shrimp too waterlogged.
Don’t reuse the soaking liquid, it will be salty.
Gently swish the shrimp around occasionally while soaking.
Pour into a strainer or colander afterwards to drain excess water.
Pat dry with paper towels before cooking.

The shrimp should look plump and revived after a brief soak, but not overly mushy. It’s now ready to use in soups, curries, noodles and more.

Using Dried Shrimp Without Soaking

If you wish to maintain the maximum flavor and crunch factor, dried shrimp can be used without any prep work. Here are some tips:

Briefly rinse the shrimp under water to remove excess salt or dust.
Pat dry before adding to the pan or dish.
Fry in oil briefly to enhance flavor and make crunchy.
Chop roughly with a knife or kitchen shears if the pieces are large.
Add earlier in cooking process to allow time to soften.
Pair with ingredients that balance the saltiness, like lemon, lime, fresh herbs.

Unsoaked dried shrimp works best in fried rice, simple stir fries, as a crunchy topper, or when there will be plenty of time to soften during cooking.

Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Without Soaking

Follow this simple process for incorporating unsoaked dried shrimp:

Rinse the shrimp briefly under cold water and drain well in a colander. Pat very dry with paper towels.
If the pieces are large, roughly chop into smaller bite-sized bits.
Heat a skillet or wok with 1-2 Tbsp of vegetable, peanut or coconut oil.
Once oil is shimmering, add the dried shrimp and fry for 1-2 minutes until slightly crispy and aromatic.
Add other ingredients like rice, vegetables, eggs etc. Continue cooking, allowing the dried shrimp to soften as the dish cooks through.
Finish with a squirt of lime juice, chopped cilantro or other herbs before serving.

And that’s it – crispy, flavorful dried shrimp without any soaking required. This quick method allows you to take advantage of its taste and crunch.

While soaking dried shrimp is sometimes called for, it can also be used straight out of the package with the right techniques. The choice depends on your recipe needs and personal preferences around texture and flavor intensity. Hopefully this guide provides some clarity on the soaking debate and equips you with the knowledge to use dried shrimp in all its forms. This versatile little seafood can bring a tasty punch of umami to all kinds of Asian dishes.

does dried shrimp need to be soaked

What are Dried Shrimp?

Dried shrimp are shrimp that have been dried in the sun. They have a strong flavor and smell and are chewy if eaten whole. You will find them used in many cuisines around the world, across the oceans.

I grew up calling them udang kering, which is what they are known as in the Malay language. In Singapore and Malaysia, most people of different ethnic groups know how to pronounce certain foods and ingredients in one of our languages. Dried shrimp is a great example of this.

Udang = Prawns/Shrimp
Kering = Dried
Dried Shrimp = udang kering

Every country in East and South East Asia needs dried shrimp, whether it’s China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, or Thailand.

does dried shrimp need to be soaked

How to Use Dried Shrimp

They are graded according to size, which to a large extent, determines how they are prepared and used. The larger the shrimp, the higher the grade. But that doesn’t mean that the tiny ones are of poor quality, they are just used differently. And unlike the slightly bigger ones, tiny shrimp have their shells left on.

You can use udang kering in so many different ways. In South East Asia, it is used an an ingredient. It’s usually ground up and used in spice pastes for recipes, like in Laksa, or salad dressings, like Thai Green Papaya Salad. However to all you Thai food lovers, you’ll recognise it as the floss topping on Pad Thai.

It is commonly used in:

curries, stews and gumbos
flavoured rice like fried rice and nasi ulam
noodles, both fried and in sauce like mee siam
stir-fries like kangkung belacan
dumplings
in hot sauces and chilli pastes

In South East Asian recipes, dried shrimp is often used chopped or ground. However, this does depend on the size as well as the recipe. Traditionally, they are soaked in hot water to soften, before being ground up or pounded.

Here on LinsFood and my other blog, Singaporean and Malaysian Recipes, so many of our recipes use udang kering in the base or spice paste.

How to use Dried Shrimp

Do you need to soak dried shrimp before cooking?

There are many ways to use dried shrimp; some require soaking before using, while some do not. As a rule of thumb, dried shrimp always require pre-soaking before cooking, so they can release more flavor. For soups and braised dishes, you can soak the dried shrimp for a shorter duration (30 mins to 1 hour) because they will loosen up during cooking.

How do you use dried shrimp?

One of the easiest and most common ways to use dried shrimp is by adding them to soups and stews. In many Asian dishes, dried shrimp are used to create a rich, savory broth that forms the base of the dish. Simply soak the dried shrimp in hot water for about 15-20 minutes to rehydrate them, then toss them into your simmering broth.

Can you eat dried shrimp without soaking?

They can be used directly without soaking. Dried shrimp can be incorporated into all types of dishes cooked in various ways: soups, broth, dumpling fillings, stir-fries, fried rice, fried noodles, braised or steamed dishes, and more. They are usually called for in small quantities, but the flavor they lend to dishes goes a long way.

Do dried shrimp need to be rehydrated?

Nine times out of ten, dried shrimps need to be rehydrated. When rehydrating, place the dried shrimps in a bowl and pour just enough warm water to cover. You want the shrimps to soak up the water so that no pool of water is left when you scoop out the shrimps. Too much excess water that gets thrown out means more flavor is lost.