How to Perfectly Grill Frozen Shrimp for a Delicious Meal

Grilled shrimp is a delicious and healthy meal that can be enjoyed during the warmer months The smoky, charred flavor pairs perfectly with shrimp’s natural sweetness. While grilling fresh shrimp certainly has its merits, don’t let a lack of fresh shrimp stop you from enjoying this dish. With a few simple tips, you can learn how to grill frozen shrimp to tender, juicy perfection

Why Grill Frozen Shrimp?

You may be wondering, why bother grilling frozen shrimp instead of fresh? There are a few good reasons:

• Convenience Keeping a bag of frozen shrimp in the freezer makes it easy to pull out and grill whenever you get a craving for grilled shrimp without having to run to the store

• Cost: Frozen shrimp is often less expensive per pound than fresh shrimp. Opting for frozen allows you to enjoy shrimp more often without breaking the bank.

• Availability: Depending on where you live, high-quality fresh shrimp may not always be available. Frozen shrimp ensures you can make grilled shrimp anytime.

• Food safety: Frozen shrimp sold in commercial bags has been processed safely. There is less risk of contamination compared to fresh.

• Consistency: The size of frozen shrimp tends to be more uniform since processing removes variability. This makes cooking more predictable.

While fresh shrimp can taste incredible, frozen shrimp holds up very well on the grill if thawed and cooked properly. Let’s look at some tips for success.

Tips for Grilling Previously Frozen Shrimp

Grilling frozen shrimp requires a little bit of forethought and the right techniques. Here are some tips:

• Completely thaw the shrimp. For the best results, thaw frozen shrimp overnight in the refrigerator. Do not try to shortcut this process by thawing at room temperature. Slow thawing ensures the shrimp thaws evenly throughout.

• Dry the shrimp well. Pat the thawed shrimp very dry with paper towels. Any moisture on the surface can cause steaming instead of searing. Drying leads to better browning.

• Brush with oil. Coat the shrimp lightly with an oil that has a high smoke point, like avocado, grapeseed or refined coconut oil. This helps promote browning as well.

• Season simply. Limit seasonings to salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon or lime. Complicated marinades and rubs often just burn up on the grill before flavoring the shrimp.

• Use a perforated grill pan. The grates on a standard grill grate are too open to properly hold smaller shrimp. A perforated pan prevents them from falling through while still allowing smoke to circulate.

• Cook over direct medium-high heat. Shrimp cook quickly, so you want a hot grill. But not so hot that the outside burns before the inside cooks. Medium-high heat is ideal.

• Grill for 2-3 minutes per side. Frozen shrimp need a little longer on the grill than fresh since they contain more moisture. Grill approximately 2-3 minutes per side until opaque.

Follow these tips and your frozen shrimp will taste just-caught fresh off the grill. Let’s look at the full process from start to finish.

Step-by-Step Guide to Grilling Frozen Shrimp

Grilling frozen shrimp is simple with good techniques. Here is a complete step-by-step walkthrough:

1. Thaw the Shrimp

The day before grilling, place frozen shrimp in a single layer on a tray or plate. Put in the refrigerator overnight. This may take 8-12 hours depending on the amount. Do not stack shrimp as that will impede even thawing.

Once thawed, peel the shrimp, leaving the tails intact if desired. Rinse the thawed shrimp under cool water to remove any ice crystals. Pat very dry with paper towels.

2. Prepare the Grill

If using a charcoal grill, light your coals approximately 40 minutes before cooking. Heat until the coals turn ash white and you can hold your hand about 5 inches over the grate for 3-4 seconds.

For gas grills, preheat on high for 10-15 minutes with the lid closed. Then adjust burners to medium-high heat around 400°F. Clean grates well so shrimp don’t stick.

3. Prepare the Perforated Pan

Place a perforated stainless steel grill pan designed for small foods directly on the grill grates. You want plenty of open space for smoke exposure. Lightly brush the pan with oil to prevent sticking.

Alternatively, use a grilling basket with small perforations. The basket makes turning all the shrimp easier.

4. Oil and Season the Shrimp

Place thawed, dried shrimp in a bowl. Drizzle with 1 Tbsp oil and toss to lightly coat. Season with 1/4 tsp salt and a few grinds of black pepper. You can add other dried herbs or spices too if desired.

Transfer the oiled shrimp to the perforated pan or grilling basket in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd.

5. Grill the Shrimp

Place the shrimp pan or basket directly over the heat. Close the grill lid. Grill the shrimp undisturbed for 2-3 minutes per side. Resist the urge to move them around. You want nice sear marks.

After flipping once, continue grilling another 2-3 minutes. Frozen shrimp will take slightly longer to cook through than fresh. The shrimp are done when the flesh is opaque instead of translucent.

6. Finish with Flavor

When you remove the shrimp from the grill, toss them right away with a squirt of fresh lemon or lime juice. The acid brightens the sweet smoky flavor. Sprinkle with a bit of chopped parsley or cilantro if desired.

Serve the grilled shrimp while hot off the grill, or enjoy chilled for shrimp cocktails. Pair with grilled corn on the cob and you have an easy, delicious summer meal.

Tips for the Best Results

With the right techniques, grilled shrimp using frozen shrimp can taste just as amazing as fresh. Here are a few extra pointers:

• Grill shrimp in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding the pan or basket. Overcrowding causes steaming instead of grilling.

• If shrimp are very large, it helps to butterfly them or slice in half lengthwise before grilling to enable even cooking.

• Get the grill nice and hot before cooking. Searing the shrimp right away locks in moisture and flavor.

• Use natural wood charcoal instead of briquettes if possible for better flavor. Add hardwood chips if your grill allows for smoking.

• Simple rubs like Cajun seasoning, jerk seasoning, or garlic powder also work well if you want more flavor than just salt and pepper.

• Do not overcook the shrimp. It takes only 2-3 minutes per side, even when using frozen shrimp. Stop cooking as soon as they are opaque.

With minimal effort, you can enjoy perfectly charred and juicy grilled shrimp using frozen shrimp any time of year. The smoky sear from the grill balances beautifully with the sweetness of the shrimp. Round out your plate with grilled veggies, rice or pasta salad and you have an easy weeknight or backyard dinner recipe. Fire up the grill and enjoy restaurant-quality shrimp with full flavor straight off the grill.