How Long Should You Cook Steamed Shrimp? A Complete Guide

Steamed shrimp is a quick healthy, and delicious way to prepare shrimp. But knowing exactly how long to steam shrimp can be tricky. Undercook them and they’ll be chewy and raw tasting. Overcook them and they’ll be rubbery and flavorless. Follow this complete guide to learn exactly how long you should steam shrimp for tender juicy results every time.

What Size Shrimp Should You Buy for Steaming?

Shrimp are sold by count per pound. The lower the count the bigger the shrimp. Here are common shrimp sizes

• Colossal – under 10 per pound
• Jumbo – 11-15 per pound
• Extra large – 16-20 per pound
• Large – 21-25 per pound
• Medium – 26-30 per pound
• Small – 31-35 per pound

For steaming, I recommend buying large or extra large shrimp with shells on. The shells help retain moisture and prevent overcooking. Peeled shrimp tend to dry out faster when steaming.

Jumbo shrimp also work well, but may take a minute or two longer to cook through since they are thicker. Smaller shrimp like medium can overcook quickly, so watch the cooking time closely.

How to Prepare Raw Shrimp for Steaming

Before steaming, it’s important to properly prepare the raw shrimp:

• Rinse: Give the shrimp a quick rinse under cold running water to wash away any grit or debris.

• Devein: Use a paring knife to slice along the back of the shrimp and remove the digestive tract or “vein” running along the back. This is optional, but improves appearance.

• Peel: If desired, use scissors or kitchen shears to cut through the shell and remove it, leaving the tail on for appearance.

• Pat dry: Pat the shrimp thoroughly dry with paper towels. Any excess moisture will cause splattering when steaming.

What You’ll Need to Steam Shrimp

Steaming shrimp only requires a few basic pieces of equipment:

• A pot with a tight-fitting lid
• A steamer basket or insert
• Water or other steaming liquid like wine, broth, etc.

The shrimp sit in the basket above the boiling liquid to gently steam until cooked through. Having a tight-fitting lid is crucial for trapping the steam and cooking the shrimp.

How to Cook Steamed Shrimp

Follow these simple steps for perfectly steamed shrimp every time:

1. Fill the pot with 1-2 inches of water, wine, or broth. The liquid should not touch the bottom of the steamer basket.

2. Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat.

3. Place the steamer basket in the pot. Make sure it sits above the liquid.

4. Add the shrimp to the steamer basket in a single layer, spacing them apart.

5. Cover the pot tightly with the lid. This traps the steam.

6. Reduce the heat to medium to maintain a steady simmer.

7. Steam the shrimp, covered, for the amount of time recommended below.

8. Check for doneness (see tips below). Shrimp should turn pink/orange with curled tails.

9. Immediately transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.

It’s that simple! Now let’s talk about the most important part – exactly how long to steam shrimp based on their size and whether they are peeled.

How Long to Steam Shrimp Based on Size

Jumbo shrimp (11-15 per pound)

• Shell on: 5-7 minutes
• Peeled: 3-4 minutes

Extra large shrimp (16-20 per pound)

• Shell on: 4-5 minutes
• Peeled: 2-3 minutes

Large shrimp (21-25 per pound)

• Shell on: 3-4 minutes
• Peeled: 1-2 minutes

Medium shrimp (26-30 per pound)

• Shell on: 2-3 minutes
• Peeled: 1-2 minutes

These times are for fresh or fully thawed shrimp. If steaming frozen shrimp, add 1-2 minutes to the cooking time.

Always err on the lower end of the time range at first. It’s easy to cook shrimp a bit longer if needed, but impossible to reverse overcooking.

How to Tell When Shrimp Are Done Steaming

Look for these signs that your shrimp are fully cooked:

• Orange/pink color throughout

• Firm, plump texture when pressed

• Tails curled inward forming a loose “C” shape

• Flesh becomes opaque and milky looking

• No translucent flesh remaining

The shrimp should be cooked until just firm and plump. Don’t cook them until they are hard as that indicates overcooking.

If the shrimp need a bit more time, steam for 30 seconds to 1 minute longer and recheck doneness.

Serving Steamed Shrimp Hot or Chilled

Steamed shrimp can be served hot straight from the steamer for a quick dinner or appetizer.

For salads, appetizers, and other chilled dishes, immediately plunge the cooked shrimp into an ice water bath to stop the cooking. This preserves the perfect texture.

Drain, pat dry, and refrigerate until fully chilled before using in recipes. Store leftovers for 2-3 days.

Tips for the Best Steamed Shrimp

• Buy fresh shrimp when possible and use within 2 days. The fresher the better.

• Defrost frozen shrimp overnight in the fridge before steaming. Don’t cook frozen shrimp.

• Pat shrimp very dry before steaming. Moisture causes splattering.

• Arrange in a single layer in the steamer basket so steam circulates evenly.

• Keep the lid on tight so steam can’t escape and shrimp cook evenly.

• Use a thermometer for perfect doneness. Shrimp are done at 145°F.

• Plunge into an ice bath immediately to stop cooking and preserve texture.

• Season shrimp after cooking when serving hot. Season before steaming for salads.

• Flavor the steaming liquid with wine, broth, garlic, lemon, etc.

• Don’t overcrowd. Steam in batches for even cooking if needed.

Delicious Ways to Use Steamed Shrimp

Steamed shrimp stays moist and tender, making it perfect for:

• Shrimp cocktail – Chill steamed shrimp and serve with cocktail sauce.

• Shrimp salad – Toss steamed shrimp with greens, veggies, avocado, and vinaigrette.

• Shrimp tacos – Add to tacos with cabbage, salsa, cilantro, and lime.

• Shrimp pasta – Toss steamed shrimp with linguine, olive oil, garlic, and parsley.

• Shrimp skewers – Thread onto skewers and grill briefly just to char.

• Shrimp sandwiches – Pile steamed shrimp on rolls with lettuce, tomato, and remoulade.

• Shrimp stir fry – Quickly sauté steamed shrimp with veggies and sauce.