This shrimp in the air fryer only takes 8 minutes to make and always comes out tender and juicy. It only needs a few simple ingredients and goes well with a lot of different dishes.
Who loves using their air fryer for everything? I’ve been making main meals for my family with it, mostly seafood. Our favorites include air fryer salmon, air fryer tilapia, and now, juicy shrimp.
You see, shrimp can be hard to work with because they are so easy to overcook or undercook. Not like deep-frying, pan-frying, or baking shrimp, though, my air fryer shrimp recipe always makes the shellfish perfectly cooked. Table of Contents.
How Long Does It Take to Cook Shrimp in an Air Fryer? A Detailed Guide
Cooking shrimp in an air fryer is a quick, easy and healthy way to enjoy this delicious seafood Air frying shrimp results in perfectly cooked, tender and juicy shrimp with a light, crispy exterior using little to no oil But knowing exactly how long to cook shrimp in an air fryer can be tricky. The cooking time can vary based on the size of the shrimp, whether they are fresh or frozen, and even the model of air fryer used. This detailed guide will provide tips and timelines for achieving flawlessly cooked air fryer shrimp every time.
Choosing the Right Shrimp
The first step is selecting high quality fresh or thawed shrimp. Look for raw shrimp that smells fresh, not fishy, and are firm to the touch. The size of shrimp makes a difference when it comes to cook times. Here are common shrimp sizes to help determine cook times:
- Colossal – under 10 per pound
- Jumbo – under 15 per pound
- Extra Large – 16 to 20 per pound
- Large – 21 to 25 per pound
- Medium – 26 to 30 per pound
- Small – 36 to 45 per pound
- Extra Small – 51 to 60 per pound
Larger shrimp like colossal and jumbo will need a minute or two more than smaller shrimp like medium or small. Try to choose shrimp that are similar in size for even cooking. Once you have your shrimp, it’s time to get prepping.
Preparing Shrimp for the Air Fryer
Begin by peeling and deveining the shrimp, leaving the tails on for presentation and added flavor. Use a paring knife to slice along the back of the shrimp and remove the digestive tract or “vein” running along the back. Give the shrimp a rinse then pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Drying the shrimp well helps achieve that desirable crispy texture in the air fryer. Transfer the peeled, deveined and dried shrimp to a bowl. Toss and coat the shrimp with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil or avocado oil. Then sprinkle them generously with Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, garlic powder, paprika or any combination of your favorite seasonings. Massage the oil and seasonings into the shrimp. For an extra punch of flavor, consider marinating the shrimp for 30 minutes to an hour before air frying. Now the shrimp are prepped and ready for the air fryer.
Air Fryer Time and Temperature
Preheating is key for air frying any food, including shrimp. Preheating helps the air fryer recover temperature faster and cook food more evenly. For shrimp, preheat the air fryer to 400°F. This high temperature helps seal in moisture and impart a crispy texture. While shrimp cook quickly, resist any temptation to overload the air fryer basket. Crowding will lead to uneven cooking. Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in the basket, without any overlapping. This allows hot air to circulate and cook the shrimp properly.
Air fry the shrimp at 400°F for:
- Colossal (under 10 per pound): 9-11 minutes
- Jumbo (under 15 per pound): 7-10 minutes
- Extra Large (16-20 per pound): 5-8 minutes
- Large (21-25 per pound): 4-6 minutes
- Medium (26-30 per pound): 3-5 minutes
- Small (36-45 per pound): 2-4 minutes
For best results, flip the shrimp halfway through the cooking time. This guarantees the shrimp cook evenly on both sides. The total cook time depends on the size and thickness of the shrimp. To test for doneness, cut into a few shrimp to check if they are opaque throughout. It is common for air fryers to cook faster or slower than their set time and temperature. Get to know your individual air fryer and adjust cook times accordingly for perfectly cooked shrimp.
Cooking Frozen Shrimp in the Air Fryer
It is absolutely possible to cook frozen shrimp straight from the freezer in the air fryer. However, an extra 2-3 minutes of cook time is needed to account for the frozen state. Follow the same recipe steps for preparing the shrimp. Make sure frozen shrimp are spread in a single layer in the basket without overlapping. Air fry frozen shrimp at 400°F, adding 2-3 extra minutes to the cook times for thawed shrimp based on the shrimp’s size. Flip the shrimp over midway during cooking. Check for doneness by cutting into several shrimp and verifying they are opaque throughout.
Try These Air Fryer Shrimp Recipes:
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Cajun Shrimp – Toss peeled shrimp with Cajun seasoning, lemon juice and olive oil. Air fry 5-8 minutes at 400°F until opaque.
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Coconut Shrimp – Dredge peeled shrimp in egg and coconut flakes. Mist with oil and air fry 7-10 minutes at 400°F until golden brown.
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Lemon Garlic Shrimp – Toss peeled shrimp with garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley and olive oil. Air fry 6-9 minutes at 380°F.
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Crispy Bacon Wrapped Shrimp – Wrap peeled shrimp with bacon and secure with a toothpick. Air fry 8-11 minutes at 400°F until bacon is crisp.
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Shrimp Tempura – Dredge peeled shrimp in tempura batter and air fry 5-8 minutes at 390°F until crispy.
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Shrimp
Cooking shrimp in an air fryer may take some trial and error to master. Here are some helpful tips and tricks for foolproof air fried shrimp:
- Use similar sized shrimp for even cooking
- Pat shrimp very dry before seasoning
- Brush basket with oil for extra crispiness
- Don’t overcrowd the basket
- Flip shrimp halfway during cooking
- Adjust cook time based on thickness
- Cut into shrimp to test for doneness
- Don’t cook frozen shrimp on max temperature
- Let shrimp rest 1-2 minutes after cooking
The possibilities are endless when it comes to seasoning and sauces for air fried shrimp. Kick things up a notch with spicy mango glazed shrimp or keep it simple with melted lemon garlic butter shrimp. Get the whole family involved with make-your-own taco night using crisp air fried shrimp. For easy entertaining, serve up sheet pan garlic parmesan shrimp with roasted vegetables.
Mastering the art of air frying shrimp takes some experimentation to nail down optimal cook times. But once you get it down, you will have perfectly cooked shrimp on demand and may never go back to deep frying again. Say goodbye to overcooked rubbery shrimp and hello to tender, juicy, crispy air fryer shrimp in minutes.
Recipe tips and variations
- Do not put too many shrimp in the air fryer at once, or the shrimp will not cook evenly and some sides will be done too early. Instead, cook the shrimp one layer at a time and in groups.
- If you flip the shrimp over halfway through, both sides will be crispy.
- Some fun seasonings to try are lemon pepper, Cajun seasoning, and old bay seasoning. They will change the taste and spices.
- Sprinkle panko bread crumbs and/or parmesan cheese on top if you want to bread it or make it extra crispy.
While delicious on its own, air fried shrimp is delicious to use in a plethora of ways. Here are some of my favorites-.
- Shrimp salad. You can put the cooked shrimp in my shrimp salad or on top of your favorite greens.
- Shrimp sandwich. As a quick and easy way to satisfy my craving for a shrimp burger, I often make myself a sandwich with cold shrimp, spicy mayo, lettuce, and tomatoes.
- Shrimp tacos. Put the shrimp, salsa, and guacamole on soft or hard shell tacos. You can also add the shrimp to my shrimp fajitas and save a lot of work.
- Shrimp pasta. Add air-fried shrimp to your favorite pasta or use shrimp that has already been cooked in a pesto pasta.
- Sauces. This shrimp is great as an appetizer or party dish with fun sauces like hot honey sauce, garlic yogurt sauce (shown), or ketchup if I’m not making it for dinner.
To store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
If you want to freeze leftovers, put them in a ziplock bag and freeze them for up to two months.
Thaw the food, then put it on a baking sheet or in the air fryer basket to heat it up and make it crispy.
While shrimp may look dull and gray before cooking, it’s very easy to tell when it’s fully cooked. The shrimp should be pink/orange in color and form a clear ‘C’ shape.
Yes, frozen shrimp will work, but you need to make sure it’s been thawed completely. Once it has, I recommend using a paper towel to mop up any excess moisture.
How to cook shrimp in the air fryer
Pat dry the shrimp: Pat dry the shrimp with a paper towel.
Spice up the shrimp: Put the shrimp in a bowl and add the olive oil and spices. Mix the shrimp until they are well covered.
Cook in the air fryer: Air fry the shrimp for 7-8 minutes at 200C/400F.
Serve: Serve the shrimp immediately.
The average cooking time is 8 minutes. However, it depends on the brand of the air fryer and how large the shrimp are.
I use my favorite Phillips air fryer, which fits quite a large air fryer basket, so it cooks perfectly by the 7-minute mark. If yours is larger, it will be a little shorter (check it around the 6-minute mark).
Air Fryer Shrimp
How long should you air fry shrimp?
Air fry shrimp at 400F for 5 to 6 minutes. Arrange shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket, cooking in batches as needed. Serve with lemon wedges. Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe!
How do you cook Jumbo Shrimp using an Air Fryer?
To cook Jumbo Shrimp in an Air Fryer, first peel and devein 32 jumbo shrimp. Then, stir in two tablespoons of oil with spices in a bowl. Combine the spices with the oil and then add the shrimp. Arrange the raw shrimp in a single layer in the Air Fryer basket.
Can frozen shrimp be cooked in an air fryer?
Yes, you can cook frozen shrimp in an air fryer. Flip the shrimp over and brush oil over the other side, then sprinkle on the remaining seasonings. Place the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer. Air fry at 400° F for 3 minutes. Flip the shrimp over and cook for 1-5 more minutes, until shrimp are cooked through.
How do you thaw shrimp in an air fryer?
Thaw shrimp overnight or under cold water before cooking in an air fryer. Cindy from Air Fryer Eats then places the thawed shrimp in a bowl, pours oil over it, and tosses gently to coat. She sprinkles garlic salt over the shrimp and tosses again to coat evenly. Finally, she places the seasoned shrimp into the air fryer basket and cooks at 400 degrees F for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through.