How Long To Air Fry Frozen Shrimp For Perfectly Cooked Seafood Every Time

Air frying frozen shrimp is a quick and easy way to cook up delicious seafood in just minutes. With an air fryer, you can skip the hassle of thawing and get perfect, crispy shrimp straight from the freezer. But exactly how long should you air fry frozen shrimp to ensure it’s cooked through without drying out?

As an experienced home cook and air fryer enthusiast, I’ve experimented with cooking times and temperatures and have the answers to help you nail air fried frozen shrimp every time. In this article, I’ll share my tips on exactly how long to cook frozen shrimp in an air fryer based on shrimp size and type.

Factors That Affect Shrimp Air Fry Time

Several factors impact how long you should air fry frozen shrimp, including:

• Shrimp size – Smaller popcorn shrimp will cook faster than larger jumbo or colossal shrimp

• Breaded vs unbreaded – Breaded shrimp requires a longer cook time than unbreaded or butterflied shrimp.

• Raw vs pre-cooked – Pre-cooked shrimp takes less time than cooking raw frozen shrimp in an air fryer

• Quantity – Cooking a large batch takes longer than just a few shrimp.

• Air fryer wattage – Higher wattage air fryers cook faster than lower wattage models.

• Air fryer model – Some air fryer models tend to cook faster or run hotter.

Knowing the factors above will help you determine the best air fry times and temperatures for frozen shrimp based on the specifics of what you are cooking.

Recommended Air Fry Times for Frozen Shrimp

Based on my experience, here are my recommended air fry times for frozen shrimp:

Raw Medium Shrimp (16 to 20 count per pound)

• Unbreaded – 7 minutes at 390°F
• Breaded – 10 minutes at 390°F

Raw Jumbo Shrimp (10 to 15 count per pound)

• Unbreaded – 9 minutes at 390°F
• Breaded – 12 minutes at 390°F

Popcorn Shrimp

• 8 minutes at 390°F for a full basket (shake halfway)

Pre-cooked Frozen Shrimp

• Any size – 5 minutes at 390°F

These times are based on a typical 1200-1400 watt air fryer and account for the frozen state of the shrimp. Always check for doneness by slicing into the thickest part of a shrimp after cooking to ensure it’s opaque in the center. Adjust cook times up or down slightly as needed based on your specific model.

Helpful Tips for Air Frying Frozen Shrimp

Follow these tips for perfect air fried frozen shrimp every time:

• Don’t overcrowd the basket – Cook in a single layer, avoid overlapping.

• Allow room for airflow – Don’t pack shrimp too tightly together.

• Flip or shake halfway – Ensure even cooking by stirring or flipping shrimp.

• Use cooking spray – Lightly coat the basket with oil to prevent sticking.

• Pat off excess moisture – Blot shrimp dry after cooking to maximize crispness.

• Check for doneness – Cut into thickest shrimp to confirm opaque center.

• Let rest 1-2 minutes – Allowing shrimp to rest ensures it stays juicy.

With the proper cook times and a few simple tips, you can enjoy restaurant-quality crispy air fried shrimp at home with ease. Just pop frozen shrimp straight into your air fryer and enjoy tender, lightly breaded or perfectly crisped seafood in 10 minutes or less.

Why Air Fry Frozen Shrimp?

Air frying frozen shrimp has some major advantages over other cooking methods:

• It’s incredibly fast – Shrimp cooks in just 7-12 minutes in an air fryer depending on size and whether it’s breaded. Much faster than baking or pan frying.

• No thawing required – Air frying eliminates the need to remember to thaw shrimp in the fridge overnight.

• Crispy breading – The air fryer gives breaded shrimp an evenly crispy, crunchy coating.

• Tender and moist results – Rapid, high heat air frying seals in moisture better than slow baking.

• Hands-free cooking – Simply toss shrimp in the basket and walk away while air frying does the work.

• Versatile – Use air fried shrimp in tacos, over salad or pasta, or dip in cocktail sauce for an app.

Thanks to these advantages, air frying makes enjoying shrimp quick and convenient any night of the week.

Step-By-Step Guide to Air Frying Frozen Shrimp

Air frying frozen shrimp is incredibly easy. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Select Your Shrimp

Choose whatever type of frozen shrimp you prefer. Opt for raw or cooked, shell-on or peeled, breaded or unbreaded – it all air fries beautifully. Just note any differences in cook times.

2. Preheat Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 390 ̊F. This high temp helps maintain a crispy crust on breaded shrimp.

3. Prepare the Basket

Spray or brush the air fryer basket lightly with oil to prevent sticking.

4. Add Shrimp

Place shrimp in a single layer in the basket, being careful not to overcrowd.

5. Air Fry

Air fry at 390 ̊F, shaking basket or flipping shrimp halfway, until opaque and cooked through.

6. Check for Doneness

Cut into a few thick shrimp to confirm they are fully cooked.

7. Let Rest and Serve

Let shrimp rest 1-2 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute. Enjoy!

With just a few minutes of prep and air fry time, you can enjoy restaurant-quality shrimp any night of the week.

Helpful Equipment to Air Fry Shrimp

While you can cook shrimp in any air fryer, having the right equipment makes air frying easier and helps ensure perfect results:

• Dual basket air fryer – Allows cooking shrimp and a side dish at once. Go for a model with drawers or stackable baskets.

• Nonstick air fryer basket – A coating like ceramic helps prevent delicate shrimp from sticking.

• Air fryer cooking paddles – Paddles make tossing and flipping shrimp seamless.

• Internal light – Lets you monitor cooking progress without releasing heat.

• Digital interface – Precisely set and adjust temperature and times.

• Large capacity – Choose at least 3 quarts to cook bigger batches.

Investing in an air fryer with features like these can take your shrimp game to the next level.

Delicious Ways to Serve Air Fried Shrimp

The uses for air fried shrimp are nearly endless! Here are some of my favorite ways to serve it:

• Tossed in pasta or grain bowls

• Added to tacos or burritos

• Served over greens for an easy salad

• Piled high on bruschetta

• Mixed into fried rice or stir fry

• Layered on flatbread pizzas

• Rolled in flour tortillas for fajitas

• Enjoyed as an appetizer with cocktail sauce

• Added to macaroni and cheese or grits

• Placed atop avocado toast

• Tossed with roasted veggies

However you choose to use your crispy air fried shrimp, it’s sure to be a hit! The air fryer does all the hard work for tender, lightly breaded seafood in just minutes flat.

More Air Fryer Shrimp Recipes to Try

Once you’ve mastered the basics, try out these tasty recipes:

Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp – Tossed in a coconut panko crust, these get deliciously crispy outside with a tender interior.

Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp – Crisp shrimp smothered in a spicy mayo-based “bang bang” sauce.

Air Fryer Shrimp Scampi – Butter, garlic, lemon and white wine flavor these juicy morsels.

Air Fryer Shrimp Boil Foil Packs – All the fun flavors of a shrimp boil in easy, no-mess pouches.

Air Fryer Shrimp and Sausage Skillet – Sautéed Trinity aromatics ramp up the flavor.

With an air fryer, you