How Long To Air Fry Shrimp Tempura For Perfectly Crispy Results

Air frying shrimp tempura is a quick and easy way to enjoy this crispy appetizer at home. With just a few minutes in the air fryer, you can make golden, crunchy shrimp tempura that tastes like it came fresh from your favorite Japanese restaurant

But exactly how long should you air fry shrimp tempura to get the best results? Here, I’ll walk through everything you need to know for making perfect air fryer shrimp tempura, including cook times and tips

What is Shrimp Tempura?

Shrimp tempura is a popular Japanese appetizer or side dish consisting of shrimp coated in a light, crispy tempura batter and then deep fried. The tempura batter is made from flour, egg, and ice-cold water or club soda which gives it a light, airy texture.

Traditionally, shrimp tempura is fried in oil at high heat to achieve a super crunchy exterior coating while keeping the shrimp inside tender and juicy. The key is frying it for just long enough to crisp the batter without overcooking the shrimp.

Why Make Shrimp Tempura in The Air Fryer?

While deep frying makes classic crispy tempura, it comes with a few downsides. Heating up a pot of oil on the stove takes more time and cleanup is messier. Plus, deep frying adds a lot of extra calories from the oil.

That’s where the air fryer comes in! The air fryer mimics deep frying by circulating hot air around food. This allows foods like shrimp tempura to get crispy fast without submerging them in oil.

Air frying shrimp tempura gives you:

• Less added fat and calories than deep frying
• Super quick cook time
• Easy cleanup with minimal oil mess
• Consistent, restaurant-quality crispiness

It’s my go-to method for making crispy shrimp appetizers at home with less guilt!

How Long To Cook Frozen Shrimp Tempura in Air Fryer

If you’re starting with frozen, pre-made shrimp tempura, here are the air fryer cook times to follow:

At 360°F (180°C), air fry frozen shrimp tempura for 7-8 minutes. This is enough time for the batter to turn golden brown and crispy while heating the shrimp through.

I like to spray the shrimp lightly with oil or cooking spray before air frying to help promote browning and crispness. Then halfway through, I open the basket and flip the shrimp tempura pieces over to ensure even cooking.

After 7-8 minutes in a 360°F air fryer, frozen shrimp tempura comes out hot, crispy, and ready to eat!

How Long To Air Fry Homemade Shrimp Tempura

If you’re breading raw shrimp in tempura batter at home before air frying, the cook time needs to be a little longer. Here’s what to do:

1. Prep the shrimp tempura batter and raw shrimp. Rinse and pat dry medium shrimp. Make the tempura batter according to a trusted recipe. Dip shrimp in batter to coat completely.

2. Air fry at 360°F for 9-11 minutes. For homemade tempura with raw shrimp, I recommend increasing the cook time to 9-11 minutes at 360°F. This allows the batter to fully crisp up while ensuring the shrimp inside cooks through.

3. Flip halfway. After 4-5 minutes, open the basket and flip the shrimp tempura pieces over. This helps the coating brown evenly on both sides.

4. Check doneness. After 9-11 minutes, the batter should be golden brown and crunchy while the shrimp inside should be opaque and cooked through. Use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the thickest part of the shrimp, it should reach 145°F.

5. Let rest 1 minute. Once air fried, transfer shrimp tempura to a paper towel lined plate to briefly rest for 1 minute before serving. This helps absorb any excess oil for a crisper texture.

The extra couple minutes gives homemade tempura the time it needs to cook the shrimp through while crisping up the batter. Then you’ll have restaurant-quality shrimp tempura made easily at home.

Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Shrimp Tempura

Follow these tips to nail air fryer shrimp tempura every time:

• Pat shrimp dry before breading for maximum crispness. Excess moisture prevents the batter from crisping properly.

• Use ice cold batter made with chilled water or soda. This keeps the tempura light and lacy.

• Fully coat shrimp with a thin, even layer of batter. Too thick of a coating can get soggy.

• Spray with oil before air frying for optimal browning and texture.

• Don’t overcrowd. Arrange shrimp in a single layer in the basket, leaving space in between.

• Flip halfway through cook time for evenly crisped coating.

• Check often near end of cooking to prevent burning.

• Let rest 1 minute after cooking for improved crispness.

Common Air Fryer Shrimp Tempura Questions

If you’re new to making shrimp tempura in the air fryer, here are answers to some frequently asked questions:

How long does it take to cook pre-cooked shrimp tempura in the air fryer?

For frozen, pre-cooked shrimp tempura, air fry at 360°F for 7-8 minutes until hot and crispy.

What temperature do you cook shrimp tempura in an air fryer?

360°F (180°C) is the best temperature to make shrimp tempura crunchy in an air fryer.

How long do you air fry raw shrimp tempura?

When breading raw shrimp in tempura batter, increase air fryer cook time to 9-11 minutes at 360°F to ensure the shrimp fully cooks.

Do you flip shrimp tempura when air frying?

Yes, flipping halfway through promotes even browning and crispness on all sides.

Can you overcook shrimp tempura in the air fryer?

It’s possible if cooked too long. Check often near the end of the recommended cook times.

Enjoy Crispy Air Fryer Shrimp Tempura

With just a few minutes in a hot air fryer, you can now enjoy crispy, crunchy shrimp tempura without deep frying or heading to a restaurant.

For the best results when air frying shrimp tempura, cook frozen pre-made tempura shrimp for 7-8 minutes or raw shrimp coated in batter for 9-11 minutes at 360°F. Follow these simple guidelines for perfectly crispy and delicious shrimp fryer tempura every time!

Frequency of Entities:

shrimp tempura: 25
air fryer: 24
frozen: 4
batter: 7
deep frying: 3
oil: 5
crispy: 8
crunchy: 3
cook time: 6
shrimp: 9
minutes: 10
tempura batter: 2
Japanese: 1
appetizer: 2
calories: 1
coating: 3
raw: 3