Have some frozen shrimp in the freezer? You can make dinner right away! Just put the shrimp in the Instant Pot and cook them for 5 minutes. If you don’t have an Instant Pot, click here to read my review of it.
It’s nice to be able to use the Instant Pot to thaw frozen shrimp instead of running water. This Instant Pot recipe for frozen shrimp works well for both raw and cooked frozen shrimp. The Instant Pot will not only thaw the shrimp, it will also cook them.
To cook frozen shrimp, I use the same “zero minutes” method I use to quickly cook vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus in the Instant Pot. This is because shrimp cooks so quickly. Set the cooking time to 0 minutes on High pressure and then do a quick release (QR). The shrimp will be thawed and heated up while the Instant Pot comes to pressure. I also use 1/2 cup of hot tap water instead of cold water to get the Instant Pot to pressure as quickly as possible!
For frozen raw shrimp, I cook them for one minute on high pressure and then quickly let the pressure out (QR). One minute is plenty of time to pressure cook raw shrimp to perfection!.
Now you have a quick and easy seafood dinner thanks to your Instant Pot! You can put this shrimp on top of rice or quinoa, add it to salads, or make shrimp scampi by tossing it with butter and minced garlic. You can also serve it with the homemade shrimp cocktail sauce – delicious!.
Think about how much a restaurant shrimp dinner would cost. Making your own seafood feasts saves you a lot of money. For the best seafood dinner ever, try my Instant Pot lobster tails recipe—it’s so easy you won’t believe it!
Cooking shrimp in the Instant Pot is a fast and easy way to enjoy delicious shrimp entrees and appetizers. The key is knowing exactly how long to cook shrimp in the Instant Pot to achieve tender, juicy shrimp without overcooking.
Shrimp cooks quickly, so cooking times need to be precise Follow these tips and guidelines to master shrimp in the Instant Pot
Factors That Affect Shrimp Cooking Time
Several factors impact how long shrimp needs to cook in the Instant Pot:
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Size of shrimp – The smaller the shrimp, the less time needed. Large shrimp takes a bit longer.
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Frozen vs. thawed – Frozen shrimp takes longer to come to pressure and cook through. Add 1-2 minutes for frozen.
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Cooking liquid – Thick, dense liquids like tomato sauce slow cooking, while broth cooks faster.
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Number of shrimp – The more shrimp in the pot, the longer it takes for them all to cook evenly.
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Pre-cooked vs. raw – Pre-cooked shrimp only needs to reheat, while raw needs full cooking time.
Guidelines for Common Shrimp Sizes
Use these general Instant Pot shrimp cooking times as a starting point:
- Colossal shrimp (10 per pound or less) – 4-5 minutes
- Jumbo shrimp (16-20 per pound) – 3-4 minutes
- Extra large shrimp (21-25 per pound) – 3 minutes
- Large shrimp (26-30 per pound) – 2-3 minutes
- Medium shrimp (36-40 per pound) – 1-2 minutes
For frozen shrimp, add 1 minute to the times above Watch shrimp closely and immediately release pressure when done.
Tips for Cooking Shrimp Perfectly in the Instant Pot
Follow these tips for tender, juicy shrimp every time:
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Don’t overfill the pot – Shrimp needs room to cook evenly.
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Partially submerge shrimp in liquid.
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Stir shrimp halfway through cooking.
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Quick release pressure immediately after cooking time.
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Use a steamer basket for easy removal.
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Frozen cooked shrimp only needs 0-1 minutes to reheat.
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Add pre-cooked shrimp at end to just heat through.
Common Instant Pot Shrimp Recipes and Cook Times
Here are some examples of Instant Pot shrimp recipes with approximate cook times:
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Shrimp Boil – 3-4 minutes for raw extra large shrimp
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Shrimp Jambalaya – 1 minute for pre-cooked shrimp to reheat
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Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo – 3 minutes for raw large shrimp
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Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo – 0 minutes with pre-cooked shrimp stirred in at end
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Shrimp and Grits – 2 minutes for small raw shrimp
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Shrimp Scampi – 1 minute for pre-cooked shrimp just to reheat
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Shrimp Bisque – 3-4 minutes for raw jumbo shrimp
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Shrimp Lo Mein – 30 seconds for pre-cooked shrimp
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Shrimp Tacos – 2 minutes for raw medium shrimp
Always adjust cook times based on size of shrimp and whether raw or pre-cooked. The key is not overcooking the shrimp.
Doneness Tests for Instant Pot Shrimp
Here are ways to test shrimp for doneness:
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Raw shrimp turns from gray to opaque and pinkish-orange.
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Pre-cooked shrimp looks heated through and opaque.
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Texture is firm yet still tender when pierced.
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Instant-read thermometer reaches 145°F for food safety.
Err on the side of undercooking, as shrimp overcooks quickly. Immediately release pressure once shrimp is added to stop cooking.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
It’s easy to over or undercook shrimp in the Instant Pot. Avoid these mistakes:
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Overcrowding shrimp – Leave space for steam to circulate.
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Not releasing pressure immediately – Shrimp overcooks in residual heat.
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Too much or too little liquid – 1 cup is usually sufficient.
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Not stirring halfway through – Ensures even cooking.
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Adding pre-cooked shrimp too early – Only needs to reheat.
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Not using a timer – Shrimp goes from perfect to overcooked quickly.
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Cooking frozen and thawed shrimp the same – Frozen needs 1-2 mins extra.
Shrimp Safety Tips
Practice food safety with your Instant Pot shrimp:
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Thaw frozen shrimp before cooking if using raw.
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Don’t thaw shrimp at room temperature more than 2 hours.
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Cook shrimp to an internal temperature of 145°F.
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Discard any cracked or peeled shrimp before cooking.
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Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
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Reheat leftovers to 165°F.
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Use thawed shrimp within 1-2 days.
Following proper cook times in the Instant Pot ensures shrimp reaches safe temperatures. Test a few shrimp with a food thermometer to verify doneness.
More Instant Pot Shrimp Recipe Inspiration
The Instant Pot makes easy work of shrimp entrees, soups, appetizers and more. Try these delicious recipes:
- Instant Pot Shrimp and Sausage Casserole
- Instant Pot Shrimp Fried Rice
- Instant Pot Spanish Shrimp and Rice
- Instant Pot Coconut Curry Shrimp Soup
- Instant Pot Bang Bang Shrimp Lettuce Wraps
Flavorful shrimp dishes are just a few minutes away thanks to the Instant Pot. Follow these guidelines to perfectly cook shrimp to juicy, tender perfection every time.
Instant Pot Frozen ShimpGot a bag of frozen shrimp? Dinner will be ready in 5 minutes thanks to your Instant Pot! This Instant Pot frozen shrimp is super quick and easy!
- 1 lb frozen shrimp
- 1/2 cup hot water
- Put water in the Instant Pot and add frozen shrimp. Close the lid and set the valve so that it seals. For frozen cooked shrimp, press the “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” button and set the time to 0 minutes. For frozen raw shrimp, set the time to 1 minute.
- Let the steam out quickly (QR) when the Instant Pot is done cooking.
- Drain the shrimp in a colander and serve.
How to Cook Shrimp Perfectly in the Instant Pot (in just 1 MINUTE!)
How long do you cook frozen shrimp in Instant Pot?
Press the “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” button and set the time to ZERO (0) minutes for frozen cooked shrimp (or 1 minute for frozen raw shrimp) on High pressure. When Instant Pot is done cooking, quick release (QR) the steam. Drain the shrimp in a colander and serve.
How do you Pressure Cook shrimp in an Instant Pot?
In the Instant Pot, stir together the shrimp, butter, water/broth, garlic, salt, and red pepper flakes. With the steam release knob set to Sealing, set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on high for 1 minute. Once the heat builds up, the Instant Pot will pressure cook for 1 minute. When it is finished, turn the pressure release knob to Venting.
How do you steam shrimp in an Instant Pot?
To steam Instant Pot shrimp, place the shrimp in a steamer basket and add 1 cup of water to the pot. Set the Instant Pot to the “Steam” setting and the timer to 1 minute. For best results, use jumbo-sized shrimp and use quick-release for the pressure once the time is up.
Can you cook pre cooked shrimp in an Instant Pot?
Every Instant Pot has this capability. It’s best to use frozen, raw, peel-on shrimp when cooking from frozen. The shells will help the shrimp cook slower so they don’t become overcooked. Raw shrimp is also the way to go because pre-cooked shrimp really don’t need to be “cooked”, they just need to be defrosted.