How Long to Steam Frozen Shrimp for Perfectly Cooked Seafood

As a home cook who loves serving up quick, easy, and delicious meals for my family, shrimp is one of my go-to proteins. The shelled seafood cooks up lightning fast and offers a lean, versatile protein to add to pastas, salads, tacos, and more. But I often rely on that handy bag of frozen shrimp from the market to whip up these dishes, which brings up a key question – how long should I steam frozen shrimp to get it just right?

In this article, I’ll provide a complete guide to steaming frozen shrimp including cook times, tips, and recipes so you can master perfectly cooked shrimp every time from your own kitchen.

Why Steaming is the Best Cooking Method for Frozen Shrimp

Out of all the cooking methods like grilling, sautéing, or baking, steaming is hands-down the easiest and fastest way to cook frozen shrimp Since the shrimp goes right from frozen into the steamer, there’s no tedious defrosting required Steaming also cooks the shrimp incredibly quickly and evenly using the gentle, moist heat of vapor. Within just 4-6 minutes, you’ll have tender, juicy shrimp ready to eat. No worrying about over or undercooking.

Other cooking techniques like pan frying require carefully watching to avoid overcooking the shrimp from direct contact with the pan. Steaming avoids that so your shrimp comes out moist and flavorful each time. You also don’t have to deal with any messy clean up – just rinse out your steamer basket after use. That’s why busy home cooks love steaming their frozen shrimp. It’s low-fuss but still yields delicious results.

How Long to Steam Different Sizes of Frozen Shrimp

Shrimp are typically categorized by size/count per pound. The smaller the shrimp, the more pieces in a pound. Follow these helpful steam times for perfectly cooked frozen shrimp:

• Colossal (under 10 per pound): 8-10 minutes
• Extra Jumbo (11-15 per pound): 6-8 minutes
• Jumbo (16-20 per pound): 5-6 minutes
• Extra Large (21-25 per pound): 4-5 minutes
• Large (26-30 per pound): 3-4 minutes
• Medium (36-40 per pound): 2-3 minutes
• Small (51-60 per pound): 1-2 minutes

I recommend going by appearance and texture over cooking time alone Check the shrimp at the lower end of the time range by cutting into the thickest part of a piece It should be mostly opaque and firm throughout when done,

If shrimp still looks translucent in the center, continue steaming for another minute or two until just cooked through. Err on the side of slightly undercooked rather than overdoing it.

Tips for Steaming Frozen Shrimp Perfectly

Follow these pro tips when steaming frozen shrimp for flawless results:

• Choose raw shell-on shrimp for the most flavor and juiciness. Thaw peeled cooked shrimp before steaming.

• Arrange shrimp in a single layer in the steamer basket to ensure even cooking.

• Use a tight-fitting lid and high steam heat for efficient cooking.

• Don’t crowd the steamer basket or shrimp will steam unevenly. Cook in batches for larger amounts.

• Season shrimp with salt, pepper, lemon, garlic, or other herbs and spices after steaming when flavors absorb best.

• Use metal or bamboo steamer baskets which withstand heat better than plastic collapsible ones.

• Monitor cooking time and don’t over steam or shrimp will turn rubbery.

• Plunge cooked shrimp into an ice bath to stop carryover cooking if not eating right away.

My Favorite Easy Steamed Shrimp Recipes

Once you’ve mastered the simple art of steaming shrimp from frozen, it opens up a whole world of quick and easy meals. Here are some of my go-to recipes:

Old Bay Steamed Shrimp

For this flavor-packed dish, fill a pot with 2 cups water, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and 12 oz beer. Steam 1 pound large peeled, deveined shrimp for 5-6 minutes with 2 Tbsp Old Bay seasoning sprinkled on top. Serve with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges.

Garlic Butter Shrimp

Melt 4 Tbsp butter with 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper and 2 Tbsp chopped parsley. Steam 1 pound peeled raw large shrimp for 4 minutes until pink. Toss shrimp with garlic butter mixture to coat.

Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Boil

Bring 4 cups water, 2 beer bottles, and 2 Tbsp Cajun seasoning to a boil. Add 1 pound peeled raw large shrimp, 1 lb smoked sausage, halved, and 4 small potatoes, quartered. Steam for 8 minutes until shrimp is opaque. Sprinkle with more Cajun seasoning to taste.

Shrimp and Veggie Packets

Divide 1 lb peeled raw shrimp among 4 foil packets. Top with corn, sliced bell peppers, zucchini and squash. Drizzle with olive oil and seasoning of choice. Seal packets and steam for 7 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Steaming Frozen Shrimp

Should I thaw shrimp before steaming?

There’s no need to thaw frozen shrimp before steaming. Frozen shrimp can go straight into the steamer from the freezer for quick cooking. Defrosting first is an unnecessary extra step.

Do I need to adjust the cook time for thawed shrimp?

Yes, thawed shrimp will steam faster than frozen so reduce cook times by 1-2 minutes for thawed shrimp. Check frequently for doneness when steaming thawed shrimp.

Is it safe to eat undercooked shrimp?

It’s not recommended to eat undercooked shrimp as they can pose a health risk for bacteria and parasites. Shrimp should be steamed until opaque and firm throughout to be considered safe to eat. When in doubt, it’s better to overcook rather than undercook.

Can I re-steam previously cooked shrimp?

It’s not advised to re-steam pre-cooked shrimp as they will likely turn rubbery and overcooked. Cooked shrimp can be gently warmed up instead or added to recipes without additional cooking.

How long does cooked shrimp last in the fridge?

Cooked shrimp will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Be sure to store in an airtight container and place on ice if storing over 24 hours. Freeze for longer storage up to 4 months.

So next time you’re ready to enjoy tender, juicy shrimp but don’t have much time, just head to your freezer, grab that bag, and start steaming. In less than 10 minutes flat, you’ll have restaurant-worthy shrimp ready to eat. Once you get the basic steaming method down, you can experiment with global flavors and ingredients for shrimp dishes that will impress any crowd.