Some people love seafood, and this Old Bay Steamed Shrimp recipe has been around for a long time. It’s quick, easy, and tastes great! You can serve it as an appetizer or as a main dish with a salad.
As a seafood lover, shrimp is one of my favorite go-to proteins. The sweet, briny flavor pairs deliciously with so many dishes and cooking methods. While grilled and sautéed shrimp are tasty, steaming is a quick, easy and healthy way to prepare shrimp while retaining moisture and flavor.
When steaming shrimp, you have the option to cook them with the shell on or peeled. Both methods have their benefits but the cooking time can vary. So how long should you steam peeled shrimp to ensure they turn out tender and juicy?
In this article, I’ll share my tips for steaming peeled shrimp, including:
- Benefits of steaming peeled vs shell-on shrimp
- Recommended size of shrimp to use
- How to prep and season peeled shrimp before steaming
- Exact steaming times for perfect texture
- Serving suggestions to make the most of your steamed shrimp
After reading you’ll feel confident on precisely how long to steam peeled shrimp for your next seafood meal or appetizer!
Benefits of Steaming Peeled vs Shell-On Shrimp
Many shrimp recipes call for leaving the shell on while cooking as the shell helps insulate the delicate flesh. So does steaming peeled shrimp negatively impact the texture?
Surprisingly, I find steaming peeled shrimp turns out tender and moist. Since the shrimp cook quickly without their shell, it’s easy to avoid overcooking. The shrimp absorb seasoning well too.
However, peeled shrimp can dry out if cooked too long. So proper steaming time is key.
Steaming peeled shrimp has advantages:
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Easy to eat: No need to peel after cooking. Just toss with seasoning and serve.
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Absorb flavors: Seasonings penetrate the flesh easier without the shell barrier.
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Cook quickly: Cut down total cooking time since there’s no shell insulation.
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Avoid overcooking: The flesh cooks fast, so quick cooking prevents rubbery texture.
For these reasons, don’t be afraid to steam shrimp sans shell! Just be mindful of timing.
Choose the Right Size Shrimp
For steaming, medium to large shrimp sizes work best, such as:
- 16-20 count per pound
- 21-25 count per pound
- 26-30 count per pound
The smaller the count, the larger each individual shrimp. Large shrimp hold up better to steaming since the flesh stays plump and juicy.
I don’t recommend steaming small salad shrimp. They overcook quickly. For petite shrimp, opt for sautéing or grilling with quick cooking times.
Jumbo shrimp also steam well, although may take an extra minute or two. I’ll provide timing ranges to accommodate jumbo shrimp too.
Properly Prepare Peeled Shrimp Before Cooking
Proper prep is key to delicious steamed shrimp:
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Peel completely: Remove the shell entirely along with the legs and tail.
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Devein: Use a paring knife to remove the digestive tract running along the back. This prevents gritty texture.
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Rinse: Give peeled and deveined shrimp a quick rinse.
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Pat dry: Gently pat with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Wet shrimp may steam unevenly.
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Season: Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, paprika, cajun seasoning or your favorite blend.
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Refrigerate: Chill seasoned shrimp in the fridge for 15-30 minutes before steaming. This firms up the flesh.
With prepped shrimp ready to go, it’s time to steam!
Steaming Instructions for Perfectly Cooked Shrimp
Steaming peeled shrimp requires just a pot, steaming basket and few minutes of active cooking time. Here are step-by-step instructions:
1. Prepare steaming pot
Fill a large pot with 1-2 inches of water. Insert a steaming basket or colander. The water should not touch the bottom of the basket.
Bring water to a rapid simmer over high heat. The steam will cook the shrimp.
2. Add seasoned shrimp to basket
Place peeled, deveined and seasoned shrimp in a single layer in the steaming basket.
For maximum steam circulation, don’t overcrowd. Work in batches for larger amounts.
3. Steam for 4-5 minutes
Place the steaming basket in the pot, cover and steam for 4-5 minutes.
Since peeled shrimp cooks quickly, start checking at 3 minutes.
I recommend tossing the shrimp halfway through. This ensures even exposure to steam.
4. Check for doneness
After 4-5 minutes, a peeled shrimp should be fully cooked.
It will turn pink and become opaque throughout the flesh. To check, cut into a few shrimp to inspect the center.
If still translucent, continue steaming in 1 minute increments, checking frequently to avoid overcooking.
5. Immediately transfer to ice bath
As soon as the shrimp is cooked, immediately transfer to an ice bath. This stops carryover cooking.
Let cool for 5 minutes before serving or chilling completely.
And your steamed shrimp is ready to enjoy! The entire process takes only 10-15 minutes.
Steaming Times for Shrimp Sizes
Use these steaming times as a general guide for peeled, deveined shrimp:
- Colossal shrimp (10 or less per pound): 5-7 minutes
- Jumbo shrimp (11-15 per pound): 4-6 minutes
- Extra large shrimp (16-20 per pound): 4-5 minutes
- Large shrimp (21-25 per pound): 3-4 minutes
- Medium shrimp (26-30 per pound): 3-4 minutes
- Small shrimp (36-45 per pound): 2-3 minutes
I recommend checking shrimp at the lower end of the time range given for plump, tender results every time.
If shrimp aren’t fully opaque in the center, continue steaming in 1 minute increments until cooked through.
Serving Suggestions for Steamed Shrimp
From appetizers to main courses, steamed shrimp lends itself to an array of dishes:
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Shrimp cocktail – Chill steamed shrimp and serve with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges.
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Shrimp salad – Toss chilled steamed shrimp with mayo, lemon juice, herbs and celery for a tasty salad.
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Shrimp tacos – Add steamed shrimp to warmed tortillas with cabbage, avocado and crema.
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Shrimp pasta – For an easy one-pan meal, combine steamed shrimp with linguine, olive oil, tomatoes and spinach.
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Shrimp skewers – Alternate steamed shrimp with cherry tomatoes and chunks of pineapple on skewers.
However you choose to use your steamed shrimp, following my tips for prepping and steaming peeled shrimp ensures tender, juicy seafood every time.
Old Bay Shrimp Recipe
If you don’t want to devein the shrimp, this easy recipe can be made in even less time. Serve with melted butter, cocktail sauce, or tartar sauce for one of the easiest snacks or quick meals you’ll ever make.
- Shrimp: You’ll need one pound of big shrimp with their shells on.
- Old Bay Seasoning—You can set your own personal preference for how much to use. You can use Cajun seasoning instead of Old Bay, but I love the taste of Old Bay better.
- Water: Before you boil the water, make sure it doesn’t touch the bottom of the steamer basket.
- You don’t have to serve lemon wedges, but I love steamed shrimp with freshly squeezed lemon.
How to Steam Shrimp
- Bring water to a boil. If you don’t want the bottom of the steamer basket to touch the water, don’t pour too much water into the big pot.
- Put the shrimp in the steamer basket and season them with Old Bay.
- Carefully place the basket in the pot and cover. Reduce heat as necessary to maintain a gentle boil.
- It depends on the size of your shrimp, but steam them for 4 to 6 minutes. After about two minutes, I use tongs to move the shrimp around so that they steam evenly. When shrimp have just turned pink and are clear, they are done.
You can make a makeshift steamer basket with a stainless mesh strainer (or colander) placed into a pot.
It should take four to six minutes – toss the shrimp after a couple of minutes to ensure that every shrimp cooks evenly (the ones on the bottom will cook first). Steam until shrimp have just turned pink and are opaque.
This is totally your personal preference, but deveining isn’t a requirement. If you prefer yours deveined, it’s very simple to do. Cut the shell along the back of the shrimp using a pair of kitchen scissors. Remove the vein and rinse under cold water.
How to Steam Shrimp – Basic Kitchen Skills
How long do you cook fresh shrimp in a steamer?
Once the water reaches a boil, add the shrimp to the steamer basket or on top of the boiling water. For fresh small to medium sized shrimp, steam for 2-5 minutes, and for larger fresh shrimp, steam for 5-7 minutes. If using frozen shrimp, add an additional 2-3 minutes to the steaming time.
How long do you steam shrimp in a crock pot?
Carefully place the steamer basket in the pot and cover. Reduce heat to medium, or enough to maintain a gentle boil. Steam for 4 to 6 minutes (will depend upon the size of your shrimp). Remove lid after 2 to 3 minutes and toss shrimp (using tongs). Cover with lid and continue to steam until shrimp have just turned pink and are opaque.
How do you make steamed shrimp?
You’ll need a large pot with a lid and a steamer basket that fits inside with the lid on top to make steamed shrimp. Add your water, apple cider vinegar, and beer to the pot and bring it to a boil. Place your steam basket on top while you’re waiting for the mixture to boil. When it starts boiling, add in the shrimp in a single layer, if possible.
How do you cook a pound of shrimp in a steamer?
Rinse out any dirt or vein with cold water. Leave the shell around the shrimp though. When all your shrimp are cleaned, toss them in a steamer and season them well with Old Bay and optionally Cajun seasoning. I recommend using about 2 teaspoons of Old Bay per pound of shrimp. A lot of it will fall off during cooking.