For people who love food and cooking, having family and friends over is a great way to get creative in the kitchen. Maybe your shrimp cocktail is well-known, or maybe you’ve been meaning to try a new deviled egg recipe. Perhaps youre known for your killer spinach artichoke dip. If you take the time to cook, you want the food to be served exactly the way you want it.
Often times when youre serving cold appetizers, theres concern about them warming up to an unsafe temperature. Foods like shrimp, eggs, and even dairy-based dips can become unsafe if they sit out for too long. Some people might not have to worry as much if they are only serving appetizers for a short time before the main course, but if heavy appetizers are the only food served all night, it’s important to make sure that the cold ones stay cold. You could put some of the dish out every so often and keep the rest in the fridge, but most party hosts want everyone to be able to enjoy the party. You can hide a bowl of ice with lettuce or other edible plants and serve your cold appetizers on top of that. This will keep the appetizers cold.
Shrimp cocktail is a classic party appetizer that never seems to go out of style. The sweet, briny shrimp paired with a tangy cocktail sauce is a foolproof crowd-pleaser. However, the presentation of this tasty treat is just as important as the flavors. Serving shrimp cocktail elegantly on ice elevates it from an everyday snack to a stylish starter for your next gathering.
In this article, we will explore 7 creative ways to beautifully display chilled shrimp on ice that are sure to wow your guests. From frosted bowls to trendy tiered platters, these ideas range from quick and simple to elaborate showstoppers. Let’s dive in!
1. Ice Bowl
One of the most popular ways to serve shrimp cocktail is in an ice bowl. This method allows the shrimp to nestle right into the ice, keeping them chilled while adding flair.
To make an ice bowl:
- Select two mixing bowls in different sizes that can nest inside each other. Stainless steel bowls work best.
- Place the smaller bowl inside the larger one. Use duct tape to secure the smaller bowl in place halfway down the interior.
- Fill the space between the bowls with water and freeze overnight. You can add lemon slices or other garnishes before freezing for more visual interest.
- Once frozen, remove the bowls and carefully separate the smaller bowl from the ice. Place on a serving platter.
- Gently peel away the larger bowl, revealing a perfect ice bowl. Fill with chilled shrimp and cocktail sauce.
The ice bowl is an elegant option that keeps shrimp cocktail cold when serving. It also adds a wow factor to your display!
2. Bed of Ice
For a quick and easy display, simply nestle the shrimp right into a bed of ice. Use a glass or stainless steel serving platter and fill with crushed or cubed ice. Arrange the chilled shrimp attractively on top.
To prevent the shrimp from sliding around you can
- Place a layer of rock salt down first to stabilize the ice.
- Use floral picks or small skewers to anchor each shrimp to the ice bed.
- Purchase silicone ice cube trays that have slots perfect for holding shrimp in place.
This method takes minutes to assemble. The ice provides a cold serving temperature while showing off the color of the shrimp.
3. Martini or Coupe Glasses
For bite-sized appetizers, martini or coupe glasses are perfect one-bite vessels. Each guest can grab a glass, no mess and no fuss.
Fill each martini glass halfway with crushed ice. Place 3-4 chilled shrimp around the rim with cocktail sauce in the center. Fancy toothpicks add even more flair.
Coupe glasses, resembling wide champagne flutes, also make elegant individual servings. Follow the same method as martini glasses to display the shrimp and sauce.
This serving method feels upscale and is easy for guests to grab and go. It also allows you to control portion sizes.
4. Ice Platter Tier
To really wow your guests, create a tiered ice platter display. This unique presentation turns your shrimp cocktail into art.
Start by filling different sized platters with crushed ice, creating 3-4 platters total. Arrange the platters in order from largest on the bottom to smallest on top. Next, circle shrimp around each platter, leaving the center open.
In that open space, add lemon slices, edible blooms, seaweed or cocktail sauce. The options are endless for filling the center creatively.
The tiered presentation is stunning and keeps the shrimp properly chilled on the ice platters. It’s perfect for large parties or special occasions.
5. Frosted Glass Bowl
For an icy bowl without needing to freeze water, use a frosted glass bowl. Simply chill the bowl in the freezer until icy to the touch.
Arrange shrimp around the interior edge of the bowl, mounding cocktail sauce attractively in the center. The chilled bowl prevents melting while the frosting obscures what’s underneath for mystery and elegance.
For added visual impact, rim the frosted bowl with decorative sprinkles, sugar or sea salt. Place on an acrylic stand for a floating effect.
6. Ice Wreath
Think outside the bowl with this unique shrimp ice wreath. You’ll need ring molds or bundt pans to shape the ice wreath base.
Fill the ring molds with water and freeze. Once frozen, remove the ice wreath bases and place on a platter or tray. Decorate the wreaths by sticking in lemon slices, fresh herbs or edible flowers.
Then, intersperse peeled, chilled shrimp between the decorations on the ice wreaths. Prepare one or more wreaths depending on the size of your party.
The ice wreaths make for an unexpected presentation. They keep the delicate shrimp cold while allowing your arrangements and garnishes to shine.
7. Single Serving Skewers
Make your shrimp cocktail a walk-around appetizer by skewering each one. Assemble the shrimp, sauce, and garnishes on pretty drink picks or wooded skewers.
First, thread the shrimp onto the skewer. Then add a dollop of sauce and garnish with lemon or herbs.
Arrange the loaded skewers upright in a bed of crushed ice to keep cool and in place. Or, serve in glasses like a shrimp cocktail martini.
Skewering the shrimp into single servings makes mingling easy. Guests can quickly grab these handheld bites while they socialize and mingle.
Key Tips for Displaying Shrimp Cocktail on Ice
Now that we’ve covered different display methods, let’s go over some key tips to follow for ice-cold, picture-perfect shrimp cocktail:
- Use shell-on shrimp for the most visual appeal and flavor. Peel before eating.
- Chill the shrimp for at least 2 hours before serving on ice. This prevents any bacterial growth.
- Use crushed or small cube ice that allows the tails to poke through and be seen.
- Focus on quality over quantity with 4-5 shrimp per serving.
- Arrange creatively for height, movement, and color variation.
- Serve within 1-2 hours for food safety. Do not leave shrimp at room temperature for long.
- Provide cocktail napkins so guests can easily pick up shrimp.
- Have small forks or picks available for those that don’t want to use fingers.
Get Creative with Your Next Shrimp Cocktail Display
Serving up chilled shrimp cocktail on ice doesn’t have to be boring. With so many ways to display this appetizer creatively, you can design a presentation that suits your style. From frosted bowls to skewers, the options highlighted here range from fast informal to elegant and impressive.
So the next time you plan to serve this party favorite, skip the run-of-the-mill nesting bowl setup. Try one of these ice-cold serving suggestions to showcase your shrimp cocktail with flair. Your guests will be delighted by the innovation while enjoying this classic appetizer.
How to keep apps cold while looking cool
Anyone who has been to a wedding or catered event has probably seen a chafing dish. These dishes help keep hot food hot, but what about a serving dish that keeps cold food cold? It’s not as common, but it shouldn’t be. Keeping cold food cold is important, especially during the warmer and more humid months of the year. When it first comes out, a shrimp cocktail is a real treat. But after an hour, not so much. So how can you avoid ruining the food that youve worked so hard to prepare and present?.
Youll need a few things. A bowl or small casserole dish, a few large ziplock bags that can go in the freezer, a lot of ice, and some greens that you can eat. First, fill the ziplock bags with ice but not too full. It’s best to make them as full as possible so that you can zip them up without much trouble. Next, put the ice bag in the bowl or casserole dish. Then, arrange the greens on top of the ice bag to make a pretty nest where you can serve your cold appetizers. Any kind of large edible green will work nicely, like bibb or butter lettuce. You can also use greens that look more interesting, like kale, rainbow Swiss chard, red cabbage leaves, or even collard greens. You want it to lay flat no matter what you use, especially if you’re going to put shrimp or deviled eggs on top of it.
Shrimp Appetizer in Tapered Shot Glass
FAQ
How do you display shrimp cocktails for a party?
Can shrimp be placed directly on ice?
Should shrimp cocktail be served on ice?
How to keep shrimp cold for a party?
What is an Ice Bowl for a shrimp cocktail?
An ice bowl is a spectacular way to display and serve shrimp or any cold seafood for a cocktail party! Here I will show you the step by step instructions s so you can create one yourself! After I shared my Beach Ball Themed cocktail party I had some questions about how I made the ice bowl for my shrimp cocktail.
How do you use an Ice Bowl for shrimp?
My favorite use for the ice bowl is to serve shrimp cocktail at a party. It keeps the shrimp nice and chilled, and you can line the bowl with lettuce leaves to keep moisture away from the shrimp if it will be sitting out for a long time. Make sure to place the ice bowl in a shallow dish to catch melting water.
How do you keep a shrimp cocktail cold?
I found a simple and pretty way to serve shrimp cocktail that will keep it cold for several hours. Fill a glass bowl or trifle dish about halfway full of ice. Place a small glass bowl in the center for the cocktail sauce and then place sliced lemons on the sides of the larger bowl.
How do you make a shrimp cocktail?
Place a small glass bowl in the center for the cocktail sauce and then place sliced lemons on the sides of the larger bowl. Top off the bowl with more ice and add the shrimp around the top and resting on the sides. Pretty and functional! Now you have a pretty dish to serve and your shrimp stays cold, tasty, and fresh.