If you need to reheat shrimp leftovers, follow these simple and helpful guidelines for perfectly flavorful reheated shrimp.
However, it is possible to reheat shrimp without drying it out. Below are the best ways to reheat shrimp.
Steamed shrimp is such a quick and easy dinner but the leftovers can be tricky to reheat. Overcooked rubbery shrimp is an unpleasant experience for anyone. Luckily, with the right techniques, you can heat up steamed shrimp to be just as tender and flavorful as when it was freshly cooked.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share my best tips for reheating steamed shrimp successfully, whether you have plain shrimp or shrimp mixed into pasta, rice or other dishes. With a little care and the proper methods, you can enjoy fantastic leftover shrimp any night of the week. Let’s dive in!
Why Reheating Shrimp Can Be Challenging
Shrimp has a delicate texture that can go from juicy to rubbery very quickly, especially when reheating. This happens for a few reasons:
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Shrimp contains lots of moisture. When reheated too fast the moisture is expelled and the shrimp dries out.
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The proteins in shrimp become firm and tough when overcooked. Going over the proper reheating time ruins the tender texture
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Cold shrimp takes longer to reheat which can lead to overcooking. Allowing it to reach room temp helps.
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The reheating method makes a big difference. High steady heat is better than intense direct heat.
With the right techniques, we can avoid these pitfalls and enjoy shrimp just like it’s fresh-off-the-grill every time!
Tips for Reheating Steamed Shrimp
Follow these tips whenever you reheat steamed shrimp for best results:
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Use a gentle reheating method like the stovetop, not the microwave.
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Add a splash of broth, oil or water to provide moisture during heating.
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Bring shrimp to room temperature before reheating to shorten cook time.
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Heat just until warmed through, 1-2 minutes max. Avoid overcooking.
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For mixed dishes, try to separate the shrimp then combine after reheating.
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Store and reheat rice or pasta separately, then mix with shrimp.
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Cover with lid or aluminum foil to retain moisture.
With these tips in mind, let’s look at some easy methods for reheating steamed shrimp.
Best Ways to Reheat Steamed Shrimp
On the Stovetop
The stovetop allows delicate control over the reheating process for great results.
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Add 1-2 Tbsp water, oil or broth to a skillet and heat on medium.
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Add shrimp in a single layer and cover the pan.
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Cook for just 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
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Add a squeeze of lemon and chopped parsley before serving.
In the Oven
The oven works well for larger batches.
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Preheat oven to 300°F. Spread shrimp on a baking sheet in a single layer.
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Add a splash of water or broth. Cover tightly with foil.
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Heat for 10-15 minutes until warmed through, checking frequently.
In the Skillet
Foreasy shrimp and rice, pasta or veggies:
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Heat a drizzle of oil in a skillet over medium heat.
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Add shrimp and other ingredients, cover and cook 2-3 minutes.
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Stir occasionally until heated, then serve.
On a Grill
Get bonus flavor by reheating on an outdoor or indoor grill:
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Oil the grates then place shrimp directly on the grill on medium heat.
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Cook 1-2 minutes per side until marks appear.
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Optionally brush with sauce glaze last 30 seconds if using.
What to Avoid When Reheating Shrimp
It’s also important to know what doesn’t work when reheating this delicate ingredient:
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Microwave – makes shrimp rubbery and dry.
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High, direct heat – leads to overcooking. Gentle, indirect heat is best.
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Cooking too long – shrimp overcooks quickly. Heat just until warm.
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Not adding liquid – causes shrimp to dry out. A splash of water or oil helps.
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Room temperature shrimp – takes longer to heat, increasing chance of overcooking.
With these reheating dos and don’ts in mind, let’s talk about heating up leftover shrimp dishes.
How to Reheat Steamed Shrimp and Rice
One of my favorite quick meals is steamed shrimp with rice. Here are a few tips for the best reheated shrimp rice:
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For flat rice, try browning in a skillet before adding shrimp.
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Add a bit of water or oil to the rice and cook covered for better texture.
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Separate rice and shrimp, then combine after reheating for evenly heated shrimp.
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Or, reheat rice in microwave, then add room temp shrimp and stir just until warmed through.
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Fluff and stir reheated rice with a fork to improve the texture.
How to Reheat Steamed Shrimp Alfredo
Creamy shrimp pasta is delicious, but the sauce can break when reheating. Here are my tips:
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Reheat pasta and sauce together, covered, over low heat until warmed through.
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Stir in shrimp during the last 1-2 minutes to gently reheat.
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Add cream, oil or pasta water if sauce seems dry or breaks, then stir to combine.
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Or reheat pasta and sauce separately, then mix in warmed shrimp right before serving.
Tips for Reheating Steamed Shrimp Tacos
To keep those amazing flavors and textures in shrimp tacos try this:
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Wrap tortillas in foil and heat at 300°F for 10 minutes.
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Quickly reheat shrimp in a skillet with oil just until warm.
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Keep shredded cabbage cold and crunchy for topping.
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Assemble tacos with shrimp, cabbage, salsa and other toppings.
How to Store and Freeze Leftover Steamed Shrimp
For storing leftover steamed shrimp:
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Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3-4 days.
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Freeze pre-cooked shrimp for longer storage. Lay flat in freezer bags.
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Thaw frozen shrimp overnight in the fridge or in cold water before reheating.
With proper storage and reheating, you can enjoy steamed shrimp again and again. Now go forth and reheat those leftovers! Just remember – gentle reheating and avoiding overcooking is key.
Common Questions about Reheating Steamed Shrimp
What is the best way to reheat steamed shrimp?
Gently reheating on the stovetop with a bit of liquid is the ideal way to reheat steamed shrimp without drying it out. The stove allows delicate control of the heat level and adding broth or water provides moisture.
Can you put shrimp in the microwave?
It’s best to avoid reheating shrimp in the microwave if possible. The intense direct heat makes shrimp rubbery and dry. If using the microwave, heat shrimp for very short intervals (10-20 seconds) and cover the dish to retain moisture.
Should you reheat shrimp with rice?
It’s usually better to reheat rice separately from shrimp when possible. The rice may overcook the shrimp or dry it out. Gently reheat rice, then add room temperature shrimp at the end just until warmed through for the best results.
How do you keep shrimp from drying out when reheating?
Adding a splash of liquid like water, broth or oil provides moisture and helps keep shrimp tender. Covering the pan also traps steam to prevent drying out. Avoid direct high heat and don’t overcook – just reheat until shrimp are warm throughout.
Can you reheat cooked shrimp in the oven?
Yes, the oven can work well for reheating larger batches of shrimp. Spread out the shrimp in a single layer, add some liquid, and cover the dish with foil. Use a gentle 300°F and check frequently as shrimp overcooks quickly.
How can you tell if reheated shrimp is bad?
Signs that reheated shrimp has spoiled include an unpleasant fishy or ammonia odor, mushy texture, and discoloration. Only reheat shrimp leftovers once and within 3-4 days of cooking for safety. When in doubt, throw it out. Fresh shrimp is inexpensive and quick to cook.
Enjoy Fantastic Leftover Steamed Shrimp
With the right gentle reheating methods, you can enjoy steamed shrimp again and again. Now that you know how to properly heat it up, transform those leftovers into easy meals all week. Just remember to avoid overcooking and add liquid to prevent drying out.
What are your favorite dishes for using up leftover steamed shrimp? Fried rice, pasta, tacos? Share your ideas and have fun with reheating this tasty seafood!
The Best Way to Reheat Shrimp
A gentle reheating method that keeps shrimp moist is the best way to reheat cooked shrimp. I find that the stovetop usually works best.
However, no matter what cooking method you use for reheating shrimp, keep these two tips in mind:
- Add liquid: water or broth keeps the shrimp moist while it heats up.
- Cover the shrimp: For some ways of reheating, like in the oven or microwave, cover the shrimp tightly to keep the moisture in while it reheats.
Option 1: Gentle Simmer This stovetop method works well if youre reheating cooked shrimp without any other ingredients.
- Put about 2 inches of broth or water in a sauté pan. Tip: To make water taste better, add a pinch of salt, a squeeze of lemon, or a splash of white wine.
- Heat the liquid until its almost beginning to boil. Something hot, but not boiling, is what you want.
- Turn off the heat.
- Just put the shrimp in the liquid long enough to heat it up (this should happen quickly).
Option 2: Saute. This is a good way to cook shrimp that you don’t want to simmer in liquid or that you want to mix with other foods.
- Put a large sauté pan over medium-low heat and add a lot of oil.
- Once the oil is hot, add the shrimp and other things.
- Slowly cook the shrimp and other ingredients until they are mostly hot.
- Turn off the heat and put the lid on the pan for the last minute or two to keep the food moist while it finishes heating up.
I sometimes use the oven if Im reheating a large amount of shrimp and other ingredients.
- Heat oven to 300 F
- Place the shrimp in a single layer on a baking dish or sheet pan with a lip. Ideally, heat other ingredients in a different baking pan.
- Some warm water should be added to the baking sheet.
- Cover the sheet pan tightly with foil.
- Heat for about 10 to 15 minutes
If you have to, you can heat shrimp with other foods in the same baking dish. However, the shrimp will likely finish heating up first, and if you leave them in the oven for too long, they will get dry and overcooked.
Answers to All Your Questions About Reheating Shrimp
My favorite method is the first one in the blog post above: a gentle simmer on the stovetop. This way is nice because the heat is low, and the shrimp warm up quickly in the liquid without getting dry.
I find that the microwave makes cooked shrimp very rubbery. If you need to heat up shrimp in the microwave, cover the dish and heat it for as little time as possible.
Ideally, reheat the rice or pasta separately then add the shrimp back in. The reheated rice or pasta will gently warm the shrimp. Otherwise, you can either use the oven method or the stovetop sauté method in the blog post above. Add a little water to the rice or pasta either way, and cover the pan to keep the water in. You may need to add a little butter or oil after the dish has been heated through.
You can heat up breaded shrimp in a toaster oven or cook them in a pan with a little oil. Dont add liquid or use a lid, it will just make the coating soggy.
Overcooked shrimp curl into a tight “C shape. The texture is dry and rubbery.
Foodsafety.gov says shrimp are fully cooked when the “flesh is pearly or white, and opaque.” Look for the color to change from grayish and translucent to an opaque white, and the pinkish parts will get darker. Shrimp cook very quickly, often in just a few minutes. The thickest part of the shrimp, where it curves on the back, is the part to watch. When that turns opaque and white, the shrimp are done.
If the raw shrimp were fresh to begin with and were cooked to a safe temperature, cooked shrimp will stay good for about 4 days in the fridge. When you cook shrimp, reheat it, then put it back in the fridge and reheat it later, that’s not a good idea.
And dont forget, shrimp is delicious cold. Sometimes the best solution is to eat leftover shrimp without reheating it at all!.