Frozen cooked shrimp recipes are a super-quick option when preparing weeknight meals, last-minute appetizers or late-night snacks. Foods that are served cold, like shrimp cocktail and shrimp salad, go well with it. It also makes pasta, pizza, and stir-fries look more elegant.
In fact, one of the most useful things to keep in your freezer is frozen cooked shrimp, which you can thaw at any time and use in your next recipe.
Thaw frozen shrimp in the fridge overnight or under cool water. Serve as an appetizer or as the main attraction.
According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, frozen cooked shrimp should be thawed overnight in the fridge or in a colander in the sink with cold water running over it. This should take about 30 minutes per pound.
Do not let shrimp thaw on a counter at room temperature. This can cause bacteria to grow that can make you sick. Once the shrimp is no longer frozen, you can either use it right away or put it in the fridge with a tight lid until you’re ready to use it.
Is Frozen Cooked Shrimp Ready to Eat? A Guide to Safely Preparing Pre-cooked Frozen Shrimp
Frozen cooked shrimp can be a convenient and tasty addition to many dishes. But is it really ready to eat straight from the freezer? While pre-cooked frozen shrimp has been previously cooked it still requires proper thawing and heating before eating for food safety. Let’s walk through some tips for safely preparing frozen cooked shrimp so you can enjoy it with confidence.
As a seafood lover and amateur home chef I often utilize the ease of frozen pre-cooked shrimp. My go-to frozen shrimp brand is Trader Joe’s. Their large peeled and deveined Argentinian red shrimp are plump tasty and cook up nicely. But improper handling of any raw or previously cooked frozen seafood can pose health risks. So I want to share some best practices I’ve learned for getting frozen shrimp table-ready.
Is Pre-Cooked Frozen Shrimp Safe to Eat Raw?
Pre-cooked frozen shrimp is not meant to be eaten straight from the freezer in its raw frozen state. It needs to be fully thawed and then either reheated or included in a cooked dish prior to consumption.
Eating any raw or undercooked seafood poses a health risk for bacterial contamination. Shrimp is one type of seafood that has the potential for higher levels of bacteria present. So pre-cooked frozen shrimp must be handled properly to avoid foodborne illness.
Thaw Frozen Shrimp Properly
It’s important to thaw frozen shrimp correctly to avoid any bacterial growth. According to FDA recommendations, there are three safe methods for thawing frozen shrimp:
- In the refrigerator
Thawing overnight in the refrigerator is ideal when time allows. Place frozen shrimp in a bowl to catch any drips and thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
- In cold water
For quicker thawing, place frozen shrimp in a leak-proof bag. Submerge the bag in a bowl of cold tap water, changing the water every 30 minutes. Thaw for approximately 1 hour.
- In the microwave
Microwave thawing is the quickest method. Place frozen shrimp in a microwave-safe bowl, cover and microwave at defrost setting. Check every few minutes and stir shrimp around to thaw evenly. Depending on amount, shrimp may thaw in 8-12 minutes.
Once thawed, use shrimp right away for cooking. Do not refreeze previously frozen raw shrimp.
Reheating Thawed Shrimp
Thawed pre-cooked shrimp needs to reach an internal temperature of 145°F prior to eating. The best methods for reheating pre-cooked thawed shrimp include:
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Sauteing shrimp briefly on the stovetop in a pan with butter or oil
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Adding shrimp at the very end to soups, pastas or stir fries to heat through
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Warming up peeled shrimp by steaming briefly over boiling water
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Roasting loosely covered with foil in a 375°F oven for 4-5 minutes
When reheating thawed pre-cooked shrimp, be careful not to overcook. Shrimp can become rubbery and tough if cooked too long. Just a brief warming is all that is needed.
Using Pre-Cooked Shrimp in Recipes
One of the nice perks of frozen pre-cooked shrimp is the ability to skip the raw shrimp prep. The shrimp has already been peeled, deveined and cooked. No need to season, bread or fuss over the shrimp when adding it to dishes.
Here are some of my favorite ways to utilize pre-cooked frozen shrimp:
Shrimp Tacos or Burritos
Saute thawed shrimp with taco seasoning and mix into warmed flour or corn tortillas along with your favorite toppings. Quick and easy weeknight meal!
Shrimp Pasta
Toss thawed shrimp into any pasta dish during the last 1-2 minutes of cooking to heat through. Works great in tomato sauce, pesto sauce or garlic butter shrimp pasta.
Shrimp Salad
Chop or slice thawed shrimp and mix into your favorite pasta salad, potato salad or leafy green salad for a protein punch.
Shrimp Cocktail
Thawed pre-cooked shrimp paired with a spicy cocktail sauce makes for fast appetizers or party fare.
Shrimp Pizza
Add thawed shrimp as a pizza topping during the last 5 minutes of baking. Delicious on any style pizza.
Shrimp Fried Rice
Stir thawed shrimp into fried rice for an easy weeknight one-pan meal. Better than takeout!
As you can see, the options are endless for how to utilize this convenient frozen ingredient. Just be sure to handle thawed shrimp properly to avoid any risks.
Tips for Identifying Quality Frozen Cooked Shrimp
Not all frozen shrimp is created equal. Here are a few tips for selecting a high-quality product:
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Look for shrimp that has been peeled, deveined and cooked. This eliminates prep work.
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Seek out shrimp harvested from sustainable fisheries, like U.S. wild-caught or ASC certified.
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Choose shrimp without added sauces, seasonings or breading for versatility.
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Avoid shrimp with signs of freezer burn like dried out spots.
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Read labels and select shrimp without excessive added sodium.
Proper Storage for Frozen Shrimp
To maintain quality, frozen shrimp must remain continuously frozen. Follow these storage recommendations:
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Store frozen shrimp below 0°F if possible. Most freezers run between 0°-10°F.
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Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Use what you thaw.
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Purchase frozen shrimp with enough time to transport in a cooler bag.
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Keep frozen shrimp well wrapped to prevent freezer burn.
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Organize freezer to reduce time door is open when retrieving shrimp.
By purchasing high-quality frozen cooked shrimp and properly thawing, storing, reheating and utilizing it in recipes, you can enjoy fantastic seafood any night of the week with minimal effort. Just remember—never eat pre-cooked shrimp straight from the frozen state. Handle with care to prevent illness. But otherwise, frozen shrimp provides a simple way to add tasty shrimp to your diet. Enjoy!
Serve a Cocktail Classic
Try serving frozen cooked shrimp at its simplest — as the classic shrimp cocktail. Since the shrimp is the showcase in this appetizer, buy the highest quality shrimp you can afford. There are many cocktail sauce recipes out there, but it’s fun to start with a store-bought brand and add your own twist.
You can start with fresh horseradish, lemon juice, chopped cilantro, or minced fresh ginger. But feel free to try other things too.
Try Shrimp as Sophisticated Salad
Another option that requires no additional cooking is the famous shrimp roll. The shrimp roll is a favorite in beach towns all along the East Coast. It’s basically shrimp salad on a bun, sometimes with lettuce and tomato.
Cut the thawed shrimp into big chunks and mix them with mayonnaise, pickle relish, and lots of fresh dill to make a tasty salad. You can put the shrimp salad on rolls with green leaf lettuce, or you can skip the bread and serve it on Boston lettuce leaves to make a lettuce wrap.
Pasta can be boiled with frozen cooked shrimp added in the last minute of cooking. The pasta and shrimp can then be drained together and mixed with your favorite sauce. Try adding thawed shrimp to a spicy Asian-inspired stir fry. Just add them during the last minute or two of cooking to heat the shrimp through.
For an unexpected, elegant brunch treat, add the thawed shrimp to an omelet and top with bearnaise sauce. Since the shrimp are already cooked, make sure to add them to your dish at the last minute.
When using raw seafood, cook your shrimp until the flesh is pearly and opaque, as advised by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Save leftover shrimp for a tasty next-day meal. Store leftovers promptly — discard any leftovers that have been at room temperature for more than two hours, as advised by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Reheat leftovers to a minimum of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce risk of harmful bacteria.
How to Cook Already Cooked Shrimp Safely & to Retain Flavour?
Can pre cooked shrimp be frozen?
Pre-cooked shrimp can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Be sure to keep them in an airtight container to prevent them from absorbing any odors from the fridge. Can I freeze pre-cooked shrimp? Yes, pre-cooked shrimp can be frozen. Simply place them in an airtight container or freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Can one eat raw shrimps?
While raw shrimp or shrimp sashimi can be consumed safely, raw shrimp is considered a high-risk food because it can harbour harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and various Vibrio bacteria. Although some people consider the seafood used in ceviche raw, it is actually cooked by immersing it in an acid rather than using heat. The acid from the citrus can reduce harmful bacteria but it is not as effective as using heat. The safest approach would be to consume only cooked shrimp from a reliable source. The US Food and Drug Administration(FDA) advises that pregnant women, those with weakened immunity, older adults, and young children are at higher risk of foodborne illness and its consequences and should avoid all raw seafood.
How do you eat frozen cooked shrimp?
Toss the shrimp in a tangy cocktail sauce or a spicy Cajun seasoning for a classic twist. Add the cooked shrimp to pasta, salads, or rice dishes for a protein-packed meal. Cooking frozen fully cooked shrimp doesn’t have to be a hassle. By following these simple steps, you can enjoy tender and flavorful shrimp in no time.
Can you eat frozen shrimp if you’re trying to lose weight?
However, for optimum waistline benefit, the best bet is eating frozen precooked shrimp that have simply been thawed and a dash of Tabasco or cracked black pepper added to season. This makes a fabulous appetite-curbing snack for people who are trying to lose a few pounds.