Even before you think about how sick you could get from cooking animal protein, it’s scary enough. But seafood, in particular, may seem tough to get right. While no one wants overcooked shrimp, getting sick with food poisoning would be even worse. But as long as you know what to look for and how to tell if the shrimp are done, you should not have any problems making tasty dishes with them.
Shrimp can be cooked in so many different ways. It can be used to make a lot of different dishes, from shrimp scampi to shrimp cocktail to grilled shrimp skewers. You should not be afraid to make delicious meals with shrimp now that you know how to tell if shrimp is undercooked no matter what method you use. These ways of telling if shrimp are done will work even if they are covered in barbecue sauce or baking in a dark oven.
Shrimp is one of my favorite proteins to cook at home. It’s quick easy to prepare, and versatile enough to use in everything from pasta to tacos. But getting shrimp cooked just right can be tricky. Undercooked shrimp tastes rubbery and has an unappealing translucent appearance. On the other hand overcooked shrimp turns tough and chewy.
So how do you know when shrimp is perfectly cooked? The most foolproof way is to check the color. When shrimp is cooked properly, it turns from a grayish translucent hue to an opaque pinkish-white color.
In this article, I’ll walk you through exactly what to look for when it comes to shrimp color at every stage of the cooking process. I’ll also share tips to ensure your shrimp cooks evenly from head to tail. Let’s dive in!
Raw Shrimp Color
Before we get into what color shrimp turns when it’s cooked, it helps to understand what raw shrimp looks like.
Raw shrimp has a somewhat translucent flesh that ranges from light gray to a very light pinkish hue There may also be subtle dark spots visible throughout the flesh. The shell will be a grayish green or brown color
The vein running down the back of the shrimp will be dark gray or black. This is the digestive tract, which you can remove by deveining the shrimp before cooking.
- Translucent grayish flesh with subtle spotting
- Green/brown shell
- Dark gray or black vein
Use this as your visual baseline before cooking. Once heat is applied, the color will start to change dramatically.
Light Pink Means It’s Almost Done
After just 1-2 minutes in a hot pan, the shrimp will start to turn opaque and take on a light pinkish hue. At this stage, it’s partway cooked but likely still translucent and underdone in the center.
When you see a light pink color start to develop on the surface, flip the shrimp over and cook for just another 30 seconds to 1 minute. Then, check the internal color and texture to confirm doneness.
Opaque White and Pink Means It’s Fully Cooked
Once shrimp is fully cooked through, the flesh will turn a vibrant opaque white and pink color. There should be no more visible gray or translucent parts.
The pink tones will be most noticeable along the outer curve of the shrimp. The inner segment near the vein will take on a solid pearly white appearance.
This opaque, two-toned color combo is what you’re looking for when shrimp is perfectly cooked. If you see any remaining translucence, it needs a bit more time.
Here are a few examples of properly cooked shrimp:
[Photo 1]
[Photo 2]
As you can see, the shrimp flesh transforms to a vivid white and pink when done.
Orange Tones Mean It’s Starting to Overcook
If you cook shrimp just a minute or two too long, it will start to take on orange tones mixed in with the white and pink.
This orange color usually starts to develop near the shell and tail. It’s a sign that the shrimp is headed toward overcooked territory.
At this stage, the texture may still be decent, but I’d recommend removing it from the heat ASAP. The longer it cooks past the opaque white-pink stage, the tougher it will become.
Gray Means It’s Overcooked
If you leave shrimp on the heat too long, the flesh will turn from white-pink to a solid, chalky gray color. The vibrant pinks and oranges will be gone.
At this point, the shrimp is unfortunately overcooked and will have a rubbery, chewy texture. It’s still safe to eat but will be noticeably lower in quality.
The timeframe for overcooking can happen quickly. Shrimp can go from perfectly cooked to overcooked in as little as 30-60 extra seconds in a hot pan. So stay vigilant once you get within 1-2 minutes of the estimated cook time.
Cooking Tips for Evenly Cooked Shrimp
Now that you know what to look for color-wise, here are some useful tips to ensure your shrimp cooks evenly from head to tail:
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Buy similarly sized shrimp – Larger shrimp takes longer to cook through than smaller shrimp. Try to buy shrimp that are around the same size if cooking a batch together.
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Don’t overcrowd the pan – Cook shrimp in a single layer with space between each one. Crowding will cause uneven cooking.
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Flip halfway through – Shrimp curls and shortens as it cooks. Flipping halfway helps the underside cook evenly.
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Use a skillet for even heat distribution – A broad skillet heats more evenly than a pot. The flat surface helps the shrimp cook at the same rate.
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Take the internal temp – For foolproof doneness, use an instant read thermometer to check for an internal temp of 140°F.
What If It’s Still Translucent After Normal Cook Time?
If your shrimp still has some translucence after cooking for the recommended time, don’t panic. Simply cook it for 30 seconds to 1 minute longer, then check it again.
The carryover cooking from residual heat will often finish it off nicely. Just be careful not to go too far past the point of doneness.
You can also briefly return it to the pan or oven for a few seconds just to finish it off. Use tweezers or a spoon to avoid overcooking the properly cooked shrimp.
For the juiciest, most tender texture, take the shrimp off the heat as soon as it turns opaque white and pink all over. But it’s also helpful to have your thermometer, timer, and tongs ready to go in case any shrimp needs a touch more cooking.
What’s your favorite way to enjoy cooked shrimp? I’d love to hear your go-to recipes in the comments below!
Frequency of Entities:
shrimp – 38
color – 16
cooked – 15
pink – 7
white – 6
opaque – 5
cook – 5
translucent – 5
flesh – 4
pan – 3
texture – 3
heat – 3
raw – 2
tail – 2
orange – 2
overcooked – 2
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Evaluate the shape of the shrimp
There is another characteristic of cooked shrimp that you can eyeball. Just like looking at the color of the shrimp, you can take note of the shape of the shrimp, according to Substitute Cooking. But you will, again, need to really get a good mental of raw shrimp to compare to the state of being cooked your shrimp are in when you check them. Gray, raw shrimp tend to be quite flexible without their shells. They also appear to be longer because the shrimp lie straighter than when they are fully cooked.
Shrimp that are undercooked will likely still be somewhat straight or have a very slight curve. As Substitute Cooking explains, those that are so tightly wound that they look like the letter “O” are overcooked. The sweet spot is getting a good curl on the shrimp to form something similar to the letter “C.” Thats because the muscle in shrimp shrinks as it cooks, according to Yummly. So, the more cooked your shrimp are, the tighter the curl will be. Therefore, shrimp that are only slightly curled and look somewhat like the letter “U” are most likely undercooked and need a bit more time.
Look at the color of the shrimp
One of the easiest and most common ways to tell if your shrimp is undercooked is to look at the color of it, according to Substitute Cooking. But you might need to really get a good look at raw shrimp first to notice the big change its appearance undergoes as it cooks. When shrimp is raw, it tends to look quite gray in color and even a bit translucent. However, after shrimp has been cooked, it should do a 180-degree turn and be white with pops of pink or red. You also shouldnt be able to see into the shrimp anymore.
Most likely, your shrimp are not done cooking if they still have a hint of gray or are see-through. Wait until the shrimp have a nice even color and no translucency before taking them up. And dont forget to check all sides of the shrimp.
Big Mistakes Everyone Makes When Cooking Shrimp
What color should cooked shrimp be?
Ideally, cooked shrimp should be pink with a slight red tint. Be wary of shrimp that are gray or brown in color, as this can indicate that they have been overcooked. Also, beware of white spots on your shrimp . 2. Texture When it comes to the texture of your cooked shrimp, you want it to be firm with a slight snap.
How do you know if shrimp is cooked?
Examine the shrimp’s shape. Look for a relaxed, curved “C” shape. Raw shrimp is fairly straight and begins to curve inward and shrink as it cooks. When the shrimp is fully bent into a “C” or an oval (not just a shallow “U” shape), take it off the heat and enjoy. If it’s left too long, you’ll end up with an overcooked “O” shape.
What does a white shrimp look like?
Despite having “white” in their name, the raw flesh of this shrimp type can range in color from translucent white to reddish-brown. Once it gets cooked, however, it turns white with a pink tinge. The color a white shrimp develops depends on its food and the water turbidity in its habitat, which are usually estuaries and coastal areas.
What does a brown shrimp look like?
Aside from their namesake color, they can also appear gray in hue with some green and red pigmentation. You might also see a purple band in their tails. The brown shrimp you find at the fishmonger have very likely been boiled already because this variety is ideally cooked while the shrimp are still alive.