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Shrimp cooks quickly. The secret is to take them out before they turn rubbery and then cool them down to stop the cooking process. Your shrimp will be ready in less than 5 minutes! Easy Peasy. You may be wondering what I did with all these boiled shrimp.
First, I mustered up all of my self-control not to devour them after I finished taking pictures. Then I chopped ’em up and put them into the most fantastic shrimp and avocado salsa (click here for the recipe).
Ingredients for Boiled Shrimp:
1.15 lbs raw shrimp (equals about 1 lb after it’s cooked), peeled & deveined (keep the shells!)
**Leave shells on if you want to serve them that way**
8 cups filtered water
1 Tbsp garlic salt (I use Lawry’s brand)
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1-2 bay leaves
How to Boil Shrimp:
Watch my quick video on how to peel and devein shrimp here.
1. Place the shells from the shrimp in a large saucepan along with 1 Tbsp garlic salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and bay leaf. Add 8 cups water and bring to a boil over med/high heat.
2. Once water boils, add the peeled and deveined shrimp and simmer until pink, about 2-3 minutes depending on the size of the shrimp. Drain and transfer cooked shrimp to a bowl of cold waterto stop the cooking process and let cool.
Serve with your favorite co*cktail sauce or use them in any recipe that calls for cooked shrimp, like that shrimp salsa that I can’t wait to share with you. I’ll post it A.S.A.P.
P.S. What’s your favorite, I mean ABSOLUTE favorite shrimp recipe? Or do you just love them with co*cktail sauce? 😉
Quick and Easy Boiled Shrimp Recipe
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Shrimp cook quickly. The secret is to take them out before they turn rubbery and then cool them down to stop the cooking process. Your shrimp will be ready in less than 5 minutes! Easy Peasy. Serve with your favorite co*cktail sauce or use them in any recipe that calls for cooked shrimp
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 5 minutes mins
Total Time: 10 minutes mins
Ingredients
Servings: 1 lb cooked shrimp
- 1.15 lbs raw shrimp shell-on, equals about 1 lb after it's cooked
- 8 cups filtered water
- 1 Tbsp garlic salt, I use Lawry's brand
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1-2 bay leaves
Instructions
Depending on how you are serving your shrimp, you can leave the shells on or off. I peel and devein first and keep the shells for the shrimp boil.
Place the shells from the shrimp in a large sauce pan along with 1 Tbsp garlic salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and bay leaf. Add 8 cups water and bring to a boil over med/high heat.
Once water boils, add the peeled and deveined shrimp and simmer until pink, about 2-3 minutes depending on size of the shrimp. Drain and transfer cooked shrimp to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process and let cool.
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Boiled Shrimp
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Natasha Kravchuk
Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.
Read more posts by Natasha
FAQs
Boil shrimp in salted water until just pink outside and opaque in the center, about 2 minutes for most sizes of peeled shrimp, a minute or two longer for shell-on shrimp or for extra-large or jumbo shrimp. Boiling shrimp is about as easy as it gets and takes just a few minutes.
Why do you add vinegar to shrimp boil? ›
Don't forget the secret ingredient in the boil: apple cider vinegar. It makes the shrimp easier to peel.
Do you rinse shrimp before boiling? ›
There's no need to scrub or wash shrimp—live, frozen or defrosted—but a little fresh water can help during prep. Rinsing under cool running water not only thaws frozen shrimp but shows their quality: Make sure they're shiny, translucent and odorless.
How do you know when shrimp is boiled enough? ›
The best way to tell when shrimp are cooked through is to look for visual cues: “Watch for the shrimp to curl and turn opaque,” says Kendra. Undercooked shrimp will be gray and translucent, with uncurled tails. Perfectly cooked shrimp will be opaque with a color ranging from pink or orange, depending on variety.
Are boiled shrimp done when they float? ›
Water may never come to a boil. It takes about 10 minutes for 2 lbs of shrimp, but time on stove doesn't matter. When the shrimp float, immediately take off stove and plunge into ice bath to stop the cooking process. (If shrimp don't float but they look pink and done, go ahead and take them off.)
What not to do when cooking shrimp? ›
- Mistake #1: Buying Shrimp With the Heads Still On.
- Mistake #2: Not Deveining Your Shrimp.
- Mistake #3: Thawing Improperly.
- Mistake #4: Overcooking.
- Mistake #5: Throwing Away the Shells.
Cherry Shrimp
They are easy to care for and tend to get along with the other tank mates, making them excellent freshwater shrimp for beginners. Found in the waters of Taiwan, Cherry Shrimp are dependable for algae consumption and high breeding potential.
Why put baking soda on shrimp? ›
Alkaline baking soda slightly alters the pH of the shrimp, making them as plump and succulent as lobster and resistant to overcooking. The brine also causes the meat to pull away from the shells while cooking, so you get all the great flavor of shell-on shrimp without the hassle.
Should I add salt when boiling shrimp? ›
Most importantly, don't add salt or anything that contains salt while the shrimp are boiling. First, season water with anything you like including liquid boil but don't add salt or anything that contains salt (i.e., dump-n-boil).
Why are my boiled shrimp tough? ›
Shrimp cooks quickly, and overcooked shrimp can be tough, rubbery and dry. As soon as the shrimp is pink, it's done. Jumbo shrimp takes about 7 minutes to cook, large shrimp about 5 minutes and medium shrimp cook in 3 to 4 minutes. Shrimp smaller than medium can take as little as 1 minute to cook.
I like to boil shrimp with the shells on because it's less work for me. It also keeps the shrimp more tender, juicy, and flavorful, and it creates a fun ice-breaking project for dinner party guests to peel shrimp themselves and get a little dirty as they eat.
Why do shrimp turn pink when you boil them? ›
Because these protein chains are not heat-stable, their protein wrapping uncoils as soon as crustaceans are put in boiling water. Voila! Red-orange astaxanthin molecules are released. Because pigments related to the carotenes are stable, the astaxanthins now display their unique deep hues that are so appealing.
Why are my boiled shrimp mushy? ›
You Thawed Shrimp Improperly
Don't use warm or hot water, and don't run water over them without the bag, or the shrimp will soak up water and turn soggy. That's also why we recommend a colander in the preferred method—so the shrimp don't end up waterlogged.
How long will shrimp boil last? ›
The Bottom Line
Cooked shrimp last three to four days. To reheat cooked shrimp, use a lower temperature and check frequently to avoid overcooking.
How long is boiled shrimp good for? ›
Cooked shrimp lasts for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
When reheating leftover shrimp, it's best to use a low temperature to avoid the rubbery texture shrimp can get when overcooked. Alternatively, enjoy leftover cooked shrimp cold or at room temperature, depending on how it was prepared.
What is the best way to cook raw shrimp? ›
- Add 1 quart of water and the salt to a large pot over high heat. Bring to a boil.
- Stir in the shrimp, cover, and remove the pot from heat. Let sit for 5 to 8 minutes, until all the shrimp are cooked through to a bright pink shade.
- Drain through a colander. Transfer the shrimp to a serving bowl or platter.
Boiled shrimp: Plan on ½ to 1 pound of shell-on shrimp per person for boiled shrimp. Amount needed depends on whether sides such as corn, potatoes, sausage etc are being served.
