Shrimp is a delicious-tasting variety of seafood that you can use in a wide variety of recipes. In most cases they are frozen individually immediately after being caught at sea. From the fishmonger or supermarket, buy them frozen only unless you are sure they are fresh or have never been frozen. Once at home, you can quickly defrost them by immersing them in cold water. Alternatively, you can put them in a covered bowl and let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight and eat them the next day. If you're short on time, you can speed up the defrosting process by putting them in boiling water for a minute.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Thaw Shrimp in Cold Water
Step 1. Put the frozen shrimp in a colander
Take only the ones you need out of the freezer, then carefully reseal the package and put it back in the freezer. Transfer the frozen shrimp to a colander or colander.
Step 2. Place the colander inside a large bowl filled with cold water
Fill a bowl with cold running water in the sink. Put the colander with the shrimp in the water and let them soak for 10 minutes. Make sure they are all completely submerged.
Step 3. Change the water in the bowl
Move the colander full of shrimp and throw the water away in the bowl and then fill it again with the cold tap. Put the colander back into the water and check again that all the shrimp are completely submerged.
Step 4. Let the shrimp thaw for another 10-20 minutes
Leave them immersed in water until touching them you realize they are cold, but no longer frozen.
Step 5. Drain the shrimp from the water and pat them dry
Lift the colander from the bowl and let the water drain. Transfer the prawns to a plate and pat them dry with kitchen paper before cooking.
Method 2 of 3: Thaw the Shrimp in the Refrigerator
Step 1. Take the shrimp out of the freezer
Calculate how many you need and, if necessary, immediately put the excess back into the freezer after carefully resealing the package. If the weight is correct, you can also let them defrost inside the box or bag.
Step 2. Place the shrimp in a container with a lid
If you prefer, you can use a bowl and cover it with cling film. The important thing is that the shrimp are protected from the air.
Step 3. Let the shrimp thaw in the refrigerator overnight
Place the covered container in the refrigerator so that they gradually thaw. It will take approximately 12 hours, so the next day they will be ready to be cooked and eaten.
Step 4. Rinse and dry the shrimp
Transfer them to a colander and rinse them under cold running water to remove any remaining ice fragments, then pat them dry gently with kitchen paper.
Step 5. Use the shrimp within 48 hours
Once thawed, they should be cooked and eaten within two days to avoid any health risks. It is also possible to refreeze them within this time.
Method 3 of 3: Thaw the Shrimp in Boiling Water
Step 1. Put some water to boil in a large pot
Use enough water to completely submerge the shrimp you want to defrost. Place the pot on the stove and heat the water over medium-high heat to bring it to a boil.
Step 2. Soak the shrimp in boiling water for one minute
When the water boils, carefully add the shrimp and let them thaw for 60 seconds.
If the frozen shrimp are stuck together and form a single block, separate them before immersing them in boiling water
Step 3. Drain the shrimp from the water
Turn off the heat and remove them from the pot using a slotted spoon to drain them from the boiling water.
Step 4. Pat the shrimp dry before cooking
Place them on absorbent kitchen paper and pat them gently to absorb excess water. Having been in the boiling water for only a minute they will not be cooked, but simply defrosted, so it is important to cook them the way you want them before eating them.
Advice
- Let the shrimp defrost completely before cooking to enjoy them at their best.
- Do not leave seafood out of the refrigerator for more than an hour before cooking or storing it to avoid the risk of food poisoning.
Warnings
- By eating raw fish you put yourself at risk of food poisoning. Cook it however you like, but only eat it cooked.
- Buying frozen shrimp in the freezer section of the supermarket is safer than getting those that have been previously frozen and then defrosted for sale at the fish counter.
- Defrosting shrimp in the microwave runs the risk of them becoming mushy and altering their flavor, so it's best to use another method.
