With shrimp you can quickly prepare a delicious meal and frozen ones are an ace in the hole for organizing an exceptional dinner at the last minute. Defrosting the shrimp takes less than 20 minutes if you use cold water, after which you can boil them in boiling water or cook them in a pan. When you are really in a hurry, you can skip the steps to defrost them and cook them still frozen.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Thaw the Shrimp
Step 1. Soak the shrimp in salted water for 20 minutes
To defrost them quickly, dissolve 30 g of salt in a liter of cold water. Remove the shrimp from the package and place them in the water, making sure they are all completely submerged. Leave them to soak for about twenty minutes.
- Drain the shrimp from the water when they have thawed. Try flexing them to make sure they aren't frozen inside yet.
- The salt will make the shrimp tastier.
- Do not refreeze shrimp without first cooking them.
Step 2. Thaw the shrimp under running water
If you're short on time, this is the quickest way to defrost shrimp. Put them in a colander and move them with your hands under the cold water stream to help them defrost faster. Generally this method takes only 5-10 minutes to defrost the shrimp.
- Make sure the water is cold. The hot water may start cooking the shrimp.
- Do not refreeze shrimp without first cooking them.
Step 3. Avoid defrosting shrimp using the microwave
While it would save you time, the shrimp would almost certainly start cooking, and when the actual cooking was finished, they would be chewy and difficult to chew.
Step 4. Transfer frozen shrimp from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before cooking
This method requires some organization, but it is also the simplest and safest. All you have to do is remove the shrimp from the packaging and arrange them on a plate. Cover the plate and place it in the refrigerator. The shrimp should have thawed the following day.
Once thawed, the prawns are ready to be cooked
Part 2 of 3: Cook the Thawed Shrimp
Step 1. Boil the shrimp in salted water
Boil 2 liters of water and add 2 tablespoons (30 g) of salt. Bring it to a boil before adding the shrimp. Two liters of water should be enough to properly boil 500 g of shrimp. When the water comes to a boil, reduce the heat, put the shrimp in the pot, and let them cook for 3 to 6 minutes or until they turn pink and opaque.
- When cooked, the shrimp will come to the surface.
- You can put the shrimp under cold running water to stop the cooking process.
- You can cook them with the shell if you use this method.
Step 2. Open the shrimp in half and cook them on the barbecue
If the barbecue is gas, set it to medium temperature; if it is a traditional charcoal barbecue, wait for the initial heat to subside before starting to cook. Score the shrimp along the back to create an opening. Open the two halves to obtain a large surface of well-leveled pulp. Arrange the shrimp on the barbecue grill and let them cook until they turn pink and opaque; 3 to 5 minutes should be enough.
- If the shrimp still has the shell, do not remove it, but remove the legs. You will still be able to open them halfway even with the carapace.
- To flavor them, lightly grease them with oil or butter before placing them on the grill.
Step 3. Cook the shrimp in the pan
Heat a skillet over high heat, then add a small piece or two of butter and a tablespoon of olive oil. When the oil is hot and the butter has melted, add a couple of finely chopped garlic cloves and sauté them alone in the pan for 30-60 seconds. Add the prawns and season them with a pinch of salt and black pepper. The pan should not be too full, so use a large enough pan if you have a lot of shrimp. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring often.
- When the shrimp have turned pink it means they are cooked, so move them away from the heat.
- For ideal cooking, shrimp should be dried before being placed in the pan.
- If you have chosen to cook the shrimp in a pan, remember that it is easier to clean them before cooking them, but if you prefer you can leave the shell.
Part 3 of 3: Cooking Frozen Shrimp
Step 1. Rinse the shrimp to remove the ice crystals before cooking them in the oven or pan
Put them in a colander and rinse them briefly under running water. Try to separate them from each other and remove excess ice crystals.
- If you intend to cook the shrimp in water, you can just slam the shrimp package on the kitchen worktop to break the ice blocks. It is not necessary to rinse them with running water.
- For these cooking methods, you can use shrimp with or without shells.
Step 2. Cook the shrimp in boiling water with the addition of salt and spices
Fill a small saucepan with water and heat it over high heat. Add several pinches of salt and any spices or flavorings you prefer. When the water reaches a boil, move the pot off the heat, add the shrimp, and put the lid on the pot. After 5-6 minutes the shrimp should be cooked; make sure they are dull and pinkish.
- Add spices and flavorings you prefer; for example half a lemon squeezed together with its juice, 3-4 cloves of garlic, a quarter of an onion, a handful of parsley and 12-15 peppercorns. Since you just have to flavor the water, the quantities don't have to be precise. Feel free to change the ingredients and doses to your liking.
- Use about half a teaspoon of salt and 2 liters of water for every 500g of shrimp.
Step 3. Cook the shrimp in the oven
Place the rack about 15 cm away from the top rack of the oven. Turn on the grill, place the pan in which you intend to cook the shrimp and let it heat for 10 minutes. In the meantime, rinse the shrimp and sprinkle them with your favorite spice blend, such as a Cajun spice mix. When the pan is hot, put on oven gloves and place it on the stove. Add the shrimp and cook for about 5 minutes.
- You can buy a ready-made spice blend, like the one for Mexican tacos or, if you prefer, you can make it yourself and customize it to taste. You can use herbs and herbs in addition to spices, such as garlic, basil, or rosemary.
- The shrimp will be slightly curved once cooked.
- Use the tongs to distribute the shrimp inside the pan without burning yourself.
Step 4. Sauté them in a pan with oil and garlic
Let the pan heat over high heat, then add a tablespoon of olive oil and a couple of bits of butter. Chop 1-2 cloves of garlic and fry them for about a minute. Dab the shrimp to dry, put them in a pan and season with salt and pepper. Let them cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring often, until they become opaque and pink.
