How to cook shrimp correctly: step-by-step instructions

Shrimp is one of the most popular seafood, which, when properly cooked, retains its delicate taste and juicy texture. However, many people make mistakes when cooking, which makes the meat hard and tasteless. It is important to consider the size of the shrimp, the time of heat treatment and the right set of spices. All the details are in the Izvestia article.

How to prepare shrimp for cooking

Proper preparation of seafood is the key to successful cooking, which will preserve their delicate structure and exquisite taste.

Frozen shrimps must be thawed naturally before cooking. To do this, the product is placed in a bowl of cold water and stirred occasionally to break up the ice pieces. The process takes about 15-20 minutes. It is not recommended to use hot water or a microwave oven, as this negatively affects the texture of the meat.

Before cooking, the shrimps are rinsed under running water. If the seafood is fresh, it can be cooked immediately, but the cooking time increases by 1-3 minutes depending on the size. For cooking, you will need a deep saucepan, into which water is poured in a volume exceeding the number of shrimps by 2-2.5 times.

The main stages of preparation:

1. Defrost the shrimp in cold water.

2. Rinse the seafood under running water.

3. Prepare a pot of water (the volume is 2 times larger than the shrimp).

4. Bring the water to a boil.

5. Add salt and spices to taste.

How long to cook shrimp by size

The cooking time directly depends on the size of the shrimp — this is the key point that determines the final result.

Atlantic shrimps (small ones) cook the fastest — 1-2 minutes after boiling water. Medium-sized shrimps, such as combed ones, cook for 3-4 minutes. Argentine shrimps require 5-6 minutes of cooking.

Large types of seafood require longer heat treatment. King prawns cook for about 5 minutes, and tiger prawns for 6-7 minutes after boiling the water again. It is important to set a timer so as not to overcook the product, as this will negatively affect the texture and taste.

Cooking time by size:

• Small shrimps (Atlantic) — 1-2 minutes

• Medium shrimp (combed) — 3-4 minutes

• Argentine shrimp — 5-6 minutes

• King prawns — 5 minutes

• Tiger prawns — 6-7 minutes

Boiled and frozen shrimps that have already been heat—treated require a minimum of time - 1-2 minutes for small and 3-5 minutes for large ones. The main task in this case is just to warm up the seafood well.

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After cooking, the shrimp must be immediately transferred to a container with ice water for 1-2 minutes. This stops the cooking process and prevents the meat from digesting. The finished shrimps have an opaque pinkish color and a shape similar to the letter "C".

Spices and seasonings for cooking shrimp

Properly selected spices enhance the delicate taste of shrimp without interrupting their natural flavor.

Basic seasonings include salt (20 g per liter of water for shrimps in shell and 15 g for peeled ones), black pepper and bay leaf. These classic spices are perfect for cooking seafood. Cloves in the amount of 1-2 pieces will set off the flavor of the shrimp, but it is important not to overdo it because of its strong taste.

Allspice has a spicy aroma and not too burning taste — it can be added during cooking or crushed and sprinkled on ready-made shrimps. Garlic in small quantities gives seafood an appetizing flavor. For a more refined taste, fresh thyme, dill, rosemary, basil or cumin are used.

Recommended spices for cooking:

• Bay leaf — 2-3 pieces per pot

• Black pepper peas — 10-12 pieces

• Allspice — 6-8 pieces

• Cloves — 1-2 pieces

• Garlic — 2-3 cloves

• Fresh dill or thyme to taste

Lemon or lime is another important ingredient when cooking shrimp. You can add half a lemon to the boiling water along with the peel or squeeze the juice after cooking. Many chefs claim that the water for cooking should be salty, like sea water, which emphasizes the natural taste of seafood. Do not add too many spices at the same time — they can "clog" the delicate taste of shrimp. It's better to experiment and find your perfect combination of seasonings. After cooking, the finished shrimp can be used for salads, soups, pastas, or served as an independent dish with lemon juice.

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