Craving a shrimp dish tonight? How about those frozen ones in the fridge? Have you forgotten about them? Yeah, take them out and we can start cooking your favorite recipe!
Are you now wondering how long it will take to defrost your shrimps and start cooking? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten how to defrost shrimps? Well, let’s start a short tutorial to help you get on with it.
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How To Defrost Shrimps
But first, let’s get to know the different kinds of shrimp that you can cook in your kitchen.
Varieties Of Shrimps
Farm Whiteleg Shrimp
This is a shrimp species common in India and Thailand. It is called “wild shrimp” or “gulf shrimp” in some places. Dishes such as “Gulf Shrimp Cocktails” and “Bronzed Carolina Shrimp” are made with the Whiteleg species.
Branded Coral Shrimp
This colorful shrimp is called a “cleaner shrimp” because it cleans fungi and other parasites off the fish in the coral reef world. You probably have this kind in your aquarium, but you can eat them as well as keep them as pets.
Brown, White, and Pink Shrimp
This usually comes from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Atlantic. It might be the kind you have in your fridge right now. White shrimp currently makes up a quarter of the shrimp species in the world and brown shrimp 18%.
Royal Red Shrimp
This is an expensive and luxurious kind of shrimp known for its lobster-like flavor and color, which comes from the Gulf of Mexico. They are often served by fine restaurants and elite gatherings.
Giant Tiger Prawn
This is another farmed species and is sometimes mislabeled as “wild Hawaiian blue shrimp” in the market.
Blue Shrimp
This comes from Mexico and is nearly extinct, so it is one of the species that fishermen need to avoid.
Shrimp from the Ocean
This is sometimes called “Oregon pink” or “Bay shrimps” that comes from the Pacific Waters.
You now know the type of shrimp that you have to defrost. Are you game? Let’s do it!
A Step-By-Step Guide To Defrosting Shrimps!
It does not matter what type of shrimps you have or where they came from, they will all defrost the same. The texture of the shrimps when you cook them will depend on how you defrost them.
Follow these steps:
1. If you have a large amount of shrimps inside your freezer, take out the portion you need tonight.
2. Place your shrimps in a mesh. I used my colander, as it works the same.
3. Put the colander in a large container that’s filled with cold tap water, so it will be easy for you to lift the shrimps out of the water when they are fully thawed.
4. Submerge your shrimps for 10-15 minutes.
5. Take the colander with the shrimps in it out of the water.
6. Change the water in the container with new cold tap water.
7. Submerge the colander with the shrimps in it again.
8. Wait for another 15-20 minutes, which is just enough time for the shrimps to be completely defrosted but still cold.
9. Take out the colander from the container.
10. Scoop out the thawed shrimps.
11. Put the shrimps on paper towels or pat them dry before cooking.
If you’ve got more time, follow these simple steps:
1. Transfer the shrimps from the freezer to the lower part of the fridge.
2. Put them in a bowl and then cover it.
3. Rinse the shrimps with cold water the following day and pat them dry before cooking.
Some Tips To Defrost Shrimps
- Shrimps cook very fast so refrain from using the microwave to thaw them, if possible. The microwave is so powerful, you will end up in a mess.
- Refrain from using warm water when you’re thawing the shrimps, as they will defrost unevenly, with the shrimps being soft on the outside but still frozen on the inside. This will also cause uneven cooking.
When your shrimps are completely defrosted, you’re ready to cook! So how do you prepare defrosted shrimps for cooking? Alright, to make your night easier, here is a video clip that shows you how to do it.
When a task is very simple and easy, people say: “You can do it with your eyes closed”. So that is how to defrost shrimps, described in the most artistic way. I know you can do it, and by now, your shrimps will be sizzling hot on your table.
Read Also: What’s The Best Way To Fry Shrimps?
If you think this article has made your cooking easier and faster, then please hit like and do not hesitate to share it with your friends!
