How to Fry Shrimp

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Shrimp is a delicious seafood dish that you can make at home. If your shrimp is peeled, deveined, and thawed, you can begin frying it yourself at home. Make a breadcrumb mix, batter your shrimp, or whip up Cajun fried shrimp to create an appetizing meal for you and your family to enjoy.

Ingredients

Breading and Deep-Frying Shrimp

1 lb (450 g) of shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 quart (1 liter) of vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 cups (180 g) of dry breadcrumbs
½ cup (60 g) of flour
Spices to taste

Makes 2 to 4 servings

Deep-Frying Battered Shrimp

1 lb (450 g) of shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 quart (1 liter) of vegetable oil
2 large eggs
¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of milk
¼ tsp (5.6 g) of salt
Spices to taste

Makes 2 to 4 servings

Frying Cajun Shrimp

1 lb (450 g) of shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 quart (1 liter) of vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 cups (470 mL) of whole milk
1 tablespoon (15 mL) of yellow mustard
1 tsp (2.6 g) of Cajun spice mix
1 packet (12 oz) of fish fry mix

Makes 2 to 4 servings

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Breading and Deep-Frying Shrimp

1
Beat 2 large eggs in a medium-sized bowl. Use a fork or a whisk to quickly beat 2 eggs in a bowl. Make sure the bowl is wide enough to fit a few shrimp in it at a time. Look for a frothy yellow color to tell when your eggs are beaten.^{[1]
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2
Combine bread crumbs and flour on a plate. Mix 2 cups (180 g) of breadcrumbs and ½ cup (60 g) of flour on a plate or a shallow dish. Use a fork to make sure these ingredients are loosely combined. Stir them gently in a circular motion to avoid getting flour everywhere.^{[2]
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- Use Panko breadcrumbs for a lighter, more airy texture on your fried shrimp.
- Add seasoning, like 1 tsp. (2.6 g) of cayenne pepper and 1 tsp. (2.6 g) of garlic salt, to your breadcrumb mix to make it spicy.
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3
Pour 1 inch (2.5 cm) of vegetable oil in a skillet and heat it on high. The oil measurement does not need to be exact. Pour enough into the bottom of a skillet with high sides so that your shrimp will be fully submerged. Heat the oil on high until it sizzles when you drop a few breadcrumbs in.^{[3]
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- Vegetable oil is the best oil for deep frying things, since it is less heavy and greasy than other oils.
- If you are using a deep fryer, pour your oil into the fryer while it is off and then turn it on.
4
Dip each shrimp in egg and then coat them in the bread crumbs and flour. Grab each shrimp 1 at a time and dip them into the beaten eggs. Make sure every side of the shrimp is thoroughly coated. Then, dip the shrimp into the flour and breadcrumb mix. Cover all sides of the shrimp so you get an even fry.^{[4]
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- If you have a lot of shrimp, you can coat them a few at a time.
5
Drop the shrimp carefully into the hot oil. If you have a lot of shrimp, you may need to fry them in batches. Carefully drop a group of shrimp into the hot oil with tongs. Make sure each shrimp is fully coated in the oil so that they all cook.^{[5]
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- If you are using a deep fryer, place your shrimp into the basket and then lower it slowly into the oil.
Warning: The oil in your skillet will be very hot. Do not throw the shrimp in the oil, or it will splash and may cause you harm.
6
Fry the shrimp for 1 to 2 minutes or until they are golden brown. Shrimp are small, so they do not take long to deep fry. Wait 1 to 2 minutes for the shrimp to cook, and watch for a golden brown color on the breadcrumbs.^{[6]
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- Look for an opaque color on the inside of the shrimp to double check that it is done.
- If your shrimp are overcooked, they will be chewy.
7
Take the shrimp out and put them on a plate lined with a paper towel. The shrimp may hold some excess oil in them when you first take them out. Set them on a paper towel lined plate so soak up some of the grease. Season them to taste and serve immediately.^{[7]
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- Sprinkle your shrimp with salt to bring out its natural flavor and add black pepper for a small kick.
- Serve your shrimp with cocktail sauce.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Deep-Frying Battered Shrimp

1
Beat 2 eggs in a large bowl. Use a spoon or a whisk to beat 2 eggs in a large bowl. Combine them thoroughly until they are all yellow colored and no egg white can be seen. Make sure your bowl is big enough to hold the rest of your ingredients.^{[8]
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2
Add milk, salt, and your own spices to the eggs. Pour ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of milk, ¼ tsp (5.6 g) of salt, and whatever spices you would like into the eggs. If you want spicy shrimp, consider adding 1 tsp (2.6 g) of cayenne pepper. If you want to keep them more neutral, stick with 1 tsp (2.6 g) of salt and 1 tsp (2.6 g) of black pepper.^{[9]
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- You can also add 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of hot sauce if you want super spicy shrimp.
3
Heat vegetable oil to 350 °F (177 °C) in a skillet. Choose a skillet with high sides so the oil won’t spill out. Turn your heat on high and wait until the oil reaches 350 °F (177 °C). Use a candy thermometer to check the temperature of your oil. If it is too cold, the shrimp may not get cooked thoroughly.^{[10]
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- Keep an eye on the temperature of your oil as you cook each batch of shrimp. Do not let it dip below 350 °F (177 °C).
- If you are using a deep fryer, simply add oil to your cold deep fryer and then turn it on to heat it up.
4
Coat each shrimp in the batter. Take a few shrimp at a time and dip them into your batter mixture. Make sure they are all evenly coated. Use your hands or a pair of tongs if you don’t want to get messy.^{[11]
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- Do not let the batter clump up, or your shrimp will have balls of dough on it when you fry it.
5
Fry the shrimp for 3 to 4 minutes or until they are golden brown. Make sure each shrimp is fully submerged in the oil as it cooks. Let the shrimp fry until the batter is a golden brown color on all sides. Use tongs to turn the shrimp periodically so they get evenly cooked.^{[12]
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- If you are using a deep fryer, place the shrimp in the basket and then lower them slowly into the oil to cook them.
Tip: Double check that the shrimp is done by cutting 1 open and checking for an opaque color on the inside.
6
Remove the shrimp with a slotted spoon and put them on a paper towel. Use a spoon with divets in it to remove each shrimp from the oil. Place them on a plate that is lined with paper towel to soak up any excess grease and oil. Serve them immediately while they are still hot.^{[13]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Frying Cajun Shrimp

1
Mix milk, 2 eggs, and yellow mustard together in a large bowl. Use a fork or a small whisk to combine 2 cups (470 mL) of whole milk, 2 large eggs, and 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of yellow mustard in a large bowl. Make sure the mustard is completely mixed in and there aren’t any lumps left in your mixture.^{[14]
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- You can use buttermilk in place of regular milk if you want a more bitter flavor.
2
Pour your mixture over the shrimp in a bowl and let it sit for 15 minutes. Place all of your peeled and deveined shrimp into a large bowl. Pour your milk, egg, and mustard mixture over the shrimp. Make sure all of your shrimp is submerged in the mixture. Let your shrimp sit for at least 15 minutes to soak up the flavor of the mustard mixture.^{[15]
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- You can let your shrimp sit for as long as 1 hour, if you have time. This will make them more flavorful.
3
Combine fish fry mix and Cajun seasoning on a plate or shallow dish. Use a fork to gently mix together 1 tsp (2.6 g) of Cajun spice mix and 1 packet (12 oz) of fish fry mix. Make sure the spices are spread all throughout so that your shrimp is evenly seasoned.^{[16]
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- You can purchase premade Cajun spice mixes and fishy fry mixes at most grocery stores.
4
Heat vegetable oil in a skillet to 350 °F (177 °C). Pour about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of vegetable oil in a skillet with high sides. Heat the oil up to 350 °F (177 °C). Check the temperature with a candy thermometer throughout your frying process to make sure the oil is still hot enough.^{[17]
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- If you are using a deep fryer, pour your vegetable oil into it and then turn it on.
Warning: If your vegetable oil falls below temperature, your shrimp may not cook all the way.
5
Dip your shrimp in the Cajun and fish fry mixture. Take a few shrimp at a time and dip them into the spices and fish fry mix. Coat each one thoroughly to make sure they will cook evenly. Cover every part of the shrimp, including the tails.^{[18]
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6
Fry the shrimp for 3 to 4 minutes or until they are golden brown. Gently drop the shrimp in the hot oil using tongs. Fry them until the coating on the outside turns golden brown. Flip the shrimp over at least once as you fry them to make sure they are cooked evenly on both sides.^{[19]
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- Cut open one of your shrimp and look for an opaque color inside to see if it is done.
- If you are using a deep fryer, place the shrimp into the basket and lower them slowly into the oil.
7
Drain the shrimp on a paper towel. Take the shrimp out of the oil with a slotted spoon and place them on a plate lined with a paper towel. The paper towel will soak up any excess oil and grease on the shrimp. Let them sit for about 2 minutes and then serve them immediately.^{[20]
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Community Q&A

Question

Is it necessary to use cornmeal?

Community Answer

No, you could use flour or chicken breading as a substitute.
Question

How do I know when the oil is approx 375 degrees without a temp gauge? Will it be a rolling boil, like medium high on element stove?

Community Answer

A good test is using a wooden spoon. If the oil bubbles around the spoon, you're in the right temperature range.
Question

Temperature to deep-fry breaded shrimp?

Michele

Top Answerer

The oil should be heated to approximately 375° F (190° C) as noted.