How to Thaw Frozen Shrimp

Shrimp are a delectable seafood item that can be used in a variety of dishes. Most shrimp are individually quick frozen (IQF) soon after being caught. Only buy thawed shrimp if you’re sure it’s fresh and has never been frozen! You can defrost frozen shrimp quickly by submerging it in cold water. Alternatively, you can place frozen shrimp in a covered bowl and allow them to thaw in your refrigerator overnight. You can also put frozen shrimp in boiling water for 1 minute to thaw them.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using Cold Water

  1. Image titled Thaw Frozen Shrimp Step 1
    1
    Place the frozen shrimp in a colander or sieve. Remove the desired amount of frozen shrimp from the freezer. Reseal the bag and replace the remaining shrimp in the freezer, if necessary. Place the frozen shrimp in a colander or a mesh sieve.[1]
  2. Image titled Thaw Frozen Shrimp Step 2
    2
    Put the colander in a large bowl of cold tap water for 10 minutes. Fill a large bowl with cold tap water and place it in your kitchen sink. Put the colander inside the bowl so that the shrimp are completely covered in cold water. Leave them submerged for 10 minutes.[2]
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  3. Image titled Thaw Frozen Shrimp Step 3
    3
    Replace the water with fresh, cold water. Remove the colander or sieve full of shrimp from the bowl of water. Dump out the water and refill the bowl with fresh, cold, tap water. Place the colander or sieve full of shrimp back in the water. Again, you want to make sure the shrimp are completely submerged.[3]
  4. Image titled Thaw Frozen Shrimp Step 4
    4
    Let the shrimp thaw for another 10 to 20 minutes. Allow the shrimp to sit in the cold water for another 10 to 20 minutes. At that point they should be completely defrosted but still cold.[4]
  5. Image titled Thaw Frozen Shrimp Step 5
    5
    Remove the shrimp from the water and pat them dry. Remove the colander or sieve from the bowl and let the water drain out. Take the shrimp out of the bowl and pat them dry with a paper or kitchen towel before cooking and using them in your recipe or dish.[5]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Thawing in the Refrigerator

  1. Image titled Thaw Frozen Shrimp Step 6
    1
    Remove the shrimp from the freezer. If you only want to use a portion of shrimp you bought, remove the desired amount from the bag, then reseal the bag and place it back in the freezer. You can also thaw the entire bag of frozen shrimp at one time.
  2. Image titled Thaw Frozen Shrimp Step 7
    2
    Place the shrimp in a covered bowl. Put the shrimp in a bowl. Cover the bowl with a tight-fitting lid or with plastic wrap. Make sure the bowl is sealed tightly.
  3. Image titled Thaw Frozen Shrimp Step 8
    3
    Thaw the shrimp in the refrigerator overnight. Place the covered bowl in the refrigerator. Allow the shrimp to gradually thaw overnight, or for about 12 hours. They’ll be ready to use in your dish the next day.[6]
  4. Image titled Thaw Frozen Shrimp Step 9
    4
    Rinse and dry the shrimp. Put your shrimp in a colander or sieve and rinse them under cool, running water to remove any ice particles. Then, use a paper or kitchen towel to pat the shrimp dry.[7]
  5. Image titled Thaw Frozen Shrimp Step 10
    5
    Use the shrimp within 48 hours. Once your shrimp are thawed, you should use them within 48 hours to ensure they are still fresh and safe to eat. You could also refreeze them within this period, if you’d like.[8]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using Boiling Water

  1. Image titled Thaw Frozen Shrimp Step 11
    1
    Boil water in a large pot. Fill a large pot with enough water to completely cover the amount of shrimp you wish to thaw. Place it on a stovetop burner at medium-high heat and allow the water to come to a boil.
  2. Image titled Thaw Frozen Shrimp Step 12
    2
    Add the shrimp to the water and leave them for 1 minute. Once the water is boiling, carefully place your frozen shrimp in the water. Allow them to sit in the boiling water for 1 minute.
    • If your shrimp are stuck together, separate them before placing them in the boiling water.
  3. Image titled Thaw Frozen Shrimp Step 13
    3
    Remove the shrimp from the boiling water. Turn off your burner. Use a slotted spoon to remove the shrimp from the boiling water.
  4. Image titled Thaw Frozen Shrimp Step 14
    4
    Pat the shrimp dry before cooking them. Place the shrimp on a paper or kitchen towel and pat them dry. Boiling your shrimp for 1 minute does not cook them, it simply defrosts them, so be sure to thoroughly cook your shrimp before eating them.
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Expert Q&A

  • Question
    How long does it take to boil shrimp?
    Ashley Crawford
    Ashley Crawford
    Private Chef
    Chef Ashley Crawford is a Private Chef and the Founder of A Taste of Chef Ash. Chef Ashley started in the culinary industry when she was 14. She specializes in Creole and Cajun cuisine but has experience in all culinary topics. She has been featured in ESPN and Sports Illustrated for her culinary work with athletes.
    Ashley Crawford
    Ashley Crawford
    Private Chef
    Expert Answer
    If your shrimp are small, then boil them for about 2–3 minutes. If you have larger shrimp, then boil them for 5–7 minutes instead.
  • Question
    Do I have to keep shrimp on ice while serving them for a party?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    I would say yes, just to be on the safe side. Food poisoning is very serious.
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Warnings

  • Thawing your shrimp in the microwave can lead to a mushy texture and strange flavor, so it’s best to avoid using the microwave.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • Eating raw seafood can lead to foodborne illness. Cook your seafood before consuming it.[11]
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • Buying frozen shrimp from the freezer section of your market is actually safer than buying previously frozen and defrosted shrimp from the seafood counter.[12]
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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Things You’ll Need

Using Cold Water

  • Colander or mesh sieve
  • Large bowl
  • Cold water
  • Paper or kitchen towel

Thawing in the Refrigerator

  • Bowl
  • Tight-fitting lid or plastic wrap
  • Refrigerator

Using Boiling Water

  • Stovetop burner
  • Large pot
  • Water
  • Slotted spoon
  • Paper or kitchen towel

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.thecitycook.com/articles/2014-08-06-frozen-shrimp-101
  2. ↑ https://www.thecitycook.com/articles/2014-08-06-frozen-shrimp-101
  3. ↑ https://www.thecitycook.com/articles/2014-08-06-frozen-shrimp-101
  4. ↑ https://www.thecitycook.com/articles/2014-08-06-frozen-shrimp-101
  5. ↑ https://www.thecitycook.com/articles/2014-08-06-frozen-shrimp-101
  6. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/resourcesforyou/consumers/ucm077331.htm
  7. ↑ http://www.stilltasty.com/questions/index/206/page:1
  8. ↑ http://www.stilltasty.com/questions/index/206/page:1
  9. ↑ http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/how-to/article/effed-it-up-frozen-shrimp
  1. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/resourcesforyou/consumers/ucm077331.htm
  2. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/resourcesforyou/consumers/ucm077331.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/how-to/article/effed-it-up-frozen-shrimp

About This Article

Sophia Latorre
Co-authored by:
Sophia Latorre
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Sophia Latorre. Sophia Latorre is a Content Manager on the wikiHow team. Before joining wikiHow, Sophia worked as a technical editor and was published in six International Energy Agency (IEA) Wind Annual Reports. Now, she writes, edits, and reviews articles for the wikiHow Content Team, working to make the content as helpful as possible for readers worldwide. Sophia holds a BA in English from Colorado State University. This article has been viewed 93,422 times.
42 votes - 88%
Co-authors: 2
Updated: September 11, 2021
Views: 93,422
Categories: Prawns and Shrimp
Article SummaryX

To thaw frozen shrimp, place the shrimp in a colander or sieve. Set the colander in a bath of cold tap water. Let the shrimp sit submerged in the water for 10 minutes. Then, replace the water with fresh, cold water. Let the shrimp sit for another 10-20 minutes to completely defrost in the water. Remove them from the water and use a paper towel to pat them dry. Prepare the freshly thawed shrimp and enjoy.

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