Shrimp is a delicious seafood dish and can be used in a variety of dishes. Most shrimp go through the Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) process immediately after being caught. If you want to buy shrimp that are not frozen, make sure they are fresh and have never been frozen. You can quickly thaw frozen shrimp to their normal temperature by submerging them in cold water. Alternatively, you can place the frozen shrimp in a covered bowl and let the shrimp soften in the refrigerator overnight. You can also put frozen shrimp in boiling water for 1 minute to thaw.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Defrost the Shrimp Using Cold Water
Step 1. Place the frozen shrimp in a colander or sieve
Remove as many frozen shrimp as you need from the freezer. Close the bag again and return the remaining shrimp to the freezer, if necessary. Place the prawns in a colander or sieve.
Step 2. Place the strainer over a large bowl of cold tap water for 10 minutes
Fill a large bowl with cold tap water and place it in the kitchen sink. Place the strainer in the bowl until the prawns are completely submerged in the cold water. Soak for 10 minutes.
Step 3. Replace the old water with the new one
Remove the sieve containing the shrimp from the bowl. Discard the old water and refill it with new, cold tap water. Put the filter containing the shrimp back into the water. Again, make sure the prawns are completely submerged.
Step 4. Let the prawns thaw for another 10-20 minutes
Let the prawns sit in cold water for 10-20 minutes. After that, the shrimp will be soft, although still cold.
Step 5. Remove the prawns from the water and pat dry
Remove the strainer from the bowl and drain. Take the prawns and dry them with paper towels or a cloth before cooking and using them in your recipe or dish.
Method 2 of 3: Defrosting the Shrimp in the Fridge
Step 1. Remove the shrimp from the freezer
If you only want to use some of the shrimp you bought, remove as many as needed from the bag, then close the bag and put it back in the freezer. You can also defrost a bag full of frozen shrimp at once.
Step 2. Transfer the prawns to a covered bowl
Put the prawns in a bowl. Cover the bowl with a tight-fitting lid or with plastic wrap. Make sure the bowl is tightly closed.
Step 3. Thaw the prawns in the fridge overnight
Place the covered bowl in the refrigerator. Allow the shrimp to slowly thaw overnight or about 12 hours. Shrimp will be ready to use for your dish the next day.
Step 4. Rinse and dry the prawns
Place the prawns in a colander and rinse under cold running water to remove any ice chips. After that, use a tissue or cloth to dry it.
Step 5. Cook the prawns within 48 hours
After thawing, shrimp should be used within a maximum of 48 hours so that they are still fresh and safe for consumption. You can also freeze it again during this time if you want.
Method 3 of 3: Defrosting the Shrimp Using Boiling Water
Step 1. Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan
Fill a large saucepan with enough water to cover as much of the shrimp as you want to defrost. Place the pot on the stove over medium-to-high heat and let the water boil.
Step 2. Put the prawns in the water and let sit for 1 minute
Once the water boils, carefully put the frozen prawns in it. Soak for 1 minute.
If the prawns stick together, separate them before adding them to the water
Step 3. Remove the prawns from the boiling water
Turn off the stove. Use a slotted spatula to remove the shrimp from the boiling water.
Step 4. Dry the prawns before cooking
Place the shrimp on paper or a cloth and pat dry. Soaking the prawns in boiling water for 1 minute will not cook them, but only soften them. So, make sure the prawns are fully cooked when they are cooked in the dish.
Tips
- For best conditions, defrost shrimp just before cooking.
- Don't put raw seafood out of the fridge for more than an hour before cooking or freezing, so you don't get food poisoning.
Warning
- Eating raw seafood can result in food poisoning. Cook seafood before consumption.
- Buying frozen prawns from frozen food outlets in supermarkets or markets is much safer than buying thawed prawns after being frozen.
- Defrosting prawns in the microwave can give them a sticky texture and an odd taste. So, you should avoid using the microwave.
