Tips for Cooking Shrimp & Southwest Shrimp Stacks

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Get all the tips you need for cooking shrimp PLUS a fantastic recipe for Southwestern Shrimp Stacks.

I keep a bag of frozen shrimp, already peeled and deveined, in my freezer at all times. It’s become a staple in my kitchen. Why? My peeps love them and I love that they’re quick to thaw, even faster to cook and it doesn’t take a lot of effort to make them taste good. A little spice, a quick sauté, and they’re ready to go. Cooking shrimp can be a breeze. Here are my tips for cooking shrimp to guide you through it.

Frozen vs. Fresh

In most cases, buying the fresh version of a food is best. Shrimp are the exception to the rule. Most shrimp, even the shrimp often sold as fresh in the supermarket, is flash frozen immediately after being caught. The IQF label, individually quick frozen, means the shrimp are flash frozen individually to prevent them from freezing together in the bag. They also thaw faster when frozen individually. If you’re buying fresh shrimp from a provider you trust and it’s truly freshly caught, fresh is awesome. If you’re not certain, stick with frozen. Frozen also gives you the convenience of buying your shrimp already peeled and deveined, a fantastic timesaver.

Thawing Shrimp

If you can plan ahead, you can thaw your shrimp in the fridge overnight. If you’re like me and usually find yourself scrambling through the freezer just before dinner time, here’s the solution to thawing shrimp quickly and safely.

Remove frozen shrimp from the bag and place it in a colander or bowl. Place the colander in the sink and run cold water over the shrimp for 10-15 minutes, until completely thawed.

Be sure the water is cold. Hot water may seem like a faster fix but you run the risk of warming the shrimp’s temperature into the time temperature danger zone, which can encourage bacteria growth. Ick.

Marinating Shrimp

Shrimp absorb flavors quickly so there’s no need to marinate them for more than 30 minutes to an hour. Any longer and you run the risk of ruining the shrimp’s texture. If your marinade has any acid in it – citrus juice or vinegar – stick to 30 minutes. The acid can start to cook the shrimp. (It’ll look white along the edges.)

Cooking Shrimp

Shrimp gives you a clear signal when it’s done. Its color changes from dull grey to bright pink. Once it’s pink on all sides, get it off. the. heat. Otherwise you’ll end up with chewy, dry, tough shrimp when it should be moist and tender.

Southwest Shrimp Stacks

You can practice cooking shrimp to perfection with these Southwest Shrimp Stacks, a delicious pile of  Chipotle-Goat Cheese Guacamole (yes, goat cheese! Yum!), sautéed onions and peppers and, of course, shrimp marinated in a blend of spices and sautéed.

Get at this one! You can thank me later.

TOOLS:

Large Saute’ Pan

Wooden Spoon

Spoon

Medium Bowl

Fork

The tools section may contain affiliate links to products we know and love.

TECHNIQUES:

Sweating Vegetables

Get all the tips you need for cooking shrimp PLUS a fantastic recipe for Southwestern Shrimp Stacks.

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