can you microwave shrimp

Can You Microwave Shrimp

The summer is fast approaching and you are planning to prepare shrimp dishes for your family. You want to purchase a bunch of shrimp before the prices go up. 

The chances are you’ll be worn out on some nights, so you wouldn’t want to fire up your grill to cook your family their favorite—shrimp.

So can you microwave shrimp instead of firing your grill all the time you want to prepare shrimp for your family? This post will answer this question and any other related questions most people quite often ask. 

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Can You Microwave Shrimp? 

Yes, you can microwave shrimp to make a delicious meal for your family during the nights when you feel exhausted and wouldn’t want to fire up your grill. However, you’ll need to watch the microwave’s temperature because shrimp cooked at higher temperatures will overcook. 

You also would have a dish in liquid to prevent your shrimp from drying out during the cooking process. Get started with refrigerated shrimp (not more than 24 hours). 

And because shrimp don’t last long in the fridge (it takes about three days before going bad), you need to use up your shrimp as soon as you’ve cooked it. 

If you want to heat your shrimp, start by putting the leftover into a microwave-safe container. Stir the leftover dish and coat the shrimp with some vegetables and liquid. 

This is to prevent the shrimp from drying out or getting rubbery when microwaving. Once that is done, cover the top of the shrimp using paper towels to avoid splatters. 

Besides preventing the shrimp from drying out, stirring also helps with distributing heat. Please check your shrimp from time to time to ensure that your shrimp doesn’t overcook. 

Once the shrimp has heated to your desired temperature, get it out of the microwave and let it sit for a moment before you serve it for your family. 

Can I Microwave Frozen Shrimp?

Yes, you can microwave frozen shrimp to thaw, but you need to cook and consume immediately to prevent bacteria growth on the shrimp. 

There’s also an alternative to thaw frozen shrimp using the cold water method, which could take between 10 to 15 minutes—however, microwave thawing is faster. 

Below is a step-by-step on how to microwave shrimp: 

  1. Remove the shrimp from their package and transfer them to a microwave-safe container 
  2. Now microwave the shrimp using the defrost settings—beginning with 30-second segments for smaller shrimps while one-minute segments for bigger shrimps
  3. You need to keep checking the shrimp from time to time. You’ll know that your shrimp has thawed when you can bend the pieces 
  4. Cook the shrimps using any of the recipes you prefer and serve to your family while still hot
can you microwave shrimp

Can I Reheat Shrimp? 

Yes, you can reheat shrimp using a microwave, but you must ensure that you follow the steps above. You can also reheat shrimp on the stovetop or oven if you don’t have a microwave or just prefer any of the two. 

Reheating using a microwave is a good option if you are in a hurry and don’t want to complicate the whole thing. In a nutshell, a microwave will be a better option if you are looking forward to reheating shrimp fast and without any complicated processes. 

However, you’ll need to be extra careful when you are reheating your shrimp in the microwave because your shrimp could easily overcook without knowing. Keep checking your shrimp in the microwave and remove immediately it’s at the right temperature. 

Now, if your shrimp is fried or breaded, using the microwave method to reheat isn’t the best idea. It would, therefore, be better to try out the other methods I talked about, such as using the stovetop or oven. 

That said, below is the right way to reheat your shrimp in the microwave: 

  1. The first step is to remove your shrimp from whatever you kept and transfer it to a microwave-safe container. Ensure that the shrimps are well-spread in the container you are putting them
  2. Add some little water to the shrimp, so it doesn’t dry out when you’ll be microwaving it
  3. Now cover the shrimp with a lid to prevent splattering 
  4. Reheat the shrimp for between one to two minutes. I recommend you start with one minute and check to see if it is at the right temperature. You may need to heat longer if it’s not the right temperature 
  5. Once the shrimp has attained the desired temperature, it’s time to remove it from the microwave before it overcooks or dries out
  6. Serve your family while still hot and enjoy 

Can I Microwave Frozen Popcorn Shrimp?

Yes, you can microwave frozen popcorn shrimp, but you don’t need to microwave pre-fried foods because they usually don’t do well in the microwave. 

The truth is that your food will heat well, but you’ll not love the taste after that. To be honest, you just don’t want to heat your popcorn shrimp, but also enjoy it once it’s at the right temperature. 

If you want to heat your frozen popcorn shrimp, there are better ways to do so, such as using a deep fryer or an air fryer. You can check out some of the best air fryers and deep fryers on Amazon

Sure, popcorn shrimp has one of the best tastes worthy of eating when at the right temperature, but you must ensure that you are using the right methods to heat it—using deep fryers or air fryers. 

How Can I Prepare Frozen Popcorn Shrimp? 

There are many options for you to choose when you want to prepare frozen popcorn shrimp, but microwaving isn’t the best method you might want to use. 

Now, I’m not saying that you can’t microwave your frozen popcorn shrimp—what I’m saying is that microwaving may not give you the best results, especially when you want something crispy. 

A microwave can heat your frozen popcorn shrimp, but it won’t get crispy. If you don’t care about your popcorn shrimp’s texture, then microwaving will be your best option. 

When using the microwave to prepare your popcorn shrimp, ensure that the entire shrimp is well-heated only in smaller quantities in the microwave. 

Alternatively, instead of just limiting the size of shrimp you take into the microwave, you can microwave the popcorn shrimp for an extended time. 

How Do I Use a Microwave to Prepare Frozen Popcorn Shrimp? 

Now that I have given you a few insights into using the microwave to prepare your frozen popcorn shrimp, can we now get into how to go about it? Please note that this method is only a better choice if you won’t mind the texture afterward. 

  1. The first step is to remove the shrimp from the freezer, then spread out into a microwave-safe container or bowl
  2. Next, you’ll need to cover the frozen shrimp with a paper towel (you can use something else if you don’t have a paper towel)
  3. Microwave the frozen shrimp for about five minutes—this should be about 1100 watts in the microwave 
  4. Midway through the process, take out the shrimp and stir properly 
  5. Once done, let it sit for sometime before you can serve 

Related Questions 

1. Can I Eat Cold Shrimp?

No, it’s not advisable to eat cold food, including cold shrimp. Instead, it would be best to eat shrimp when cooked, warm, or cooked, then chilled. If you stored your shrimp in the freezer, you need to defrost it first before cooking. 

The method you use in defrosting your shrimp will affect the overall texture after that—so ensure you use the suitable defrosting method. 

how can i tell if shrimp are cooked

2. How Can I Tell If Shrimp Are Cooked?

There are a few ways to tell if shrimp is cooked. The first way is to check the crevice in your shrimp’s back to see where the vein was removed. Additionally, you’d want to check the thickest part of your shrimp and if the base flesh of its crevice turns to opaque, know that it’s cooked. 

3. Can You Eat Leftover Shrimp?

Yes, you can eat leftover shrimp, but unless it was correctly stored—most probably in the fridge. Leftover shrimp can last in the refrigerator for between three to four days—which means that it is safe for consumption between this period (and only if you stored it in the freezer). 

4. How Long Do You Have to Boil Shrimp?

You need to boil shrimp for about two to three minutes. To do this, add eight cups of water to a pot and leave to simmer in medium or high heat, depending on how fast you want it to boil. 

Once your water has boiled, place your peeled shrimp into the pot with boiled water and simmer until the shrimp turns pink. Now, drain any water and transfer the shrimp to a clean plate or bowl

5. Can You Steam Shrimp?

Yes, you can steam shrimp. The bigger shrimp will need to be cooked for about five to six minutes. 

You can choose to overcook, but this would be more challenging than just boiling them. When your shrimp has steamed, pull them out, transfer them to a bowl, and then leave to cool a bit before serving. 

Can You Microwave Shrimp – Conclusion 

Yes, you can microwave shrimp when you don’t feel comfortable firing up your grill, which would be time-consuming. Hopefully, I answered your question—can you microwave shrimp and any related questions you may have had. 

If you have any questions or want to share your experience using any of the hacks mentioned in this post, please leave a comment and let other readers also learn from your experiences.

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