Here’s the Right Way to Microwave Shrimp

Some of the most mouthwatering dishes out there are hard to cook in the kitchen. Well, with the exception of shrimp — the most popular way to cook it is by boiling it for only 2 to 5 minutes.

And because it can be boring to wait for the water in a pot to boil on the stovetop, you may be wondering if you can nuke shrimp instead.

Shrimp can be cooked in the microwave. It usually takes no more than 10 minutes to cook the seafood. Similarly, cooked shrimp can be reheated in the microwave in as quickly as 4 minutes. Whether it’s an entire bag or just a few pieces, frozen shrimp can be thawed in the microwave at 15-second intervals.

Craving shrimp but too busy to use the stovetop or oven? Don’t stop reading now.

In this post, you will learn how to use a microwave for cooking and reheating shrimp. I will also discuss how you can defrost an entire bag of shrimp or just a few pieces of the seafood in the said versatile kitchen appliance.

How to Cook Shrimp in Microwave

Shrimp, after seasoning, can be microwaved for 4 to 10 minutes, depending on the size and quantity. It’s a good idea to nicely spread shrimp in a shallow dish and flip them halfway through the cooking time for evenly cooked seafood. A tablespoon of liquid like water or stock should be added to frozen shrimp.

One of the nicest things about shrimp is that it doesn’t take a long time to cook. Using the microwave can make cooking the seafood so much quicker and more trouble-free as there’s zero setups.

However, it can be easy to end up with overcooked shrimp that’s rubbery in the microwave.

To avoid overcooking shrimp in the microwave, cook each side for 2 to 5 minutes or until the seafood is opaque white with nice-looking pink or red accents.

It’s important to be familiar with your microwave to have a much better idea of just how long you should nuke shrimp to be able to serve a perfectly cooked seafood dish.

Needless to say, completely thawed shrimp cooks faster in the microwave.

If shrimp is still frozen and you have no time to thaw it beforehand, add a tablespoon of water, chicken stock, soy sauce, lemon juice or any other liquid seasoning you prefer. However, you may have to add a couple of minutes of cooking time.

Cover the dish with saran wrap to trap the steam, which helps speed up cooking and keep the shrimp juicy, too.

Read Also: How to Eat Cooked Shrimp

How to Reheat Shrimp in Microwave

Refrain from reheating shrimp in the microwave for more than 3 to 4 minutes. Otherwise, the seafood may end up overcooked — overcooked shrimp has a rubbery texture which is not particularly pleasing to eat. Consider heating shrimp in the microwave for 1-minute increments to avoid overcooking it.

A microwave can be used for both cooking shrimp and reheating cooked shrimp.

Because it’s possible to reheat shrimp in a serving dish that’s microwave-safe, you can save a lot of time and resources. You don’t have to grab a skillet or pot or preheat the oven.

But the problem with reheating shrimp in the microwave is that you might end up cooking already-cooked shrimp further, which is something that can make the seafood rubbery.

Knowing how powerful your microwave is based on your home cooking experience allows you to determine how long shrimp should be reheated in it.

Generally speaking, shrimp should be reheated for no more than 3 to 4 minutes in the microwave. It’s a good idea to reheat the seafood at 1-minute intervals to avoid overcooking it.

Don’t forget to cover shrimp when reheating it to keep it soft and moist.

How to Thaw Shrimp in Microwave

Frozen shrimp can be thawed in the microwave so that it can be eaten, if pre-cooked, or cooked in no time. To avoid running the risk of cooking the seafood instead of simply defrosting it, place shrimp in a bowl filled with cold water. Microwave in 15-second intervals until completely thawed.

It’s not uncommon for today’s microwave ovens to have a defrost mode.

While it’s a helpful feature for individuals who are too busy to wait beside the microwave until a frozen package of shrimp is completely thawed, there’s a possibility for some to end up cooked rather than simply defrosted given the fact that microwave ovens have cold spots and hot spots in them.

To thaw shrimp safely and effectively, place the seafood in a microwave-safe bowl and fill the bowl with cold water — not hot water because it will cook shrimp as it thaws.

Nuke shrimp for 15 seconds and check. Repeatedly microwave at intervals of 15 seconds until the seafood is defrosted very well.

It’s a good idea to turn the packaging, if still in the original packaging, or give the shrimp a quick stir between each interval in order to ensure even thawing.

How to Store Leftover Microwaved Shrimp

Leftover cooked shrimp can be stored in the refrigerator where it will stay safe to eat for 3 to 4 days. It will keep up to a year in the freezer, but no more than 3 months is recommended. Cooked shrimp should not be allowed to sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Otherwise, bacteria may grow on it, which can cause food poisoning.

Don’t throw away leftover shrimp! The seafood is so delicious that it can still please the senses even when stored for a while and reheated before enjoying it all over again.

In the refrigerator, shrimp, whether cooked in the microwave or elsewhere, can stay in excellent condition for 3 to 4 days.

Just make sure that you place it in the coldest part of the refrigerator, which is at the back of the bottom shelf, to considerably lower its risk of going bad.

Provided that your fridge is working properly, there’s no need to allow shrimp to cool before refrigeration.

It’s important to keep in mind that you should not allow cooked shrimp to remain on the table or a countertop for over 2 hours.

If it’s been sitting at room temperature for more than the said amount of time, don’t risk it — get rid of it immediately to keep you or someone you love from potentially ending up with food poisoning.

Cooked shrimp may also be placed in a freezer-safe airtight container and stored in the freezer, where it will keep for as long as 1 year. However, for an optimum experience, consume the seafood within 3 months.

Just Before You Microwave Shrimp

A microwave brings convenience to the kitchen like no other cooking appliance. It also makes it convenient not only to cook shrimp but also to reheat and thaw the delicious seafood.

However, shrimp can easily wind up overcooked if you accidentally microwave it for a period of time that’s longer than necessary.

To avoid ending up with rubbery shrimp, always keep in mind the things you have read above each time you take a package of the seafood out of the freezer or reheat cooked shrimp stored in the refrigerator.