Food - Drink
The Absolute Best Way To Thaw Frozen Shrimp Without Ruining It
By MATTHEW SPINA
Frozen shrimp are affordable, convenient, and taste just as good as fresh shrimp as long as you know how to prepare them. Poorly-handled shrimp can end up mushy, mealy, or rubbery, especially when thawed incorrectly, and luckily, the best method also happens to be low-effort and gets great results every time.
In a pinch, you can thaw shrimp by putting them in a sealed bag in cold water, or even fully submerging them for 20 minutes. While those methods work, the ideal technique is to take the shrimp out of the bag they're sold in, then put them in a colander over a bowl before placing the whole thing in the fridge to defrost overnight.
This method works best because of the same reason you should pat shrimp dry before cooking: moisture is the enemy of perfectly cooked shrimp. Shrimp are prone to overcooking, and the extra time they'll need in the pan if they're wet or holding onto water increases that risk, so thaw them dry for the best possible results.