How to Cook Shrimp Without Them Shrinking

If you love making shrimp, you’ve probably noticed your shrimp shrinking or curling in on itself when you cook it. While a slight size change is normal, shrimp that’s shrinking a lot or curling up tightly can lead to a rubbery, overcooked texture. We’ve answered some of your questions concerning the right ways to cook shrimp to get deliciously tender shellfish every time.

Question 1 of 11:

Why do shrimp curl up when they’re cooked?

  1. Image titled Cook Shrimp Without Them Shrinking Step 1
    The underside of the shrimp is connected. Next time you have a shrimp in hand, flip it over and look at its underside area. You’ll notice a bunch of small slats that fold into each other where the shrimp’s belly is. These slats make the shrimp curl up tightly as it gets cooked.[1]
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Question 2 of 11:

How do you prevent shrimp from curling up?

  1. Make small slits on the underside of each shrimp. Flip the shrimp over and make 2 to 3 shallow cuts with a knife on the inside curve of the shrimp. Press the shrimp flat on a cutting board to open them up before you start cooking.[3]
    • The cuts that you make will disconnect the underside of the shrimp, making it less likely to curl up so tightly.
Question 3 of 11:

Should you rinse shrimp before cooking it?

  1. Yes, rinse and drain shrimp in a colander. This will remove any loose shell bits or gunk still left on its flesh. Use cool water and rinse your shrimp thoroughly after you clean it.[4]
    • Even if your shrimp is frozen, you should still rinse it off to get rid of any ice crystals from the freezer.
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Question 4 of 11:

Can you cook shrimp without defrosting?

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    Yes, you can. Rinse the shrimp with cold water to break up any ice that has formed on the shrimp. If you’re going to boil your frozen shrimp, add about 1 minute onto your cooking time. For any other cooking method, make sure the shrimp turns pink and white to ensure that it’s done.[5]
    • Use a thermometer to double check that your shrimp is at 145 °F (63 °C) before you eat it.[6]
Question 5 of 11:

Should you butterfly shrimp before frying it?

  1. You can, but you don’t have to. Butterflying the shrimp, or cutting it lengthwise from head to tail, can make it less likely to curl and shrink up. However, you can also just keep a close eye on your shrimp as it fries to ensure you don’t overcook it.[7]
    • Some recipes call specifically for butterflied shrimp. If that’s the case, then you should butterfly it before frying.
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Question 6 of 11:

How do you cook shrimp without overcooking it?

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    1
    Set a timer according to the size of your shrimp. Most small shrimps only need 2 to 3 minutes to cook until they’re ready. Stay close to your grill, oven, or stovetop, and be ready to take your shrimp off the heat quickly.[8]
    • Jumbo shrimp might take 7 or 8 minutes to cook.
  2. Image titled Cook Shrimp Without Them Shrinking Step 7
    2
    Watch for the shrimp to turn pink. You’ll know shrimp are done when they turn pink and curl in on themselves just slightly. Take them off the heat right away to avoid overcooking your shrimp.[9]
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Question 7 of 11:

How do you boil shrimp without overcooking it?

  1. 1
    Boil a pot of water and add 3 tbsp (42 g) of salt. You can reduce the time your shrimp spends in water by heating it up first. Put your stovetop on high heat and wait until you see large bubbles rising to the top of the water.[11]
  2. 2
    Add your shrimp, then cover the pot. Carefully pour your shrimp into the water. The cold shrimp might make the water temperature go down, but it’s okay—keep the heat on high to bring it back up.[12]
  3. 3
    Set a timer according to the size of your shrimp. Your cooking time depends on the size of your shrimp and whether it’s frozen or not. Set a timer and keep a close eye on your shrimp, since it can be overcooked easily.[13]
    • Fresh small shrimp: 30 seconds. Frozen small shrimp: 1 minute.
    • Fresh medium shrimp: 1 minute. Frozen medium shrimp: 1.5 minutes.
    • Fresh large shrimp: 2 minutes. Frozen large shrimp: 3 minutes.
    • Fresh jumbo shrimp: 3 minutes. Frozen jumbo shrimp: 4 minutes.
  4. 4
    Plunge the shrimp in cold water to stop the cooking process. If you’re not going to eat your shrimp right away, quickly run the shrimp under cold water or put them on ice to stop them from cooking. Don’t leave the shrimp to cool in the hot water, as that will overcook them and make them tough.[14]
    • If you are going to eat your shrimp right away, just drain them.
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Question 8 of 11:

What happens if you eat undercooked shrimp?

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    1
    You can get food poisoning. While some sushi restaurants serve uncooked shrimp as a meal, most experts don't recommend eating raw or undercooked shrimp. You may experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.[15]
    • Most food poisoning symptoms get better within a couple of days.
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    2
    You could ingest a parasite. Certain species of fish and shrimp contain parasites that only die when they’re cooked. Even if the shrimp has been frozen, it could still contain a parasite.[16]
    • If you experience vomiting, weight loss, and a decreased appetite for more than a week after eating undercooked shrimp, talk to your doctor.
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Question 9 of 11:

Is mushy shrimp safe to eat?

  1. Yes, but it might not taste very good. Your shrimp might be mushy if it’s been thawed and refrozen a couple of times. Generally, this makes the shrimp lose texture and flavor.[17]
    • If you bought “fresh” shrimp but it’s mushy, you might be able to get a refund.
Question 10 of 11:

How do you fix rubbery shrimp?

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    1
    Shrimp gets rubbery because it’s overcooked.[18] If you leave it on the heat too long, shrimp will begin to curl up and get a little tough. This can happen with any cooking method, which is why it’s important to keep a close eye on your dish.[19]
    • Shrimp is done when it turns pink and white.
  2. Image titled Cook Shrimp Without Them Shrinking Step 16
    2
    Unfortunately, you can’t fix overcooked shrimp. The best thing you can do is keep a closer eye on your shrimp next time. Try adding overcooked shrimp to a saucy dish to introduce more liquid, like alfredo pasta.[20]
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Question 11 of 11:

How can you tell if shrimp has gone bad?

  1. Image titled Cook Shrimp Without Them Shrinking Step 17
    It will have a rancid, fishy odor to it. Fresh shrimp shouldn’t smell like much of anything before it’s cooked. If you’re preparing your shrimp and you notice a bad odor, don’t eat the shrimp.[21]
    • It might also smell like ammonia, which can be described as a cat pee smell.

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/tempura-shrimp-and-vegetables-352102
  2. ↑ Abyssinia Campbell. Executive Chef. Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.
  3. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/tempura-shrimp-and-vegetables-352102
  4. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-grill-juicy-flavorful-shrimp-244714
  5. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-frozen-shrimp-247331
  6. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/shared/PDF/Internal_Cooking_Temperatures_CFG.pdf
  7. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/butterflied-baked-shrimp-recipe-1942095
  8. ↑ https://whatscookingamerica.net/ShrimpTips.htm
  9. ↑ https://whatscookingamerica.net/ShrimpTips.htm
  1. ↑ Abyssinia Campbell. Executive Chef. Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.
  2. ↑ https://whatscookingamerica.net/ShrimpTips.htm
  3. ↑ https://www.eatbydate.com/how-long-to-boil-shrimp/
  4. ↑ https://www.eatbydate.com/how-long-to-boil-shrimp/
  5. ↑ https://whatscookingamerica.net/ShrimpTips.htm
  6. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/selecting-and-serving-fresh-and-frozen-seafood-safely
  7. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/selecting-and-serving-fresh-and-frozen-seafood-safely
  8. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/15/dining/shrimp-sourcing-united-states.html
  9. ↑ Abyssinia Campbell. Executive Chef. Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.
  10. ↑ https://www.cooksillustrated.com/articles/2611-a-smarter-way-to-pan-sear-shrimp
  11. ↑ https://whatscookingamerica.net/ShrimpTips.htm
  12. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/selecting-and-serving-fresh-and-frozen-seafood-safely

About This Article

Abyssinia Campbell
Co-authored by:
Abyssinia Campbell
Executive Chef
This article was co-authored by Abyssinia Campbell and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Abyssinia Campbell is an Executive Chef and the Owner of Chef Abyssinia, Personal Chef and Catering. With over ten years of experience, she specializes in catering, event planning, menu development, meal planning, and food business operations. When it comes to cooking, Chef Abyssinia enjoys using fruits, vegetables, healthy food alternatives, and local farm-fresh ingredients. She holds a BASc in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University. This article has been viewed 24,148 times.
3 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 9
Updated: October 25, 2021
Views: 24,148
Categories: Prawns and Shrimp
Article SummaryX

To keep shrimp from curling up when they cook, cut a few small, horizontal slits on the underside of the shrimp. Press the shrimp flat on your cutting board to straighten it out even more before you cook it. Cutting shrimp butterfly style can also help prevent them from curling up. To do this, slice the shrimp almost in half lengthwise from head to tail, then spread it out and press it flat. When you cook the shrimp, watch it carefully to prevent overcooking it, which can cause it to shrink and get rubbery. The shrimp is done when it’s opaque, pink, and just starting to curl. For more tips, like how to make perfect boiled shrimp, scroll down!

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