Should you defrost shrimp before frying or put them in the pan frozen?

Question

I found a bag of shrimp on sale and I want to fry them for dinner. I am trying to save money so I do not want to spoil them. Should I defrost them first or will they be fine if I put them in the pan frozen? I would like the process to be explained clearly so they turn out fine. :)

Answer 1

Hello Sophie! It is wonderful that you found a great deal on shrimp, and I would be happy to help you prepare them safely and deliciously. Should you defrost them? Yes, absolutely. If you put frozen shrimp straight into a hot frying pan, they will release a lot of water as they thaw. This will cause them to steam and boil rather than fry up nice and crispy, and they can easily become rubbery. Here is what you should do: 1. Place the frozen shrimp in a colander. 2. Run cold tap water over them for about 5 to 10 minutes until they are fully thawed. 3. Pat them completely dry with paper towels before seasoning and frying. This ensures a wonderful texture!

Answer 2

Place the shrimp into a bowl of warm water for five minutes to thaw them quickly, then add them directly into your hot oiled pan.

Answer 3

definitely thaw em first sophie otherwise they get super watery in the pan just run under cold water for a few mins & pat dry before frying gl!

Answer 4

Following this thread for answers. I just bought several bags on sale for my weekly meal prep freezer stash and I have the exact same issue here. I usually just portion them out raw and freeze them, so I am not sure what the right method is without ruining there texture. Hopefully someone who knows explains your best options soon.

Answer 5

My mom always made shrimp dinners back home and insisted on thawing them first, but idk if it really ruins them if you toss them in frozen