Out of all kitchen appliances we have, microwave is the most versatile of all as it allows you to cook many food items in a jiffy. Even seafood can be cooked in it but you must be careful in doing so as these foods cook quickly and should not be overcooked.
Yes, you can microwave raw shrimp, It should be cooked thoroughly as there may be some cold spots in microwave-cooked shrimp where the chances of bacteria growth are more.
However, by following the steps mentioned below, you can have well-cooked shrimp in just a few minutes:
- Always take fresh shrimp with firm flesh and mild odor. Its shell should not be gooey and should not have any black spots. The flesh should have a pinkish tan or somewhat greyish pink. Even frozen shrimp can be used which has to be defrosted before using.
- Remove the shells and use a paring knife to devein the shrimp. The vein of the shrimp is present along its back.
- Take a microwavable steaming bag and put the shrimps in it along with the prepared seasoning of your choice. In the seasoning, you can add diced peppers, butter, onion, garlic, cocktail sauce, black pepper, etc. according to your choice.
- Seal the bag and shake it well so that seasoning gets coated on all the shrimps.
- Put this bag in the microwave and arrange the shrimps with the help of a spoon so that all the shrimps lay in a single layer. There is no overlapping of them and this helps in even cooking.
- Run the microwave on high for 3-5 minutes depending on the strength of the microwave.
- Stop the microwave halfway, rotate the bag, and check the shrimps. If not done, resume cooking.
- After 3-5 minutes, the shrimps will be cooked perfectly and at this time they will appear opaque pink.
- Let the shrimps stand in the microwave for 1 minute before removing them.
- Be careful in removing the bag from the microwave as it can be hot and therefore, use oven mitts to do so. Also, be cautious in opening the bag to prevent yourself from a burn by the steam.
The shrimps are ready to be served.
Instead of a microwavable bag, shrimp can be cooked in a microwave-safe casserole dish as well in which you need to add all the seasonings and ingredients to the shrimps in the dish and cover it with a plastic wrap with venting from one side.
Heat it at high in the microwave for 3-5 minutes and rotate the dish halfway.
Can you reheat shrimp in the microwave?
Yes, you can reheat shrimp in the microwave when you are in a hurry and want something simple and quick.
There are many other ways in which you can reheat it like in an oven or stovetop and microwave reheating is not the best method to reheat shrimp. But it is used when you do not have any other option or you are in a hurry to prepare the meal.
To reheat shrimp in the microwave-
- Take a microwave-safe dish and put the shrimps in it. Be sure all the shrimps are in a layer and they are properly spread out.
- Take some amount and splash over the shrimps to keep them moist.
- Cover the dish with a microwave-safe plastic wrap or a lid.
- Cook it for 1-2 minutes on high power. After 1 minute, check if the shrimp are reheated properly. It may take a little more time if there are many shrimps to cook at a time.
- Remove the dish from the microwave and let the shrimps cool a little.
They are reheated properly and served. Ensure shrimps are not overcooked as this can make them rubbery and damage the taste.
Can you thaw frozen shrimp in the microwave?
Yes, you can thaw frozen shrimp in the microwave by putting the frozen shrimp in a microwave-safe bowl along with cold water.
Place this bowl in the microwave and run the appliance on a defrost setting or medium power for 15 seconds. Check if the shrimp is defrosted and if required, run the microwave for another 15 seconds.
Shrimp is tasty seafood that is mostly frozen as fresh shrimp tends to spoil quickly. Thawing frozen shrimp in a microwave is a simple and effective way when done correctly.
The purpose of putting cold water in the shrimp while thawing is to ensure that it defrosts only and cooking does not start. Once defrosted, shrimp should be used immediately as it gets spoiled soon.
Does shrimp smell when microwaved?
When the shrimp is microwaved, it has a slight iodine smell which is common in any seafood. But, if it has a strong smell, it indicates shrimp has gone bad and is no longer safe to eat. In such a case, it is advised to throw away the shrimps.
Generally, when shrimp is cooked in the house, it causes smell everywhere which may be annoying for some.
To reduce your house from the smell of shrimp, take the below-mentioned steps:
- There may be foodborne bacteria in shrimp which may make it unsafe to eat. If before cooking there is any off-odor smell which becomes stronger after cooking, the shrimp has probably spoiled. In such a case, you must throw it away.
- Before cooking shrimp in the kitchen, open all the windows and turn on the overhead exhaust. This will help in circulating the air and removing odors while cooking. Also, add an acid like lemon juice or vinegar to the shrimp before and during cooking which reduces the smell. Another method is to add milk to fresh shrimp (not frozen). The casein in milk binds with trimethylamine present in shrimp and removes the fishy smell.
- The utensils in which shrimp is cooked can also develop a pungent smell which can be removed by placing cut-up potatoes with table salt in them for 2 hours. Potatoes, being natural absorbent, help in removing odor.
- When shrimp is cooked in the microwave, the smell persists there as well. To remove this smell, take a lemon, cut it into halves, and boil it in a bowl of water for 10 minutes in the microwave. If the smell is still present, boil some vinegar in the appliance.
Can you microwave frozen popcorn shrimp?
Yes, you can microwave frozen popcorn shrimp easily without any hassle but it is recommended only when you are in a hurry and you want to have frozen popcorn shrimp immediately.
When frozen popcorn shrimp is microwaved, there is some change in the texture and taste. Popcorn shrimp should be crispy but when microwaved, they become limp and soggy or gummy.
So if you are in a hurry and do not care much about the crispiness of the popcorn shrimp, then microwave is the best option.
To microwave frozen popcorn shrimp-
- Arrange the frozen popcorn shrimps in a microwave-safe dish in a single layer.
- Use a paper towel to cover them.
- Run the microwave on high for 5 minutes.
- In between this, stir the shrimps for even heating.
- Once done, let the popcorn shrimps stand in the microwave for 1 minute.
- Take them out and serve hot.
How long to microwave Shrimp?
You should microwave shrimp for 3-5 minutes on high power to get perfectly cooked shrimp. However, this time may vary depending on the power of the microwave and the number of shrimps.
The method to microwave shrimps is already mentioned above which you can follow and have delicious juicy shrimps in no time at all. Remember to remove the shells and devein shrimps with the help of a paring knife.
Microwaving shrimp at work?
Microwaving shrimp at work is not prohibited but the people near you may not like it. All seafood including shrimp when reheated in the microwave causes some kind of smell which may be unpleasant for many.
To avoid embarrassment, it is good if you do not microwave shrimp at work. In case you have got shrimp in your lunch box at the workplace, try to eat it as it is without heating.
At the same time, if overcooked or microwaved at high temperature, shrimps may get rubbery which means you need to stay near the microwave while heating the shrimps at work.
Conclusion
Shrimp is very delicious seafood which is liked by most of us as it is easy to cook and takes less time.
Raw shrimp can be cooked by many methods, the common being oven, and stovetop. But some of us prefer to use the microwave for cooking raw shrimp especially when there is no time left to prepare the meal or you do not want to have a mess in the kitchen.
While microwaving raw shrimp, one must take care not to overcook it as this can ruin its taste and flavor.