Air-Fried Shrimp (For Seafood Lovers)

Being a seafood lover, shrimp and prawns have always been on my cooking list. But health consciousness led me to make air-fried shrimp. However, after trying the recipe in the air fryer, my shrimps turn out amazing!

I’ll share my recipe with you guys! These air-fried shrimp are very juicy and pulpy. You won’t regret trying them out.

Let’s talk about what you need to make air-fried shrimp. 

You need shrimp, garlic powder, Italian spices, paprika, salt, and black pepper. They are seasonings that I prefer, along with olive oil. You can add your spices as well.

To start with the recipe:

1. Clean the shrimp first.
2. Remove the veins and shells.
3. Bring all the ingredients together into a small bowl.
4. Apply the spice mixture to the shrimp. 

Then start placing shrimp in the basket or rack in the air fryer. Air fry them for 8 minutes at 385 degrees F. No need to turn them halfway. If you do, that’ll be a bonus to a perfect recipe.

That’s my customized recipe, but I’ll share some other recipes for air-fried shrimps. We’ll also take a sneak peek at the FAQs regarding them.

Stay with me till the end.

Cooking Raw Shrimp The An Air Fryer (The Recipe)

You can make delicious shrimp with readily available ingredients in your kitchen. Just fry them for 8 minutes after brushing them with a spice and oil mixture. This recipe is an easy one for the newbies too.

Ingredients

• Olive oil is a very important ingredient. A light olive oil brushing can help the seasonings adhere to the shrimp.
• Use a blend of seasonings with cajun influences.
• Make a flavorful shrimp seasoning with salt, pepper, dried oregano, dried thyme, garlic, onion, and paprika.
• Use smoked paprika to add a hint of spice and a smoky flavor. If you want a softer flavor, feel free to use sweet paprika.

Apply seasoning and place shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You’ll need to cook it for 8 – 10 minutes of air frying at 385 degrees F.

Halfway through cooking shrimp, insert the thermometer and read the inner temperature to 165 F. Don’t forget to flip them over halfway through the cooking.

Serve it with your favorite cold drink.

Tips

To cook raw shrimp in an air fryer, keep the following instructions in mind:

• You can save time and work by purchasing shrimp that have already been peeled and deveined. A small amount of money is worth it!
• Always purchase raw shrimp rather than cooked shrimp. Alternately, use your preferred seasoning mix!
• Avoid packing the air fryer basket too full. Air-fried shrimps are better when spread evenly. It provides in-depth cooking.
• Turn the shrimp over halfway through the cooking period to ensure consistent cooking.
• Depending on your preference, you can leave the shrimp’s tails on or take them off. As an appetizer, you can always go with the tails on. However, removing the tails is better for salad tacos and spaghetti!
• Don’t forget to use paper towels to dry the thawed shrimp! Oil and spices don’t adhere to them if they’re not properly dried.
• For large shrimp, the suggested cooking time is 15 minutes.
• When the shrimp change from grey and translucent to solid white and vibrant pink, that’s a sign that the shrimp are perfectly cooked.

Can We Air Fry Frozen Shrimp?

Yes, you can use an air fryer for cooking frozen shrimp. It’s a perfect choice considering you don’t have time to prepare the meal from scratch.

Increasing the cooking time and temperature would help you cook frozen shrimp with intensity. However, it’s best to thaw frozen shrimp in the refrigerator before cooking them.

When shrimp has thawed in the refrigerator for about 24 hours, you can season, air fry, and eat them. You may need to shorten the cooking time when using small shrimp. The cooking time varies along with the sizes.

Nutritional Content of Shrimp

Best Method Of Cooking Shrimps

Sharing a few tips for cooking delicious shrimp at home.

Instructions

1. Heat a big skillet with 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil. Put the shrimp in a basin and coat them with the spice mixture of your choice.
2. Add them to the air fryer basket and cook.
3. When the shrimp are pink and cooked through, add them to the heated pan and cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side.
4. Keep flipping once halfway through.
5. Serve once cooked perfectly.

This was the basic procedure for the dressings and seasonings. Read more!

Place the shrimp in a bowl and first massage them with the spice mixture. Add Italian seasonings and paprika for spicy and enhanced flavors. Due to their mild flavor, shrimp readily absorb any flavor you coat on them.

Turn on the stove and heat the oil or butter over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp to the hot pan once the butter has melted. Melted butter provides a larger cooking surface for the shrimp.

Do You Need To Flip Shrimp While Cooking Them In Air Fryer?

You should flip the shrimp once halfway through cooking, usually after 6 to 8 minutes of cooking starting time.

Wondering how to serve it? There’s nothing to worry about.

Air-fried shrimp can be served plain or dipped in healthy caesar dressing or chipotle aioli. You can serve rice or pasta along with seared shrimp.

What Can You Serve With Air Fried Shrimps?

Shrimps are cooked within 8 to 10 minutes in a moderate air fryer. While it’s cooking, you can prepare a side sauce to serve with the shrimp.

You can serve shrimp with dips on the side, such as:

• Melted butter (or ghee for paleo/Whole30)
• Chipotle aioli
• Caesar dressing
• Spicy avocado sauce.

Or you can make your hot remoulade sauce::

Here are some more ideas of what you can serve alongside shrimp:

Sun-dried tomato pesto pasta, garlic zucchini noodle pasta, or kale pesto zoodles usually have shrimp in place of chicken.

How Long Should Frozen Shrimp Takes Be Cooked In An Air Fryer?

You may air fry pre-cooked frozen shrimp for 6-8 minutes at 370°F.

Open your frozen fried shrimp container, whichever size you like. Set the shrimp in the air fryer basket. Air fry pre-cooked frozen shrimp for 6-8 minutes. If you have raw shrimp, air fry them for 8-10 minutes.

Is It Necessary to Thaw Frozen Shrimp Before Air Frying Them?

If you don’t have time to defrost the shrimp in the refrigerator or under running water, cook them in the air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes, or until thawed.

Dry the thawed shrimp with paper towels before tossing them with the oil and seasonings and returning it to the air fryer to complete cooking. Thawing the shrimp in a dish of cold water takes only 15 minutes.

Final Thoughts

To conclude, I’d say that:

• Making shrimp in the air fryer is not havoc. You need 8 minutes of cooking at 380 degrees F. These are the prerequisites for small or medium-sized shrimp.
• Air frying the seafood allows you to enjoy a healthier meal than deep frying. If you’re a seafood lover, you’ll need some seasonings such as sweet and smoked paprika to satisfy your taste buds.
• There are multiple suggestions to serve along with the shrimp. We can add stir-fried shrimp to pasta, spaghetti, and noodles.
• Just do them the way you like. Don’t forget to follow the instructions given in the recipes above.

Here is a short tutorial for making shrimp in your air fryer.

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