How to Make Amazing Pasta with Frozen Cooked Shrimp: A Complete Guide

The Shrimp and Mussels

I bought a pound of whole shrimp (with heads and shells) from Wild Fork Foods for $5.50. Although this shrimp is farm-raised, its quite tasty. Finding wild-caught whole shrimp is challenging because shrimp spoil quickly if the head isnt removed. Unless a fishing boat can freeze the shrimp at sea or sell their catch daily, they probably wont sell whole shrimp. Whole shrimp are nearly always sold frozen.

So why use whole shrimp? The content of the shrimps head enhances dishes because it is released and cooked into the dish. If you remove the head before cooking the body, you miss out on this flavor enhancement. But if you dont want to look at the heads, you can remove them before cooking this dish. But dont throw the heads away–you can use the heads to make excellent shrimp stock.

So where to buy whole shrimp? If you dont live near a Wild Fork Foods, the next best option is Walmart—yes, Walmart. Go with me on this one. Walmart sells good whole shrimp; a 2-pound box is around $10. You can make this dish twice with this box. It is an outrageous bargain.

I bought the mussels in this dish for around $3 at Aldi. I have also purchased frozen, cooked mussels from Wild Fork Foods for under $3. Walmart also has an option around the same price point. The mussels are cooked, but some preparation must be done before using them in this recipe.

Frozen Seafood Must Be Cleaned

While some frozen seafood is labeled “ready to eat,” the reality is that frozen seafood typically must be inspected and cleaned before you use it. For whole shrimp, you must devein the shrimp and snip off the long antennas. But dont cut the shell down the back–Im aghast at how even notable chefs mangle shrimp in the name of cleaning them. I learned the technique for deveining a whole shrimp from an Asian cook. Make a small snip in the shell near the head and another in the shell near the tail. Take a toothpick, find the vein, and pull gently to remove it. If it breaks, go to the other place you snipped the shell. If it comes out whole, congratulate yourself. Your shrimp is ready to go.

The mussels are a bit harder to clean, but I want to remind you that they are cheap. First, thaw the mussels in a colander, but put it in a large bowl to catch the juices. Do not throw these juices away–there is tons of flavor there. Unfortunately, tons of sand and pieces of the “beard” of the mussel were not removed prior to cooking. (These “beards” must be removed from all mussels, hopefully before cooking. Take the drained mussels one at a time, remove any pieces of the beard that remain, and wipe off any debris on the shell.

When you are done, rinse them briefly in cool water. Then, put the juices you captured through a fine-mesh sieve. When mussels cook, they release juices. To mimic fresh mussels, you should retain the juices of your frozen, cooked mussels and add them to your dish. But remember to strain these juices before you use them.

Once you have deveined your frozen shrimp, cleaned your mussels, and strained their liquid, you are ready to begin making this dish.

How to Cook With Frozen Shrimp | You Can Cook That | Allrecipes.com

FAQ

What do you do with already cooked frozen shrimp?

Made some shrimp salads, just a shrimp cocktail. Toss it with some scampi noodles, throw it into a cooked stir fry or fried rice. Grits and hush puppies are always good. Or you can even do roasted vegetables you get in the frozen section and maybe some rice or put it on a taco shell.

Do you have to thaw frozen cooked shrimp before cooking?

Shrimp: Shrimp can be cooked from frozen, but they will cook more evenly if thawed first. If cooking from frozen, add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.

How to thaw frozen shrimp for pasta?

Cold Water Quick Thawing – Wait: Wait for 5-8 minutes or until fully thawed, moving the shrimp around every 1-2 minutes.

Can I put cooked shrimp in pasta?

Shrimp Pasta Ingredients

If you have cooked shrimp in the fridge, you can also use that. I have a full tutorial on how to poach shrimp and serve it with a homemade cocktail sauce. If you have leftovers, they’re great for this pasta dish! Olive oil, butter, and garlic – this is where most of the flavor comes from.

Can you put frozen shrimp in pasta?

You can sauté the shrimp in a pan with olive oil and garlic, and then mix them into your cooked pasta. Alternatively, you can also add the seasoned shrimp directly to your pasta sauce and let them simmer for a few minutes before serving. Can I use frozen shrimp in pasta without thawing them first?

How to cook shrimp pasta?

Cook pasta according to package directions. In a large skillet, saute shrimp in oil until they turn pink; set aside. Meanwhile, heat 1 cup broth, lemon juice, and dried basil in the same skillet. Cook pasta and shrimp together in the skillet with the sauce at the end of the pasta cooking process.

Can you eat frozen cooked shrimp?

Once the frozen cooked shrimp are thawed and seasoned, they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make sure to use them within this time frame to ensure they are safe to eat. What is the best type of pasta to pair with frozen cooked shrimp?

How do you make garlic butter Shrimp Pasta?

To make a simple garlic butter shrimp pasta, sauté thawed and seasoned frozen cooked shrimp in a pan with butter and garlic. Then, toss the shrimp with cooked pasta and sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.

How do you cook thawed shrimp?

Once the shrimp are thawed and seasoned, you can add them to your pasta dish. You can sauté the shrimp in a pan with olive oil and garlic, and then mix them into your cooked pasta. Alternatively, you can also add the seasoned shrimp directly to your pasta sauce and let them simmer for a few minutes before serving.

Can You thaw frozen shrimp?

The best way to safely thaw frozen shrimp is to place them in the refrigerator overnight. If you’re short on time, you can also thaw the shrimp in a bowl of cold water for about 20 minutes. Once the shrimp are thawed, make sure to pat them dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture before cooking.