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Hey there, fellow seafood lovers! I’ve been cookin’ up shrimp for over 15 years, and lemme tell you – the question about frying pre-cooked shrimp comes up ALL the time in my cooking classes. Today, I’m gonna share everything you gotta know about this topic!
Quick Answer
Yes, you can totally fry already cooked shrimp! But here’s the thing – you gotta be super careful not to overcook them or you’ll end up with rubbery tough shrimp that nobody wants to eat. Trust me, I’ve been there!
The Do’s and Don’ts of Frying Pre-cooked Shrimp
Do’s:
- Thaw frozen cooked shrimp completely in the fridge (never on counter!)
- Pat them dry with paper towels before frying
- Use high heat for quick cooking
- Season them before frying
- Keep an eye on cooking time (30-60 seconds per side max!)
Don’ts:
- Don’t overcook (seriously, this is like the #1 mistake!)
- Don’t use low heat
- Don’t crowd the pan
- Don’t forget to remove the tails if you want
- Don’t skip the drying step
Best Methods for Frying Pre-cooked Shrimp
1. Stir-Frying Method
This is my fave way to do it! Here’s how
- Heat wok or large skillet until super hot
- Add bit of oil (I luv using coconut oil!)
- Throw in shrimp for 30 seconds
- Add your fave seasonings
- Quick toss for another 30 seconds
- Done!
2. Pan-Frying Method
Perfect for when u want that nice crust:
- Heat pan on high heat
- Add butter or oil
- Place shrimp in single layer
- Cook 45 seconds each side
- Remove immediately
Seasoning Ideas That’ll Make Your Shrimp Pop!
- Garlic butter + parsley
- Cajun seasoning
- Lemon pepper
- Old Bay seasoning
- Sweet chili sauce
Temperature Guide
| Heat Level | Temperature | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| High | 400-450°F | Quick sear |
| Medium-High | 375°F | Butter-based sauces |
| Medium | 350°F | Delicate sauces |
Common Mistakes (That I’ve Totally Made Before!)
-
Cooking Too LongOMG this is like the worst thing you can do! Pre-cooked shrimp just needs a quick heat-up.
-
Wrong Pan Temperature
If your pan ain’t hot enough, shrimp gonna steam instead of fry. Nobody wants steamed shrimp when they’re trying to fry! -
Too Much Oil
You only need like a tablespoon or two. Don’t go crazy with the oil!
Some Cool Recipes to Try
Quick Garlic Shrimp Stir-fry
- 1 lb pre-cooked shrimp
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp butter
- Salt & pepper
- Parsley
Just throw it all in a hot pan and BAM! – dinner in 2 mins!
Spicy Cajun Shrimp
- Pre-cooked shrimp
- Cajun seasoning
- Butter
- Lemon
- Hot sauce (if ur feeling brave!)
Tips for Best Results
- Always start with room temp shrimp
- Get your pan SUPER hot before adding shrimp
- Work in batches if cooking lots
- Have all ingredients ready before starting
- Keep some lemon handy – trust me on this!
Storage Tips
- Cooked & fried shrimp stays good in fridge for 3-4 days
- Store in airtight container
- Don’t freeze after frying (gets weird texture!)
When to Use Pre-cooked Shrimp
Pre-cooked shrimp works great for:
- Quick stir-fries
- Pasta dishes
- Salad toppings
- Tacos
- Last-minute appetizers
Safety First!
Even tho the shrimp is pre-cooked, make sure to:
- Store properly in fridge
- Use within 2 days of buying
- Heat until warm throughout
- Keep kitchen surfaces clean
Final Thoughts
Frying pre-cooked shrimp ain’t rocket science, but it does need a bit of attention to detail. The key is really in the timing – quick and hot is the way to go! I’ve messed up plenty of times before getting it right, so don’t worry if your first try isn’t perfect.
Remember, practice makes perfect, and there’s nothing wrong with having to eat a few “practice batches” along the way!
#cooking #seafood #shrimp #quickmeals #cookingtips
[End of Article]
Would you like me to explain any part in more detail?
Pros of Cooked Shrimp
While most recipes are going to tell you to buy raw shrimp, I think there are two big pros to choosing precooked shrimp instead.
Let me give you the rundown of all the ingredients you are going to need.
- Cooked Shrimp – the 50-55 count bag (sometimes considered “medium”). The number on a bag of shrimp indicates how many shrimp you get per pound. The larger the shrimp the less you get per pound. The 50-55 count bag gives you the perfect size shrimp for deep frying
- All-purpose flour – The flour is used as the first layer.
- Eggs – Beaten eggs are added to the floured shrimp in order to help the breadcrumbs stick.
- Panko bread crumbs – Rather than relying on ordinary, traditional bread crumbs for fried shrimp, I prefer to use Panko, the Japanese-style bread crumb. Panko imparts a superior level of crispiness that conventional bread crumbs simply cannot match. I did side by side taste test once and all of my kids prefer the panko breaded shrimp. I have a blog post that goes over the Differences Between Panko and Regular Breadcrumbs.
- Kosher salt – I typically use kosher salt in my recipes but you can use whatever you have.
- Canola, vegetable, or peanut oil – Use which oil you want for deep frying. I wouldnt use the good, expensive extra virgin olive oil.
Tips for Frying the Shrimp
The best way to fry shrimp is to use a cast iron Dutch oven. Cast iron is great at staying hot, so its a great choice for frying where you need to try to maintain the right temperature.
Here is a 30-second video you can watch on how I deep fry my shrimp.
I like using an infrared thermometer to get a quick readout of what the oil temperature is. Now the downside is that its only getting the surface temperature, so its not perfect but keeps your hands care away from that hot oil.
Since I created this video, I have changed to using The Smoke X from ThermoWorks. I have a clip that I put on the side of my Dutch oven and the readout will tell me what the exact temperature is. I love this model because it has a high and low temperature setting, so it can alert me if my oil is too low and if my oil is too high.
There are a couple options if want to do it gluten free.
Pork Panko – So this is an unique product that you can use instead of Panko. It is nothing but pork skins and salt. Add the crunch without any flour. This is a great choice for someone who is diabetic or following a Keto or Paleo diet.
Gluten Free Bread Crumbs – You can get wheat free alternative that contain a mixture of different starches and non-wheat flours.
Could you do it? Sure. Would I? No.
A couple reasons. First, excess moisture from thawing but still frozen shrimp could make breading more difficult. Its best to bread with the shrimp as dry as you can.
Second, I dont like handling really cold shrimp. It makes my hands hurt!
Now, I will say, the last time I fried some shrimp some of them had some ice on them or were a little frozen in the center. Thats fine. You can break off any ice chunks and even if still firm in the middle the shrimp will be plenty warmed once fried.
If you need to defrost your shrimp fast, just run it under cold water.
It certain does take some work to make this recipe, so you probably wont have much left to make any side dishes that are very involved. You are in luck. I have a blog post featuring 13 Simple Sides to Serve with Fried Shrimp. These are all side dishes that wont take much effort to make.
Yes. This is what I use to do. But I found that a dutch oven on the stove top does a better job at maintaining the temperature of the oil and that is important for keeping your shrimp from either burning or absorbing too much oil.
If you find that your Panko breadcrumbs are past their best by date, you may still be able to use them. If they are free of mold, dont smell off, and are still crispy they should be good to go. The dates on the package are when the product is often best by, not that it is definitely bad by date. Check out my blog post on How Long Do Panko Breadcrumbs Last to learn more and get some storage tips.
Yes, I prefer to remove the tails before I even bread the shrimp. This is also great because then you can use this shrimp for Fried Shrimp Tacos.
How to Cook Already Cooked Shrimp Safely & to Retain Flavour?
FAQ
Is it okay to fry already cooked shrimp?
Precooked shrimp do not need much time to fry since they are already cooked and just need to be heated through.
How to cook shrimp that’s already cooked?
How do you heat up shrimp that’s already been cooked?
Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add a splash of water or olive oil. Place the shrimp in a single layer and sauté for 1-2 minutes until they’re heated through. This method works wonders for shrimp leftovers from one-pot garlicky shrimp like this recipe for Garlic Butter Shrimp with Sprite.
Can you fry frozen pre-cooked shrimp?
Can I fry frozen cooked shrimp? Yes, but thaw them first and pat them dry before coating and frying to ensure even crispiness.Apr 12, 2025