Hey there, fellow food lovers! I’ve been experimenting with cooking frozen shrimp in my crockpot lately, and lemme tell you – it’s a game-changer! Today, I’m gonna share everything I’ve learned about getting perfectly cooked shrimp using your trusty slow cooker.
Quick Answer
For those in a hurry: Cook frozen shrimp in a crockpot on LOW for 1-2 hours. But wait! The exact time depends on shrimp size and your specific recipe. Keep reading for all the juicy details!
Why Use a Crockpot for Cooking Shrimp?
Y’all, there are some awesome reasons to use your crockpot for shrimp:
- Super convenient (just dump and go!)
- Even cooking throughout
- Keeps shrimp tender and juicy
- Less cleanup (who doesn’t love that?)
- Perfect for infusing flavors
Cooking Times Based on Shrimp Size
Here’s a handy guide I’ve put together after lots of trial and error
| Shrimp Size | Count per Pound | Cooking Time (LOW) |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 36-40 | 1-2 hours |
| Medium | 26-30 | 1½-3 hours |
| Large | 16-20 | 2-3 hours |
| Jumbo | 10-15 | 2½-4 hours |
Important Tips for Success
-
Temperature Setting: ALWAYS use LOW heat! High heat is a big no-no – it’ll give you rubbery shrimp
-
How to Know When They’re Done
- Color changes from gray to pink
- Forms a “C” shape (not an “O” – that means overcooked!)
- Flesh becomes opaque
- Internal temp reaches 145°F
- Frozen vs. Thawed:
While you CAN cook completely frozen shrimp, I’ve found partially thawing them for 5-10 mins under cold water works best. This helps prevent:
- Excess water in your dish
- Uneven cooking
- Diluted flavors
My Favorite Flavor Boosters
Wanna make your shrimp extra tasty? Try these add-ins
- Minced garlic and onions
- Lemon or lime juice
- Old Bay seasoning
- Cajun spices
- Fresh herbs (parsley, thyme)
- White wine
- Butter (makes everything better!)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overcrowding: Don’t stuff too many shrimp in there!
- Adding Shrimp Too Early: For recipes with other ingredients, add shrimp in the last hour
- Forgetting to Check: Don’t just set it and forget it – check after minimum cook time
- Using High Heat: Seriously, stick to LOW
Quick and Easy Recipe
Here’s my go-to crockpot shrimp recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb frozen shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 4 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: red pepper flakes
Instructions:
- Partially thaw shrimp under cold water
- Add all ingredients to crockpot
- Cook on LOW for 1-2 hours
- Check at 1 hour mark
- Done when pink and curled into “C” shape
FAQs I Get Asked All the Time
Q: Can I mix different sizes of shrimp?
A: Better not to – they’ll cook at different rates
Q: What about shell-on shrimp?
A: They work fine but are messier to eat. I prefer peeled for most recipes
Q: How long will leftovers last?
A: 3-4 days in the fridge in an airtight container
Final Thoughts
Cooking frozen shrimp in a crockpot ain’t rocket science, but it does need a bit of attention to detail. Follow these guidelines, and you’ll have perfectly cooked shrimp every time! Remember – LOW and SLOW is the way to go!
Happy cooking, y’all! Drop me a comment if you’ve got any questions or your own tips to share!
Would you like me to explain or break down any part of this article in more detail?
Frozen Meat in a Slow Cooker
There are two schools of thought on cooking frozen meat in a slow cooker. One school says never do it; it is unsafe and unsanitary. They are right. The easiest example to work with is chicken, which must be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees before it is considered safe to eat.
The odds are high that frozen chicken will take too long to get up to 165 degrees internally, which means plenty of time for bacteria to grow. The other school says it is fine to cook frozen chicken in a slow cooker. They are also right.
How much bacteria grows in the chicken while it is cooking won’t matter if the meat and the food around it gets to 165 degrees. Why does 165 degrees matter so much? That is the temperature at which all food-borne bacteria in chicken will die, making it safe to consume.
This is where being able to make a decision comes into play. The critical thing to remember is that chicken and all other types of meat have a safe internal temperature that they need to be cooked to before they are considered safe to eat.
Your job as a cook is to ensure that the food is cooked to the proper temperature to be safe.
Can you Put Frozen Shrimp in Slow Cooker?
Shrimp is just like any other meat; it needs to be cooked to a specific temperature before it is considered safe to eat. That means the answer is yes, you can put frozen shrimp in a slow cooker.
However, it is also important to note a few basics that come with shrimp. The goal is not just to make food safe to eat; after all, we can burn the heck out of a chicken, and it is considered safe to eat.
But the flavor of burnt meat will not make your tastebuds very happy. This is another job of the cook, to make food safe to eat and taste delicious. Slow cookers can help in many ways by making it easier to achieve both of these goals.
