How to Cook Shrimp Without Them Shrinking

If you love making shrimp, you’ve probably noticed your shrimp shrinking or curling in on itself when you cook it. While a slight size change is normal, shrimp that’s shrinking a lot or curling up tightly can lead to a rubbery, overcooked texture. We’ve answered some of your questions concerning the right ways to cook shrimp to get deliciously tender shellfish every time.

Question 1 of 11:

Why do shrimp curl up when they’re cooked?

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The underside of the shrimp is connected. Next time you have a shrimp in hand, flip it over and look at its underside area. You’ll notice a bunch of small slats that fold into each other where the shrimp’s belly is. These slats make the shrimp curl up tightly as it gets cooked.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Some shrimps curl up more than others. Small shrimp are more likely to curl up into themselves than larger shrimp.^{[2]XExpert SourceAbyssinia Campbell
  Executive ChefExpert Interview. 31 August 2021.}

Question 2 of 11:

How do you prevent shrimp from curling up?

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Make small slits on the underside of each shrimp. Flip the shrimp over and make 2 to 3 shallow cuts with a knife on the inside curve of the shrimp. Press the shrimp flat on a cutting board to open them up before you start cooking.^{[3]XResearch source}
- The cuts that you make will disconnect the underside of the shrimp, making it less likely to curl up so tightly.

Question 3 of 11:

Should you rinse shrimp before cooking it?

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Yes, rinse and drain shrimp in a colander. This will remove any loose shell bits or gunk still left on its flesh. Use cool water and rinse your shrimp thoroughly after you clean it.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Even if your shrimp is frozen, you should still rinse it off to get rid of any ice crystals from the freezer.

Question 4 of 11:

Can you cook shrimp without defrosting?

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Yes, you can. Rinse the shrimp with cold water to break up any ice that has formed on the shrimp. If you’re going to boil your frozen shrimp, add about 1 minute onto your cooking time. For any other cooking method, make sure the shrimp turns pink and white to ensure that it’s done.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Use a thermometer to double check that your shrimp is at 145 °F (63 °C) before you eat it.

Question 5 of 11:

Should you butterfly shrimp before frying it?

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You can, but you don’t have to. Butterflying the shrimp, or cutting it lengthwise from head to tail, can make it less likely to curl and shrink up. However, you can also just keep a close eye on your shrimp as it fries to ensure you don’t overcook it.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Some recipes call specifically for butterflied shrimp. If that’s the case, then you should butterfly it before frying.

Question 6 of 11:

How do you cook shrimp without overcooking it?

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1
Set a timer according to the size of your shrimp. Most small shrimps only need 2 to 3 minutes to cook until they’re ready. Stay close to your grill, oven, or stovetop, and be ready to take your shrimp off the heat quickly.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Jumbo shrimp might take 7 or 8 minutes to cook.
2
Watch for the shrimp to turn pink. You’ll know shrimp are done when they turn pink and curl in on themselves just slightly. Take them off the heat right away to avoid overcooking your shrimp.^{[8]XResearch source}
- The curl should be gentle, like a “C” shape. If your shrimp curls up so much that the head touches the tail, it might be overcooked.^{[9]XExpert SourceAbyssinia Campbell
  Executive ChefExpert Interview. 31 August 2021.}

Question 7 of 11:

How do you boil shrimp without overcooking it?

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You can reduce the time your shrimp spends in water by heating it up first. Put your stovetop on high heat and wait until you see large bubbles rising to the top of the water.^{[10]XResearch source}
Carefully pour your shrimp into the water. The cold shrimp might make the water temperature go down, but it’s okay—keep the heat on high to bring it back up.^{[11]XResearch source}
3
Set a timer according to the size of your shrimp. Your cooking time depends on the size of your shrimp and whether it’s frozen or not. Set a timer and keep a close eye on your shrimp, since it can be overcooked easily.^{[12]XResearch source}
- Fresh small shrimp: 30 seconds. Frozen small shrimp: 1 minute.
- Fresh medium shrimp: 1 minute. Frozen medium shrimp: 1.5 minutes.
- Fresh large shrimp: 2 minutes. Frozen large shrimp: 3 minutes.
- Fresh jumbo shrimp: 3 minutes. Frozen jumbo shrimp: 4 minutes.
4
Plunge the shrimp in cold water to stop the cooking process. If you’re not going to eat your shrimp right away, quickly run the shrimp under cold water or put them on ice to stop them from cooking. Don’t leave the shrimp to cool in the hot water, as that will overcook them and make them tough.^{[13]XResearch source}
- If you are going to eat your shrimp right away, just drain them.

Question 8 of 11:

What happens if you eat undercooked shrimp?

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1
You can get food poisoning. While some sushi restaurants serve uncooked shrimp as a meal, most experts don't recommend eating raw or undercooked shrimp. You may experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.^{[14]XTrustworthy SourceUS Food and Drug AdministrationU.S. government agency responsible for promoting public healthGo to source}
- Most food poisoning symptoms get better within a couple of days.
2
You could ingest a parasite. Certain species of fish and shrimp contain parasites that only die when they’re cooked. Even if the shrimp has been frozen, it could still contain a parasite.^{[15]XTrustworthy SourceUS Food and Drug AdministrationU.S. government agency responsible for promoting public healthGo to source}
- If you experience vomiting, weight loss, and a decreased appetite for more than a week after eating undercooked shrimp, talk to your doctor.

Question 9 of 11:

Is mushy shrimp safe to eat?

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Yes, but it might not taste very good. Your shrimp might be mushy if it’s been thawed and refrozen a couple of times. Generally, this makes the shrimp lose texture and flavor.^{[16]XResearch source}
- If you bought “fresh” shrimp but it’s mushy, you might be able to get a refund.

Question 10 of 11:

How do you fix rubbery shrimp?

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1
Shrimp gets rubbery because it’s overcooked.^{[17]XExpert SourceAbyssinia Campbell
Executive ChefExpert Interview. 31 August 2021.} If you leave it on the heat too long, shrimp will begin to curl up and get a little tough. This can happen with any cooking method, which is why it’s important to keep a close eye on your dish.^{[18]XResearch source}
- Shrimp is done when it turns pink and white.
The best thing you can do is keep a closer eye on your shrimp next time. Try adding overcooked shrimp to a saucy dish to introduce more liquid, like alfredo pasta.^{[19]XResearch source}

Question 11 of 11:

How can you tell if shrimp has gone bad?

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It will have a rancid, fishy odor to it. Fresh shrimp shouldn’t smell like much of anything before it’s cooked. If you’re preparing your shrimp and you notice a bad odor, don’t eat the shrimp.^{[20]XTrustworthy SourceUS Food and Drug AdministrationU.S. government agency responsible for promoting public healthGo to source}
- It might also smell like ammonia, which can be described as a cat pee smell.