How to Defrost Shrimp Safely—and Our Favorite Ways to Cook Them Put that freezer stash to good use. In This Article View All In This Article Buying Benefits Thawing Cooking Frozen shrimp are a smart, economical buy because you can stock up and keep them on hand for up to a year in the freezer. They are one of the easiest and most delicious proteins for a quick weeknight dinner but can also be elevated for a dinner party. Shrimp defrost quickly—but what's the right way to thaw frozen shrimp? Here’s how to thaw frozen shrimp safely and efficiently, what to look for when selecting shrimp for your freezer, and the best ways to cook frozen shrimp. Credit: Johnny Miller 13 Shrimp Pasta Recipes You'll Want to Make for Dinner Tonight How to Buy Frozen Shrimp When selecting the best shrimp to add to your cart, there are several different options to choose from, mostly determined by your recipe and your preference for how involved you want to be in the prep. Type: Choose between wild-caught or farm-raised shrimpSize: A count of 16-20 shrimp means you get approximately 16-20 jumbo shrimp per pound. By comparison, medium shrimp will come in a count of approximately 41-50 per pound.Other choices: Shrimp come raw or precooked, shell-on or shell-off, and either with the vein or deveined Also, check the package before purchasing for how long you can store them; most packages of frozen seafood will have a "best buy" date printed on them. Credit: Chris Simpson To buy sustainable seafood from well-managed fisheries, look for products with the blue fish label of the Marine Seafood Council (MSC) or the turquoise label for responsibly farmed seafood of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). Benefits of Frozen Shrimp Frozen shrimp is great not only for its versatility and convenience but also its flavor. Buying frozen shrimp does not mean that the quality or flavor will be worse than fresh. In fact, it will often taste even fresher because most frozen seafood is flash-frozen on the boat it was caught on, which preserves the fresh-from-the-sea taste. The Right Way to Thaw Frozen Shrimp There are two methods that we like when thawing frozen shrimp. The method you choose depends on how much time you have. Overnight If you're planning dinner in advance, thaw frozen shrimp in the refrigerator 24 hours before you need to cook with them. Place the frozen shrimp in a bowl or a plastic bag to thaw. According to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, defrosted shrimp can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. Only thaw the amount of shrimp that you plan to cook, as you shouldn't re-freeze previously frozen seafood. Quick Defrosting According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), if you're in a time crunch, you can defrost shrimp by transferring them to a sealed plastic bag and submerging the bag in cold water; within about 45 minutes, they should be completely thawed. Recipe-Ready Shrimp Once they're thawed, pat each shrimp dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. If you're using shell-on shrimp, now is the time to peel and devein each one: Remove the head and legs (tail-on or tail-off may be a personal choice), then cut a slit up the back and remove the vein with a paring knife. Then follow your recipe accordingly. How to Cook Frozen Shrimp Credit: Joseph De Leo Once you know how to defrost shrimp, you can use this versatile shellfish in so many dishes, everything from paella and tacos to salads or risotto. Use defrosted shrimp in any recipe that calls for fresh shrimp. Our Shrimp Burger is a scrumptious twist on the classic raw bar appetizer. You can also fry thawed frozen shrimp for Quick Shrimp Po'boys. 45 of Our Best Shrimp Recipes Explore more: Recipes Ingredients Seafood Recipes Shrimp Recipes Sources decorvow is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. "Selecting and Serving Fresh and Frozen Seafood Safely." FDA.