Learn how to cook shrimp by steaming them for a light, healthy meal. Steaming keeps the shrimp tender and juicy without any added fat. Shell-on or peeled, they're low-cal and great for a high-protein snack.
Quick Look: How To Steam Shrimp
- What it is: Steamed shrimp made with water, salt, and lemon for serving.
- Time: About 10 minutes, plus 5 minutes if chilling.
- Best tip: Keep the water below the steamer basket and remove the shrimp as soon as the flesh is opaque.
- Serve with: Cocktail sauce, melted butter, and lemon wedges.
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Why You'll Love Steamed Shrimp
Steaming shrimp is a handy technique to know. They cook in just a few minutes without oil or butter and come out sweet and tender.
Serve them warm with lemon and melted butter, or chill them for shrimp cocktail, pasta shrimp salad, or, like me, use them in place of croutons on my Caesar Salads.
The only problem is they're so good, they'll be gone in minutes!
How Long Should You Steam Shrimp?
The cooking time depends on the type of shrimp you're cooking. Refer to the chart below for perfectly steamed shrimp, no matter the size.
Medium shrimp need about 2 ½ minutes, and large shrimp need 3 minutes.
Jumbo shrimp take about 4 ½ minutes, while colossal shrimp take about 5 minutes.
For shrimp in a shell, add an extra minute to the cooking time.
Collapsible Steamer Basket
One great thing about steaming shrimp is you can cook as much or as little as you want.
A collapsible steamer basket is a handy tool made of metal or silicone, designed for steaming foods like vegetables, shrimp, or mussels. The "basket" expands to fit your pot's width, making it adaptable to various sizes.
For non-stick pots, I like this steamer basket with silicone feet. The silicone prevents scratches on the pot's surface.
To use, place the basket in a pot and add water just below the bottom of the basket. The shrimp should sit above the water. Bring the water to a boil, add the shrimp, and cover the pot with a lid. Steam until the shrimp are opaque throughout.
Ingredients
Thaw the shrimp by running cold water over them in a colander or let them defrost in the fridge overnight.
- Defrosted raw shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- Cold water
- Salt
- Lemon, sliced into wedges
- Melted butter, chopped parsley, sea salt, and/or cocktail sauce for serving
See recipe card below for exact amounts.
For step-by-step directions on peeling and deveining shrimp, see my shrimp cocktail recipe.
How To Steam Raw Shrimp
- Place a steamer basket in a large pot. Add enough cold water to reach just below the bottom of the basket.
- Bring the water to a boil.
- Place the shrimp in the steamer basket without overcrowding. Season with a little salt. Cover the pot with a lid, lower the heat a little, and steam for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on their size. Cook until the shrimp are bright pink and opaque white.
- For shrimp cocktail or salads, transfer the cooked shrimp to ice water for 5 minutes to cool, then drain and pat dry. For a warm meal, skip the ice bath and serve right away.
- Serve with lemon wedges.
No steamer basket? Boil the shrimp in a big pot!
For Extra Flavor
- Sprinkle the raw shrimp with Old Bay seasoning.
- Add a tablespoon or two of lemon or lime juice to the steaming water.
- Drop a few smashed garlic cloves into the water.
- Top the raw shrimp with fresh herbs like dill or parsley for more flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Serve steamed shrimp with lemon wedges and your choice of cocktail sauce, lemon garlic butter, Marie Rose sauce, bang bang sauce, or cilantro lime taco sauce.
Use chilled steamed shrimp to make Old Bay shrimp salad, shrimp cocktail, or shrimp tacos.
Add steamed shrimp to soups, pastas, or wraps, or serve them on their own with a squeeze of lemon.
TOP TIPS
- Arrange the shrimp in a single layer for even cooking.
- Watch the pot closely to avoid overcooking. Overcooked shrimp become rubbery.
- Shrimp should be pink with an opaque (white) center and curl into a loose "C" shape when fully cooked.
- Season the water with a bouquet garni or your favorite seasonings.
- For the best flavor, look for domestic, wild-caught Gulf shrimp.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, microwave on low power for about 1 minute to avoid overcooking, or toss them into a hot non-stick pan for about a minute.
What Are Florida Keys Pink Shrimp?
If you visit the Florida Keys, don't miss out on Florida Keys Pink Shrimp. They have a beautiful pink color, and they're crisp and sweet!
Pink shrimp have a firm texture and a nice snap when you bite into them. These sweet shrimp are a local favorite.
Check out some of our easy shrimp recipes to enjoy them at home!
How To Steam Shrimp FAQ
Shrimp take about 2½ to 5 minutes to steam, depending on their size. Start checking smaller shrimp early and remove them when the flesh is opaque throughout.
It takes about 3-6 minutes to steam shrimp with the shell on, depending on their size. The shells slightly increase the cooking time.
Old Bay seasoning is a classic for all seafood, but you can also use garlic, lemon, key limes, or parsley and dill.
Yes, but only long enough to warm them through. Place thawed, cooked shrimp in a steamer basket over simmering water. Cover and check after 1 minute, removing them as soon as they're warm so they don't turn rubbery.
How To Steam Shrimp
Equipment
- Large pot with a lid
- Steamer basket
- Slotted spoon
- Large bowl for the optional ice bath
Ingredients
- 1 pound raw shrimp, defrosted, peeled, and deveined
- cold water
- salt
- 1 lemon, sliced into wedges for serving
Instructions
- If using frozen shrimp, thaw them under cold running water or in the refrigerator overnight. Pat them dry with paper towels.
- Peel and devein the shrimp with a small knife. Rinse well.
- Place a steamer basket in a large pot. Add enough cold water to reach just below the bottom of the basket.
- Bring the water to a boil. Place the shrimp in the basket in a single layer and season lightly with salt. Cover with a lid and steam for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on their size, until the flesh is opaque throughout. See Notes for cooking times.
- For shrimp cocktail or salads, transfer the cooked shrimp to ice water for 5 minutes to cool, then drain and pat dry. For a warm meal, skip the ice bath and serve right away.
- Serve with lemon wedges, melted butter, and/or cocktail sauce.
Notes
- Sprinkle the raw shrimp with Old Bay seasoning. Add a tablespoon or two of lemon or lime juice to the steaming water.
- Drop a few smashed garlic cloves into the water before cooking.
- Top the raw shrimp with fresh herbs like dill or parsley for more flavor.
- Medium shrimp need about 2 ½ minutes
- Steam large shrimp for 3 minutes.
- Jumbo shrimp take about 4 ½ minutes.
- Colossal shrimp take about 5 minutes.
Jerome says
Thank you for sharing!
Tucker says
Thank you for sharing!