How To Steam Shrimp
Steaming shrimp is a simple, healthy way to cook them. It keeps the shrimp juicy and tender without using oil or butter. Great for a light meal or appetizer.
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
To Add Extra Flavor to Steamed Shrimp
- 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.
Nutrition
Calories: 161kcalCarbohydrates: 2.1gProtein: 30.9gTotal Fat: 2.3gSaturated Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 285.8mgSodium: 1283.7mgPotassium: 256.3mg
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