How to Cook Jumbo Shrimp

Reviewed by Chef Jeff Woodward

Last Updated: April 24, 2024 References

Jumbo shrimp are some of the largest shrimp that are available to consumers and taste great as a main dish or as a star protein in another dish. Before you cook jumbo shrimp, it's important that you wash and devein them so that you don't get sick. Once they are properly cleaned, you can either sauté, boil, or bake the shrimp to cook them. If cooked properly, the shrimp should taste tender and flavorful regardless of the method you use to cook them.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Cleaning the Shrimp

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1
Thaw the shrimp if they are frozen. Run the frozen shrimp under cold water for 5 minutes to thaw them. When the shrimp are thawed, they should bend easily and be slightly translucent. If the shrimp are fresh, you can skip this step.^{[1]
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- Do not put the shrimp in the microwave to thaw them.
2
Remove the shell if you have to devein the shrimp. If you have shrimp with veins still in them, you’ll need to remove them so that you don’t eat what was in the shrimp’s digestive tract. Use a pair of cooking scissors to make a vertical cut along the back of the shrimp's shell. Then, peel the shell away from the shrimp.^{[2]
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- You can also remove the tail or leave it on, depending on your preference.
- Pinch the tail and pull to remove it by hand. You can also cut the tail off.
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3
Devein the shrimp if they aren't deveined. Use a knife and cut a couple of centimeters into the back of the shrimp to reveal the intestinal vein. This vein will be black in appearance and usually runs down the back of the shrimp. Use your fingers or the knife to carefully pull up the dark black vein running along the back of the shrimp.^{[3]
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- Some frozen shrimp come deveined in the package.
- The vein should lift up easily if you pull on it.
4
Wash the shrimp under cold water. Rinsing the shrimp removes dirt and bacteria. Once the shrimp are thoroughly rinsed, set them on a paper towel to drain until you’re ready to cook them.^{[4]
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- Shrimp should always be kept on ice if you're storing them.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Cooking Jumbo Shrimp on the Stovetop

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1
Season the shrimp. Put the shrimp into a bowl, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, and toss them so that they get equally covered by the spices. You can also add other spices to the shrimp including cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, or lime. Experiment with different combinations of spices to infuse different flavors into the shrimp.^{[5]
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- Cumin and chili powder will add a spiciness to the shrimp.
- Fruit like lemon or lime add acidity to the shrimp.
2
Heat 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of oil or butter in a saucepan. Use a pan that’s large enough to fit all of the shrimp that you want to cook. Put the oil or butter in the saucepan and turn on the stove to medium-high heat. Tip the pan so that the oil or butter covers the bottom of the pan.^{[6]
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- Don't heat the oil or butter for too long or it will burn.
- Butter will turn brown when it burns, and oil will smoke and smell bad when it burns.
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Add the shrimp to the saucepan. Carefully drop the shrimp into the pan. They should sizzle when they hit the oil or butter. Move the shrimp into a single layer with a spatula or fork so that they all cook evenly.^{[7]
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- Don’t drop the shrimp from high up in the air or the oil or butter may splash on you.
Stir the shrimp with a mixing spoon as they cook. Turn the shrimp over halfway through cooking to ensure an even cook on both sides. When the shrimp are cooked, they should be pink and opaque.^{[8]
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Turn off the flame from your stovetop and empty the shrimp into a serving dish so that they stop cooking. You can store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.^{[9]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Boiling the Shrimp

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1
Fill a large pot with enough water to cover all of the shrimp. Pour the water over the shrimp so that they are completely submerged. Once the pot is filled up, set it on top of your stove.
- The water should cover the shrimp 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm).
Add a generous amount of salt to the water. You can also add other spices, like bay leaves, peppercorns, and garlic to impart more flavor in the shrimp.^{[10]
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Bring the water to a boil then reduce the heat. Turn the stovetop to high heat and wait 10-15 minutes for the water to come to a rolling boil. Reduce the heat to medium on the stovetop once the water starts boiling.^{[11]
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- Bubbles should still be breaking the surface of the water after you reduce the heat.
Stir the shrimp with a spoon as they cook. The shrimp should start to turn pink and opaque after 2 or 3 minutes.^{[12]
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Prepare the ice bath by placing 5-10 ice cubes in a large bowl and filling it halfway up with water. Once the shrimp have cooked for 3 minutes, transfer them to an ice bath so that they don’t overcook and become tough.^{[13]
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6
Place the shrimp on a paper towel to dry. Drape a paper towel on a plate and put the cooked shrimp on top of the paper towel for 2-3 minutes, or until they are dry. Then you can serve the shrimp or store them.^{[14]
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- If you want to serve cold shrimp with cocktail sauce, place them in the refrigerator to cool.
- Boiled shrimp is often served chilled and served with cocktail sauce.
- You can also store the leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Baking Jumbo Shrimp

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1
Preheat the oven to 400 °F (204 °C). Turn on your stove by pressing the up arrows or turning the dial to 400 °F (204 °C). Preheating the oven before you cook the jumbo shrimp will ensure an even cook. Move onto the next step as your oven preheats.
- An indicator light or sound should go off when your oven is preheated.
2
Pour melted butter in a cooking tray. Put a bowl of butter in the microwave for 5-10 seconds to melt the butter. Spread the melted butter into the bottom of a large, deep, cooking tray.^{[15]
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- Melt enough so that you can coat the bottom of the tray in butter.
Arrange the shrimp in a single layer so that they cook evenly. Stacking the shrimp on top of each other may throw off your cook times.^{[16]
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4
Season and toss the shrimp. Use seasonings like salt, pepper, or garlic powder over the shrimp. Toss them well so that every shrimp gets covered by the seasonings. Experiment with different spice combinations to create different tasting jumbo shrimp dishes.^{[17]
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- You can also add parmesan cheese, minced garlic, cumin, or onion powder to the top of your shrimp for extra flavor.
Place the shrimp in the center rack of the oven and cook them. You’ll know when they are done because they will be firm and turn pink.^{[18]
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Let the shrimp cool for 3-5 minutes before serving them. If you don't want to eat them immediately, you can store them in your refrigerator for up to 2 days.^{[19]
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