Air-Fryer Magic: Frozen Shrimp Burgers, Quick!

Air fryers are a convenient and healthy way to cook your food, and they can be used to make a variety of dishes, including burgers. If you're a seafood lover, you might be interested in trying out shrimp burgers, which are a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional beef, chicken, or turkey burgers. But how long does it take to cook a shrimp burger in an air fryer, especially if it's frozen?

How to cook frozen shrimp in an air fryer

Ingredients

• Frozen shrimp (raw or pre-cooked)
• Cooking spray (e.g. avocado oil, olive oil, canola oil, or sunflower oil)
• Seasonings of your choice (e.g. salt, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, cumin, chili powder, black pepper)
• Optional: melted butter, seafood seasoning, and cayenne pepper to taste

Method

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
• While the air fryer is heating up, separate the frozen shrimp and knock off any ice crystals with a spoon.
• Place the shrimp in a single layer directly into the air fryer basket.
• Lightly spray the shrimp with cooking oil and sprinkle your chosen seasonings over the top.
• Air fry for 10-12 minutes at 400°F (200°C) until pink and crispy, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking.
• If using butter and seasonings, brush each shrimp with the seasoned butter after the first 4 minutes of cooking time. Turn the shrimp over and brush the other side, then air fry for an additional 3-4 minutes.
• Carefully remove the shrimp from the air fryer and gently shake the basket to remove any excess oil.
• Serve as desired.

Tips

• For pre-cooked frozen shrimp, reduce the cooking time to 5 minutes.
• If your shrimp are frozen together in a block, run them under cold water for a few minutes to help separate them.
• For extra crispy shrimp, increase the cooking time by a few minutes.
• If you're using an air fryer with a smaller capacity, you may need to cook the shrimp in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket.

How to make shrimp burgers

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients to make shrimp burgers:

• Shrimp: Minced shrimp is ideal for making burgers as it holds together well for air frying.
• Breadcrumbs: These help bind the shrimp burger together.
• Seasonings: You can use sea salt, creole seasoning, Slap Ya Mama seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, or any other seasonings of your choice.
• Egg: This helps hold the shrimp burger together.
• Cooking oil: Use a light cooking oil such as olive, safflower, canola, or sunflower oil to coat the burgers and enhance surface browning while cooking.
• Avocado oil spray: For the air fryer basket.

Optional Ingredients

• Lemon juice and zest
• Butter
• Scallions
• Mustard
• Hot sauce
• Hamburger buns
• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Avocado

Instructions

• Finely chop the shrimp and add them to a large bowl.
• To the bowl of shrimp, add the breadcrumbs, creole seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder. Combine well.
• Beat an egg in a separate small bowl, then add it to the bowl of shrimp. Stir until well combined.
• Form medium-sized patties with the shrimp mixture.
• Add the patties to a cooking oil-sprayed air fryer pan. Alternatively, you can brush each patty with a light coating of cooking oil on both sides.
• Air fry at 400°F for five minutes.
• Flip the patties and air fry for an additional five minutes.
• Allow the shrimp burgers to cool before serving.

Tips

• Shrimp burgers generally cook better when frozen, and they stick less during cooking when coated with a light cooking oil.
• If you are not using an air fryer, you can pan-fry the shrimp burgers or cook them on a grill, in a convection oven, or a conventional oven.
• For a gluten-free or keto-friendly option, you can switch out the breadcrumbs for alternative binding ingredients.
• If you prefer spicier food, add a few dashes of hot sauce or cayenne pepper to the shrimp burgers.

How to assemble and serve shrimp burgers

To assemble and serve shrimp burgers, you'll first need to cook the shrimp patties. If you're using an air fryer, cook the burgers for 10 minutes in total, flipping them after 5 minutes. If you're pan-frying the shrimp burgers, cook them over medium heat until they're golden brown on each side.

Once your shrimp patties are cooked, it's time to assemble the burgers! Start by spreading a thin layer of sauce or mayonnaise on the cut sides of your buns. You can toast the buns beforehand, if desired. Place the shrimp patties on the bottom buns, then add your chosen toppings. Some popular topping options for shrimp burgers include:

• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Onion
• Coleslaw
• Bacon
• Avocado
• Cheese
• Mayo or special sauce

Finally, place the top bun on your burger, and it's ready to serve!

How to store shrimp burgers

Storing shrimp burgers depends on whether you have cooked them or not. If you have uncooked shrimp burgers, you can store them in the fridge or freezer. If you have cooked shrimp burgers, they should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Storing Uncooked Shrimp Burgers

If you are storing uncooked shrimp burgers, you can either keep them in the fridge or freezer.

For the fridge, place the patties on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet or plate and transfer them to the fridge for an hour to firm up. If you are in a rush, you can put them in the freezer for 15 minutes. This will help the shrimp firm up and make it easier for the patties to hold together when cooking.

For the freezer, you can freeze uncooked shrimp burgers for up to three months. Individually wrap each patty and place them in an airtight freezer-safe container.

Storing Cooked Shrimp Burgers

If you have leftover cooked shrimp burgers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They will last for two to three days.

You can also freeze cooked shrimp burgers. Wrap them individually and freeze them in an airtight container for up to three months.

Reheating Shrimp Burgers

To reheat shrimp burgers, you can use a skillet, microwave, or air fryer.

If using a skillet, reheat the patties over medium-low heat until warmed through. For the microwave, place the shrimp burgers on a microwave-safe plate and heat until just warmed through.

For the air fryer, set the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for five to seven minutes, until the shrimp burgers are heated through.

How to freeze shrimp burgers

If you're looking to freeze your shrimp burgers, it's best to do so before cooking them. Start by placing the uncooked shrimp patties on a parchment-lined baking sheet and putting them in the freezer. Once they're frozen solid, transfer the shrimp burgers to a freezer-safe container or bag. They will last for 1 to 2 months in the freezer.

When you're ready to cook the shrimp burgers, you can air fry them directly from frozen. Set your air fryer to 400°F and cook the burgers for 10 to 12 minutes. You can also cook them in a skillet over medium heat for about 3-5 minutes on each side, or in the oven at 400°F for 10 to 15 minutes.

If you want to thaw the shrimp burgers before cooking, you can place them in a bowl of cold water for about 15 minutes, changing the water once or twice. Alternatively, you can defrost them overnight in the refrigerator.

It's best to consume the shrimp burgers within three months of freezing, and they should be cooked to an internal temperature of 155°F.

Frequently asked questions