Air Fryer Butterfly Shrimp: Quick, Crispy, And Delicious

Butterfly shrimp are bigger than popcorn shrimp and are cut, peeled, deveined and flattened to be butterflied before they are breaded. They are cooked in the air fryer for 7-9 minutes for 10-15 shrimp. The shrimp should be placed in a single layer and not stacked. They should be cooked from frozen and not defrosted.

How to butterfly shrimp

To butterfly shrimp, you should first clean it, peel the shell, and remove the digestive tract from the back. You can leave the tail on or remove it, depending on how you want your shrimp to look.

Hold the shrimp in your non-dominant hand with the outer convex edge facing you. Starting at the tail and working down, use a paring knife to make a lengthwise incision along the curve of the shrimp. The cut should be just deep enough to leave symmetrical halves intact by a small membrane, like a book connected at its spine. Make sure not to cut all the way through the shrimp.

Rinse the shrimp in water and keep it cold until you're ready to cook it.

How to cook frozen butterfly shrimp

Cooking frozen butterfly shrimp in an air fryer is super easy and will give you perfect results every time. You can cook 10-15 shrimp in around 7-9 minutes, depending on the size of your air fryer.

First, make sure your shrimp are solid frozen and not defrosted. Pat them dry with a paper towel. Then, working in batches, add the shrimp to a bowl of seasoned flour and toss to combine. Dip the shrimp in beaten egg and then in panko breadcrumbs. Place the shrimp in the basket of the air fryer, butterflied-side down, making sure they are in a single layer and not overcrowded. Spray the tops with non-stick cooking spray and cook for 3 minutes. Flip the shrimp over with tongs, spray the other side with cooking spray, and cook for another 4 minutes or until they reach your desired level of crispness. Serve immediately.

Some air fryers will require you to use cooking spray, so be sure to check the specific directions for yours.

How to cook butterfly shrimp in batches

Butterfly shrimp are bigger than other shrimp and are cut, peeled, deveined and flattened to be "butterflied" before they are breaded. They are usually cooked from frozen and are best cooked in a single layer in the air fryer.

To cook butterfly shrimp in batches, first pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel. Working in batches, add the shrimp to seasoned flour and toss to combine. Dip the shrimp in beaten egg and then in panko breadcrumbs. Place the breaded shrimp in the basket of the air fryer, butterflied-side down, making sure not to overcrowd the basket. Spray the tops with nonstick cooking spray and cook for 3 minutes. Use tongs to flip the shrimp over and spray the tops again with cooking spray. Cook for another 4 minutes or until the shrimp reach the desired crispness. Serve immediately.

How to cook butterfly shrimp without defrosting

You can cook butterfly shrimp in an air fryer without defrosting them. In fact, it's recommended that you don't defrost them, as they should be solid frozen when you put them in the air fryer. Make sure you only cook them in a single layer, as they won't cook thoroughly if they're stacked. The cooking time will depend on how many shrimp you're cooking and the size of your air fryer, but it should be around 7-9 minutes for 10-15 shrimp.

If you want to bread your shrimp before cooking them, you can do this while they're still frozen. Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel, then add them to a bowl of seasoned flour and toss to combine. Dip the shrimp in beaten egg, then in panko breadcrumbs. Make sure the shrimp are coated on both sides and that the butterflied shrimp stay open at the top. Place the shrimp in the basket of the air fryer, butterflied-side down, making sure they're not overcrowded. Spray the tops with nonstick cooking spray and cook for 3 minutes. Flip the shrimp over, spray with cooking spray again, and cook for another 4 minutes or until they reach your desired level of crispness.

How to cook butterfly shrimp with panko breadcrumbs

To cook butterfly shrimp with panko breadcrumbs in an air fryer, you'll first need to pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel. Then, working in batches, toss the shrimp in seasoned flour, dip them in beaten egg, and then in panko breadcrumbs. Place the shrimp butterflied-side down in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them. Spray the tops with nonstick cooking spray and cook for 3 minutes. Then, flip the shrimp over, spray the tops again, and cook for another 4 minutes, or until they reach your desired level of crispness. Serve immediately.

It's important to note that butterfly shrimp must be cooked in a single layer in the air fryer, and the cooking time will depend on the size of your air fryer. For 10-15 shrimp, cook for 7-9 minutes.

Frequently asked questions