Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp: Frozen To Crispy In Minutes

Cooking frozen popcorn shrimp in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a tasty snack, appetiser, or main course. The process is simple: preheat your air fryer, prepare the basket, and then cook the shrimp for around 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. You can serve your shrimp with a range of dips and sauces, or even make shrimp tacos or a salad.

Characteristics and Values Table for Cooking Frozen Popcorn Shrimp in an Air Fryer

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures your shrimp cooks evenly and efficiently. The ideal temperature to preheat your air fryer to is between 390°F and 400°F. This will ensure your shrimp cooks through without burning the breading.

Different air fryers have different preheating functions, so it is important to refer to your air fryer's instructions. Some air fryers do not require pre-heating, so it is worth checking this before you begin. If your air fryer does require pre-heating, set the temperature to high and allow it to heat up for around 5 minutes.

You can also prepare your shrimp while the air fryer is preheating. This includes removing the shell and tail, coating the shrimp in flour, and dipping them in a beaten egg mixture. You can also prepare a dipping sauce during this time.

Once the air fryer is preheated, you can prepare the air fryer basket. Lightly spray the basket with a neutral oil or non-stick cooking spray. You can also use parchment paper instead of oil. This will help to ensure your shrimp doesn't stick to the basket and makes for easier cleaning.

Preheating your air fryer is a quick and easy step that will ensure your shrimp cooks evenly and efficiently. It is an important step to follow, especially if you are looking for that golden, crispy finish.

Prepare the shrimp

Preparing the shrimp is simple and only requires a few steps. First, peel and devein the shrimp if necessary. Next, remove the shell and tail. Leaving the tail on can be useful as a handle when eating, so this is optional. If you do choose to remove the tail, coat the shrimp in all-purpose flour, then dip them into a beaten egg mixture. After this, dip the shrimp into a bowl of panko breadcrumbs seasoned with ground black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. You can also add extra seasonings of your choice at this stage.

Once the shrimp are coated, place them on a cooling rack or paper towel until you have coated all of the shrimp. You can also place them directly into the air fryer basket if you are using a non-stick cooking spray or parchment paper. If you are using a cooking spray, spray the shrimp gently, then place them into the air fryer basket.

Cook the shrimp

Cooking popcorn shrimp in an air fryer is a quick and easy process. You can use a variety of brands of frozen shrimp, such as Seapak, Gorton's, or your grocery store brand.

First, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (or 390 degrees if you're using a Seapak product). You can skip preheating if your air fryer doesn't require it.

Next, prepare the shrimp. If your shrimp are raw, you may want to peel and devein them. If you're using a pre-made breaded variety, you can skip this step. If you're making the breading yourself, place the shrimp in a large bowl and sprinkle flour over them, tossing until they are evenly coated. Beat an egg in a separate bowl, and combine panko breadcrumbs, paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a third bowl. Dip each flour-coated shrimp in the egg, then toss them in the panko mixture. You can also add garlic powder to the panko mixture if you like. Place the coated shrimp on a baking sheet and let them rest for 5 minutes while the air fryer is preheating.

Now it's time to cook the shrimp! Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil, then place half of the shrimp in a single layer in the basket. You can also use parchment paper instead of oil. Mist the top of each shrimp with cooking spray, then cook for 4 minutes. Use tongs to flip each shrimp over, misting any chalky spots with cooking spray. Cook for another 3 to 6 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your shrimp. It's important to shake the basket halfway through the cooking time to toss the shrimp around so they cook evenly.

Your shrimp are ready when they are golden and crispy. Serve them immediately with your favorite dipping sauce, such as tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, or chimichurri. Enjoy!

Make a dipping sauce

There are several different sauces that can be used for dipping frozen popcorn shrimp cooked in an air fryer. The most popular choice seems to be cocktail sauce, but you can also use tartar sauce, remoulade sauce, or a spicy mayo. If you're feeling creative, you can make your own sauce with sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and chives (and lemon, if you have some).

You can also serve the shrimp in a variety of ways. As well as being a great snack on their own with a dipping sauce, they can be added to a salad, sandwich, pasta, or tacos. They can also be served as an appetizer with a side of french fries, or as a main dish.

Serve and enjoy

Once your shrimp are cooked, it's time to serve and enjoy! There are several ways to serve popcorn shrimp. You can serve it with your favourite dipping sauce or cocktail sauce as an appetizer or a main dish with a side of French fries. You can also make them into tacos or serve them on a bed of lettuce as a salad with your favourite salad dressing.

One of the most popular ways to serve popcorn shrimp is as a Shrimp Po' Boy on a hoagie bun with fresh lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce or remoulade sauce. You can also serve it with chimichurri sauce, or even make your own tartar sauce by adding mayonnaise, pickles, lemon juice, capers, dill, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper to a small bowl and whisking until combined.

If you're feeling creative, you can even make your own flavoured, crispy shrimp from scratch. Check out recipes like Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp, which is full of delicious flavours.

So, whether you're enjoying them as a snack, an appetizer, or as part of a main dish, it's time to dig in and enjoy the fruits of your labour!

Frequently asked questions