Instant Pot Shrimp: Steamer Basket-Free Cooking

Cooking shrimp in an instant pot is a quick and easy way to prepare a tasty meal. The instant pot is a convenient way to cook shrimp, as it only takes a few minutes and results in tender and juicy shrimp. You can use either frozen or fresh shrimp, and the cooking time will depend on the size of the shrimp.

To cook shrimp in an instant pot without a steamer basket, you can follow these simple steps:

- Add water to the instant pot. You can also add other ingredients like lemon juice, lime juice, or Old Bay Seasoning to enhance the flavour.

- Place the shrimp directly into the instant pot. You can use frozen or fresh shrimp, but ensure they are raw and have their shells on to prevent overcooking.

- Close the lid of the instant pot and set it to high pressure.

- Set the timer for 0 to 5 minutes, depending on the size of the shrimp. Smaller shrimp will take less time to cook, while larger shrimp may need up to 5 minutes.

- Once the timer goes off, do a quick release of the pressure and check if the shrimp are cooked. They should be pink and slightly curled.

- Remove the shrimp from the pot and serve immediately, or store them in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

By following these steps, you can easily cook delicious shrimp in your instant pot without the need for a steamer basket. Enjoy your perfectly cooked shrimp!

How to cook frozen shrimp in an instant pot

Ingredients:

• Frozen shrimp
• Water
• Lemon juice (optional)
• Old Bay Seasoning (optional)
• Salt (optional)

Utensils:

• Instant pot
• Steamer basket (optional)
• Glass lid (optional)

Method:

• Pour water into the instant pot.
• Place the frozen shrimp directly into the instant pot or into a steamer basket. If using a steamer basket, place the basket inside the instant pot.
• For extra flavour, add lemon juice, lime juice, and/or Old Bay Seasoning on top of the shrimp.
• Close the lid and turn the valve to a sealing position.
• Press the "Pressure Cook" or "Manual" button and set the time to ZERO (0) minutes for frozen cooked shrimp or 1 minute for frozen raw shrimp on high pressure.
• When the instant pot is done cooking, quick-release the steam.
• Drain the shrimp in a colander and serve.

Tips:

• If you are using a steamer basket, you can also add water to the instant pot without the steamer basket first, then place the filled steamer basket inside.
• You can also add other ingredients to the instant pot with the shrimp, such as broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, and garlic.
• If you are cooking large shrimp, you may need to stir the shrimp and add an additional 4-5 minutes to the timer. Check the shrimp at 4 minutes and add 1-2 minutes if needed.

How to cook fresh shrimp in an instant pot

Ingredients:

• Fresh shrimp
• Water
• Lemon juice (optional)
• Lime juice (optional)
• Old Bay Seasoning (optional)

Utensils:

• Instant pot
• Glass lid (optional)
• Steaming basket accessory (optional)

Method:

• Add water to the instant pot.
• Place the shrimp in the steaming basket accessory, and put the basket in the instant pot.
• Put a glass lid on top. (Note: You can either buy the official Instant Pot glass lid, or you can check to see if one of the glass lids from your cookware set works. The glass lid from my 5-quart pot fits my Instant Pot perfectly!)
• Press the “steam” function and set the timer for 5 minutes.
• When the timer goes off, check the shrimp. If your shrimp are small or medium, they may be done. The shrimp are considered done when they are pink and slightly curled. They do NOT need to be fully curled to be considered done. (In fact, if they’re fully curled, they’re likely overdone.)
• If you’re cooking large shrimp, you will need to stir the shrimp and add an additional 4-5 minutes to the timer. Check the shrimp at 4 minutes and add 1-2 minutes, if needed.
• Serve the Instant Pot steamed shrimp immediately or keep them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Cooked shrimp can also be frozen for 3-6 months if wrapped well.

Tips:

• The cooking time for shrimp in an Instant Pot will depend greatly on the size of your shrimp. This recipe is for large shrimp (approximately 16-20 per pound). For smaller shrimp, reduce the cooking time to 3 minutes and watch the shrimp to prevent overcooking. Make a note of the total cook time for the size of shrimp you bought so you can set the timer correctly next time.
• Keep in mind this is not pressure cooker shrimp. We’re using the Instant Pot to steam the shrimp. Even using a pressure cook with quick release to the steam valve would too easily overcook the shrimp!
• You can use the "zero minutes" technique for frozen cooked shrimp. Set the cooking time to zero (0) minutes on High pressure, followed by a quick release (QR), and while the Instant Pot comes to pressure the shrimp will be already thawed and heated!
• For frozen raw shrimp, use the cooking time of 1 minute on High pressure followed by the quick release (QR). One minute is plenty of time to pressure cook raw shrimp to perfection!
• You can jazz up your shrimp by adding lemon or lime slices/juice to the water, marinating the shrimp in lemon or lime juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper, sprinkling Old Bay Seasoning on the shrimp before cooking, adding minced garlic to the water, or drizzling melted butter on top.

How to cook shell-on shrimp in an instant pot

Firstly, pour water into your instant pot. The amount of water you need will depend on the size of your instant pot. For a standard-sized instant pot, pour in one cup of water.

Next, place the shrimp in a steaming basket and put the basket inside the instant pot. You can either buy an official instant pot steaming basket or use a makeshift steaming basket. One suggestion is to make a foil bowl and place it on the wire trivet that comes with most instant pots.

Now, place a lid on top of the instant pot. It is recommended to use a glass lid, as this will create the best flavour and texture. However, you can also use the instant pot's pressure cooker lid.

Then, press the "steam" function and set the timer for 5 minutes. If you are using small or medium shrimp, check them after 3 minutes to prevent overcooking. The shrimp are done when they are pink and slightly curled. If you are using large shrimp, you may need to add an additional 4-5 minutes to the timer. Check the shrimp after 4 minutes and add 1-2 minutes if needed.

Once the shrimp are done, serve them immediately, or store them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also freeze cooked shrimp for 3-6 months if wrapped well.

There are several ways to add extra flavour to this dish. You can add lemon or lime slices or juice to the water, or sprinkle Old Bay Seasoning on the shrimp before cooking. You can also marinate the shrimp in lemon or lime juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper for 30-60 minutes before cooking.

How to cook shell-off shrimp in an instant pot

Firstly, add water to your Instant Pot. The amount of water you add will depend on the size of your Instant Pot. For a 5-quart pot, the glass lid from your cookware set may fit perfectly. If you have an 8-quart Instant Pot, you will need to add 1 cup of water.

Next, put the shrimp into the Instant Pot. You can either place the shrimp directly into the pot or put them in a steaming basket accessory and place the basket inside the pot. If you are cooking frozen shrimp, you can cook them directly from frozen. There is no need to thaw them first.

Now, close the lid of the Instant Pot. If your Instant Pot has a valve, turn it to the sealing position.

Then, press the "Steam" function and set the timer. The cooking time will depend on the size of your shrimp. For small or medium shrimp, set the timer for 3 minutes. For large shrimp, set the timer for 5 minutes. If you are cooking frozen raw shrimp, you can also use the "Pressure Cook" or "Manual" button and set the time to 1 minute on high pressure.

Once the timer goes off, check the shrimp. They are done when they are pink and slightly curled. Be careful not to overcook them, as they can go from perfectly cooked to overdone very quickly. If they are not quite done, stir the shrimp and add an additional 1-4 minutes to the timer, checking every minute or so.

Finally, serve the shrimp immediately, or store them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also freeze cooked shrimp for 3-6 months if wrapped well.

How to cook shrimp in an instant pot with additional ingredients

First, prepare your ingredients. You will need:

• 1-2 pounds of shrimp (fresh or frozen)
• Lemon juice
• Old Bay Seasoning
• Water
• Glass lid (optional)

Next, add water to your Instant Pot. The amount of water you add will depend on the size of your Instant Pot. For a 6-quart pot, 1/2 cup of water should be sufficient. If you are using an 8-quart pot, you may need to add 1 cup of water.

Then, place the shrimp in a steamer basket and put the basket inside the Instant Pot. If you don't have a steamer basket, you can create a foil bowl and place it on the wire trivet that comes with most Instant Pots. Alternatively, you can put the shrimp directly into the Instant Pot without a steamer basket.

Now, it's time to add your additional ingredients! Sprinkle the shrimp with lemon juice and Old Bay Seasoning. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder, salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes to taste. Give the shrimp a stir to ensure they are well-coated with the seasonings.

Close the lid of the Instant Pot and turn the valve to the sealing position. If you are using a glass lid, place it on top of the pot instead.

Set the Instant Pot to the "Steam" function and adjust the timer depending on the size of your shrimp. For small or medium shrimp, set the timer for 3-5 minutes. For large shrimp, set the timer for 5-9 minutes. Remember, it's better to undercook than overcook shrimp, as they can become tough and chewy if overdone.

When the timer goes off, do a quick release of the pressure and carefully open the lid. Check the shrimp to see if they are done. They should be pink and slightly curled. If they are not quite done, you can stir them and add an additional 1-2 minutes to the timer.

Finally, serve your delicious Instant Pot shrimp! They can be enjoyed as-is or added to your favourite dishes like shrimp cocktails, salads, pasta, or rice bowls.

Some additional tips:

• If you are using frozen shrimp, there is no need to thaw them first. Simply increase the cooking time by a few minutes to account for the extra time needed to thaw the shrimp.
• For even more flavour, try marinating the shrimp in lemon or lime juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper for 30-60 minutes before cooking.
• If you don't have Old Bay Seasoning, you can use other seasonings like cajun seasoning or your own blend of spices.

Frequently asked questions