Steaming Shrimp: Electric Pressure Cooker Style

Steaming shrimp is one of the best ways to cook the shellfish. The gentle cooking technique helps elevate shrimp’s flavour and tender snap. Boiling shrimp can sometimes be too aggressive, making it difficult to remove your crustaceans from the pot in time, which can translate into shrivelled, rubbery shrimp. Moreover, the shrimp’s flavour can leach off into the boiling water.

Steaming shrimp in an electric pressure cooker is possible, but it is not recommended as the pressure may cause your shrimp to break apart. Instead, use the steamer rack and the sauté setting to make the water come to a simmer. Cover with a cloth or plate instead of the electric pressure cooker lid to avoid creating a vacuum.

Prepare your equipment

To steam shrimp in an electric pressure cooker, you'll need a few key pieces of equipment.

Firstly, you'll need a large metal pot or an electric pressure cooker, such as an Instant Pot, with a steamer basket insert that sits on top of the pot. The steamer basket should have holes or perforations at the bottom to let in steam. If you don't have a steamer basket, you can buy one separately that fits inside your pot and has little feet to keep it elevated from the water. Alternatively, you can create a makeshift steamer by turning a heat-safe bowl upside down in your pot and placing a heavy, heat-safe plate on top.

You'll also need a glass lid that fits on top of the pot. Check if one of the glass lids from your cookware set works, or you can buy the official Instant Pot glass lid.

For the actual cooking process, you'll need about a cup of water to pour into the pot, as well as the shrimp you plan to steam. It's recommended to use frozen, raw, shell-on shrimp for the best results.

Finally, you'll need some sort of utensil to safely lift the steamer basket out of the pot when the shrimp are done cooking.

Clean and season the shrimp

To clean and season shrimp, start by removing the heads, if they have them, by twisting or chopping them off. Next, peel the shrimp by pulling off the shell, segment by segment. You can leave the tail on if you plan to serve the shrimp with their shells on. Then, use a paring knife to make a small cut along the back of the shrimp and remove the vein. Rinse the shrimp and they are ready to be cooked.

If you want to brine the shrimp for extra plumpness and flavour, soak the prepared shrimp for one hour in an ice water and salt brine. A good ratio is 1 tablespoon of salt for every 2 cups of ice water. You can also add a tablespoon of sugar and a teaspoon of baking soda to the brine for extra crispness and snap. Be sure to rinse the shrimp after brining and before steaming.

If you want to season the shrimp before cooking, you can add dry seasonings like cayenne pepper or black pepper, or coat them in citrus zest, curry powder, or herbs. You can also add liquid seasonings like vermouth, sherry, oyster sauce, or Thai curry paste. If you add liquid seasonings, you will want to steam the shrimp on a plate or bowl so that the seasoning doesn't fall through the holes of your steamer.

Use the 'Steam' setting

Using the steam setting on your electric pressure cooker is a great way to cook shrimp. It's simple, fast, and will give you juicy and tender shrimp every time. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Prepare the Shrimp

Start by preparing your shrimp. It's best to use frozen shrimp for this method, as it's easier and helps prevent overcooking. You can use either frozen cooked or raw shrimp. If using frozen raw shrimp, make sure they are peeled and deveined before cooking.

Step 2: Assemble the Cooker

Add water to the electric pressure cooker. The amount of water will depend on the size of your cooker and the amount of shrimp you are cooking. As a general rule, there should be at least two inches between the bottom of the steamer and the top of the water.

Place the shrimp in a steamer basket and put the basket inside the electric pressure cooker. If you don't have a steamer basket, you can use a heat-safe bowl or a heatproof colander instead.

Step 3: Set the Cooker

Close and lock the lid of the electric pressure cooker. Make sure the release valve is set to the "Sealing" position. Then, press the "Steam" button and set the timer. For frozen raw shrimp, set the timer for 1 minute. For frozen cooked shrimp, you can use the zero minutes technique, where you set the timer to zero and let the shrimp thaw and heat up as the cooker comes to pressure.

Step 4: Quick Release the Pressure

Once the timer goes off, quickly release the pressure according to the manufacturer's instructions. Be careful when doing this step, as the steam can be very hot.

Step 5: Serve the Shrimp

Remove the shrimp from the cooker and serve immediately, or chill them to serve later. You can also freeze the cooked shrimp for up to 3-6 months if wrapped well.

Tips and Variations:

• You can add flavour to your shrimp by including lemon slices, lemon juice, lime juice, or seasonings like Old Bay Seasoning, garlic powder, salt, or pepper.
• If using frozen raw shrimp, it's important to use jumbo or large shrimp to ensure even cooking. Smaller shrimp may overcook easily.
• If your electric pressure cooker doesn't have a steam button, you can try using a combination of the Sauté and Manual settings to achieve similar results.

Cook for 4-6 minutes

Now that you've set the timer for 4-6 minutes, it's time to wait for the Instant Pot to work its magic. This is the most crucial step in the cooking process, as it determines whether your shrimp turn out perfectly juicy and tender or end up overcooked and chewy.

While you wait, it's a good idea to gather any additional seasonings or sauces you plan to use. For a simple yet delicious option, try drizzling some melted butter on top of your shrimp. If you're feeling more adventurous, you can also try adding some lemon or lime juice to the water in the Instant Pot for extra flavour.

Once the timer goes off, it's important to act quickly to avoid overcooking the shrimp. Open the Instant Pot and check on the shrimp. They are done when they turn pink and curl slightly. Remember, they don't need to be fully curled—in fact, if they're fully curled, they're probably overcooked.

If you're using small or medium shrimp, they will likely be done within the 4-6 minute timeframe. However, if you're cooking large shrimp, you may need to stir them and add an additional 1-5 minutes to the timer. Check the shrimp after 4 minutes and adjust the timing accordingly.

Keep in mind that the cooking time will depend on the size of your shrimp. For smaller shrimp, reduce the cooking time to 3 minutes and keep a close eye on them to prevent overcooking. Make a note of the total cook time for the size of shrimp you're using so you can set the timer accurately next time.

And that's it! Your juicy and tender shrimp are now ready to be served and enjoyed.

Serve immediately or chill

Once your shrimp are cooked, you can serve them immediately or chill them for later. If you're serving them straight away, you can dip them in cocktail sauce or drawn butter, or add them to a shrimp salad, a soft garlic roll with mayonnaise or melted butter, pasta, or soup.

If you want to chill your shrimp to serve later, you can keep them in the refrigerator for up to four days. Alternatively, you can freeze them for three to six months if they're well-wrapped.

Frequently asked questions