How to Boil Shrimp

If starting with frozen shrimp, thaw them by placing the shrimp in the refrigerator overnight or by running cold water over them in a colander.

Fill a pot 2/3 full with hot water and any desired seasonings, and place it on the stove over high heat, covered.

Check your shrimp for dark veins (even if you bought deveined shrimp) and remove them with a shrimp tool or tweezers. If you’re using shrimp with the shells on, you’ll need to cut along the curve of the shrimp with a paring knife to get access to the vein and remove it.

Rinse your shrimp.

When your pot is boiling, gently add your shrimp.

Boil the shrimp until they’re pink and opaque. For small shrimp, this will take 2-3 minutes. For larger shrimp, you’ll need 5-7 minutes.

Drain your shrimp and immediately place them in a bowl of ice water to cool for a couple minutes before serving or using in a recipe.

Store boiled shrimp in the coolest part of your refrigerator for up to four days.