Speedy Instant Pot Shrimp

Unlock the secret to perfectly cooked Instant Pot shrimp, whether you’re starting with frozen or fresh prawns. This comprehensive guide will show you how to achieve tender, succulent shrimp in your Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi pressure cooker, transforming them into a delightful addition to alfredo, a quick high-protein snack, or the star of any meal. Prepare to revolutionize your seafood cooking!

Cooking Instant Pot Shrimp: Fresh vs. Frozen

Just recently, a craving for shrimp led my husband on a grocery run. Instead of fresh shrimp from the seafood counter, he returned with two bags of frozen shrimp – a happy accident that led to a surprising discovery! We quickly realized there’s virtually no difference in cooking time or method when using your Instant Pot for fresh versus frozen shrimp. This flexibility makes pressure cooking shrimp incredibly convenient and a fantastic last-minute meal solution.

For those using a Ninja Foodi, you can replicate this method seamlessly. Simply utilize the pressure cook function with the appropriate lid. The results will be equally impressive, delivering tender, flavorful shrimp every time.

Our journey into pressure cooker seafood began with a delicious Instant Pot fish recipe, where we cooked both vegetables and white fish in stackable pans, yielding a wonderfully flavorful meal. Since then, we’ve explored many more options, leading to a collection of fantastic Instant Pot shrimp recipes that we’re excited to share.

We started with the absolute simplest method: cooking shrimp on its own. As we mastered the technique for achieving perfect results, we began incorporating other ingredients. This experimentation eventually led to the creation of popular dishes like our Instant Pot shrimp boil, showcasing the versatility of pressure-cooked shrimp.

Essential Ingredient Notes for Perfect Shrimp

To ensure your success, it’s important to select the right kind of shrimp. We specifically recommend using raw, shell-on shrimp. The shells act as a protective layer, preventing the delicate meat from overcooking and becoming tough or rubbery, which is a common pitfall when cooking shrimp. The size of the shrimp matters too – jumbo or large varieties tend to work best. Don’t be concerned by their initial size; shrimp naturally shrink quite a bit as they cook, becoming perfect bite-sized pieces.

You’ll likely find these ideal shell-on shrimp in the freezer section of your local grocery store, making it easy for you to recreate our amazing shrimp in the Instant Pot recipe at home. Choosing shell-on shrimp is not only a culinary advantage for texture but also a cost-effective one, as they are typically less expensive than their peeled counterparts.

Should You Peel Shrimp Before Pressure Cooking?

Absolutely not. There’s no need to peel shrimp before cooking them in a pressure cooker. If you’re starting with frozen shrimp, peeling them beforehand would be a challenging and unnecessary task. The beauty of this method is that once the shrimp are perfectly cooked, the shells will slide off with remarkable ease, making post-cooking preparation simple. Furthermore, as mentioned, shell-on shrimp are generally more affordable and offer better protection against overcooking.

The “Zero-Minute” Secret: How Long to Steam Shrimp in an Instant Pot

This is where the magic of pressure cooking truly shines, especially for delicate seafood like shrimp. Unless you are cooking an exceptionally large quantity of shrimp, filling your pressure cooker to its 3/4 line, we recommend a cook time of “0 minutes” for both fresh and frozen, small to medium-sized, shelled shrimp.

We initially consulted the Instant Pot website for cooking times, but through our own testing and experimentation, we found that adjustments were necessary for optimal shrimp results:

• The Instant Pot website suggested 1-2 minutes for fresh shrimp. Through our trials, we discovered that 0 minutes on our Instant Pot yielded perfectly cooked fresh shrimp.
• For frozen shrimp, the site recommended 2-3 minutes. Again, our tests consistently showed that 0 minutes was the ideal time to achieve the desired pink color and tender texture you see in our photos.
• While fresh fish was suggested to take 2-3 minutes, our 3/4 lb. salmon fillet required 4 minutes to be thoroughly cooked, prompting us to increase that specific cook time.

The “0-minute” setting doesn’t mean no cooking occurs. It means the Instant Pot builds pressure and then immediately signals that the cooking cycle is complete. The intense heat and pressure built during the pressurization phase are sufficient to cook delicate items like shrimp or fish without overcooking them once the cooker reaches full pressure. This technique prevents them from becoming rubbery, ensuring a tender and juicy result.

Essential Equipment for Instant Pot Shrimp

Preparing delicious shrimp in your Instant Pot requires just a few key pieces of equipment. Having these on hand will make the process smooth and enjoyable:

1. Instant Pot Steamer Basket: We highly recommend a steamer basket with small feet on the bottom to keep the shrimp elevated above the water, ensuring they steam rather than boil. A basket with an attached hook or handle is particularly convenient for easy lifting once cooking is complete.
2. Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker: Of course, you’ll need your primary appliance. This recipe works perfectly with any brand of electric pressure cooker, such as an Instant Pot or Crock Pot Express.
3. Raw, Shell-On Jumbo Shrimp: As discussed, choose raw (not precooked) jumbo or large shrimp with the shells still on. This is crucial for optimal texture and flavor.

Instant Pot Shrimp with Vegetables: A Perfect Pairing

Adding vegetables to your Instant Pot shrimp is not only possible but also creates a delightful and balanced one-pot meal. The key is to select vegetables that have a similarly quick cooking time. Broccoli is an excellent choice for this pairing, as it cooks rapidly and complements shrimp beautifully. A single minute of pressure cooking is typically sufficient for both, resulting in tender-crisp broccoli alongside your succulent shrimp.

After cooking, simply top your shrimp and vegetables with a pat of butter, a sprinkle of salt, and freshly ground pepper for a flavorful and virtually fat-free dish. Once ready, you can easily peel the shrimp and enjoy them as is, or incorporate them into your favorite Instant Pot shrimp recipe. We’ll share some of our top picks, including a fantastic pressure cooker garlic shrimp variation, further down in this article.

Mastering the “0-Minute” Instant Pot Cooking Method

The “0-minute” cooking setting is a game-changer for delicate ingredients like shrimp, preventing them from turning rubbery. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on how to set your Instant Pot to cook for zero minutes:

1. Prepare Your Pot: Pour 1.5 cups of water into the inner pot of your Instant Pot. Place your steamer basket inside, then add your fresh or frozen raw jumbo shrimp into the basket, ensuring they are not submerged in the water.
2. Select Pressure Cook: Close the lid, ensure the sealing ring is properly in place, and turn the steam release handle to the sealing position.
3. Set the Timer: Press the “Pressure Cook” button (or “Manual” depending on your model). Ensure the pressure level is set to “High.” Then, use the minus (-) button to adjust the cooking time until the display reads “00:00” (or simply “0” on some models).
4. Start Cooking: Allow the Instant Pot to automatically begin the cooking cycle. It will take a few minutes to build pressure, during which time the internal temperature will rise, cooking your shrimp.
5. Listen for the Beep: As soon as the Instant Pot reaches full pressure and the “0-minute” cooking cycle is technically “complete,” it will beep. This signals that your shrimp are perfectly done.
6. Perform a Quick Release: Immediately do a quick release of the pressure. Carefully turn the steam release handle to the venting position. Stand back to avoid the hot steam. Once all the pressure has been released and the float valve drops, you can safely open the lid.

Following these steps ensures your frozen shrimp will emerge perfectly cooked, not just thawed and still raw. This precise method guarantees tender, pink shrimp every time! You can also apply these same directions when learning how to cook frozen scallops, achieving similarly excellent results.

Creative Ways to Enjoy Your Pressure Cooked Shrimp

Once you’ve mastered the art of cooking shrimp in your Instant Pot, a world of culinary possibilities opens up! The perfectly cooked, tender shrimp from this method serve as an excellent base for a myriad of dishes. Here are some of our favorite ways to incorporate them into your meals:

• Instant Pot Shrimp Alfredo: One of our top recommendations is to add your freshly cooked (or thawed) shrimp on top of a creamy Instant Pot shrimp alfredo. The rich sauce perfectly complements the delicate seafood.
• Asian Steamed Dumplings: For a delicious and unique meal, use your defrosted shrimp in pressure cooker Asian steamed dumplings. The Instant Pot excels at steaming, making it ideal for this delicate preparation.
• Simple Garlic Butter Sauté: After pressure cooking, you can quickly transform your plain shrimp into a flavorful dish. Simply sauté the shelled shrimp with some minced garlic and butter directly in the Instant Pot on the sauté function for a few minutes. This infuses them with incredible aroma and taste, perfect for a quick, elegant meal.
• Instant Pot Bang Bang Shrimp: Craving something with a kick? Whip up our Instant Pot bang bang shrimp for dinner. The crispy texture and spicy-sweet sauce make for an unforgettable dish.
• Shrimp Scampi: Easily turn your pressure-cooked shrimp into a classic shrimp scampi by tossing them with garlic, butter, white wine, lemon juice, and parsley, then serving over pasta.
• Shrimp Tacos or Salads: For lighter options, cooled Instant Pot shrimp are fantastic in fresh salads or as a protein-packed filling for vibrant shrimp tacos.

No matter how you choose to serve them, Instant Pot shrimp consistently deliver a delicious, protein-packed meal. And if you have frozen shrimp and prefer an alternative cooking method, consider making air fryer frozen shrimp with parmesan for a crispy twist!