Shrimp cooking times?

Question

When boiling shrimp do you place the shrimp in the cold water and let them cook as the water gets hotter, or do you put them in once the water starts to boil and then for how long. I'll take all the advice anyone has to offer on how to boil shrimp and get them right.

Answer 1

Boil the water first...
if you want them tastier, add a small whole peeled onion, a basil leaf and a pinch or two of salt to the water and let it boil for a few minutes before you add the shrimp....
Add the shrimp to the boiling water, the water will stop boiling with the cold shrimp...
When the water comes to a boil again, cook for 5 minutes.
They don't need any more time than that, if you leave them longer they get either mushy or rubbery depends on the variety.

Answer 2

You are getting some very bad answers.
Shrimp, as all seafood, shouldn't be over-cooked.
I bring the water to a boil, well salted water.
Add the shrimp, be careful that they are of similar size. Cover the pot and when the water returns to a boil, the shrimp are done.
Take them out and plunge them into ice water to stop any further cooking. Different sized shrimp need different cooking times, very important. Two minutes maybe for small shrimp, Never more than 4 - 5 minutes. If you have shrimp that need more than five minutes you wouldn't waste them by boiling them and likely they would be referred to as prawns even if they were side-stripe shrimp, which can get very large.

Answer 3

The water must be boiling before you put in the shrimp. Just like lobster. Add some "Old Bay" seasoning to the water when it starts to boil. Add the shrimp and let them cook till the water starts to boil again. Take one out and check it for firmness. They only need to cook for two or three minutes,,,if that. Don't over-cook , they will get mushy. Cool them off with tap water after you take them out of the pan. This will stop them from cooking more. Enjoy!!!!

Answer 4

Boil the water and use some zatarins in the water for boiling seafood... place shrimp in boiling water till they turn pink... that means they are done about 5 minutes

Answer 5

Those those guys into boiling water (or even better, boiling beer) and get 'em out when they turn pink!
Here's a yummy shrimp recipe my mother used to make for festive occasions:

1 onion, diced
1 lb shrimp, de veined, shelled, cooked
1 large can whole tomatoes
1 green pepper, cut into strips
dash Tabasco sauce
1/2 cup cooked rice per person

Brown onion in oil or drippings. Add shrimp, tomatoes, and green pepper. Heat through. Season with salt, pepper and dashes of Tabasco sauce. Serve over white rice.

Answer 6

Bring it to a rolling boil first, then put the shrimp in adn cover the pot. But watch them frequently, they only take a few minutes to cook. When they are bright pink or red, they are done. take them out at once. I like to plunge them in cold water then to stop any residual cooking.

Answer 7

simple. clean the shrimp by cutting the antennae and wash with running water. boil water in a caserole make it boil and add salt to taste, add lemon juice and drop the shrimp while water is boiling. remove the shrimp when color change

Answer 8

Put them in the water as soon as it starts boiling and when they start to curl and turn pink get them out!!! You are safer pulling them when you think they aren't quite done then waiting because they will be rubbery and gross when cooked too long.

Answer 9

Put them in boiling water. Once they are opaque, they are done. Do not overcook, or it will be like eating rubber bands.

Answer 10

make the water hot.. then you put them in for no longer than ten minutes