How To Grill Shrimp?
To grill shrimp, follow these steps:
- Marinate the shrimp. Prepare a marinade with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and fresh herbs. Marinate the shrimp for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
- Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium high heat.
- Oil the grill. Grease the grill with oil to prevent the shrimp from sticking.
- Grill the shrimp. Place the marinated shrimp evenly spaced on the grill. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until the shrimp are pink and firm.
- Serve hot. Serve the grilled shrimp hot with lemon wedges.
What Is the Best Shrimp for Grilling?
The best shrimp for grilling are large, fresh shrimp. Shrimp varieties such as jumbo shrimp, spot prawns, or tiger prawns are ideal for grilling. However, you can also use smaller shrimp varieties. If you are using small shrimp, you can use skewers to prevent them from falling off the grill.
Be sure to choose fresh, high-quality shrimp. Do not use frozen shrimp. Also, marinate the shrimp for extra flavor before grilling.
Should Shrimp Be Peeled Before Grilling?
When grilling shrimp, you can cook it with or without shells. This depends on personal preference. The shell helps prevent the shrimp from drying out. However, shrimp can also be cooked by peeling. This makes it easier to eat.
How To Clean Jumbo Shrimp?
If you want to peel the shrimp before grilling them, here are the steps to peel the jumbo shrimp:
- Wash the shrimps.
- While holding the shrimp's head, turn its body and tail.
- Pull the shrimp shell out from the middle with your fingers, and then pull out the back end of the shell.
- To remove the dark streaked vein from the top of the shrimp, cut a slit along the top of the shrimp with a paring knife. Then clean the vein with the help of a knife.
- Rinse the shrimp under cold water.
- Dry with a paper towel before marinating.
Use shell or peeled/deveined shrimp for this recipe. If you wish, you can either buy ready-sorted shrimp or sort the shrimp yourself at home. For more, check out our article "How To Peel & Devein Shrimp? ".
How To Make Grilled Shrimp Skewers?
Here are the steps to making grilled shrimp skewers:
- Marinate the shrimp. Mix the marinade ingredients of your choice in a bowl. Marinate the shrimp for at least 15 minutes or 2 hours.
- Soak the skewers. If you are using wooden skewers, soak the skewers in water for 30 minutes so that they do not burn on the grill.
- Preheat the grill to high heat.
- Grease the grill pan or gas grill.
- Thread the shrimp evenly on skewers.
- Place the shrimp on the grill and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side or until the shrimp is pink and firm.
- Serve hot.
How Long To Cook Shrimp on a Grill?
Cooking time may vary depending on the size of shrimp you choose. However, shrimp cook quickly on the grill. It is usually cooked for 2-3 minutes on each side.
In addition, the cooking time of the shrimp depends on the temperature of the grill. Allow the shrimp to turn pink and become firm to the touch to ensure they are fully cooked. You can also use an instant-read thermometer to check the shrimp's internal temperature. Shrimps should have an internal temperature of 145 °F (63 °C). Overcooked shrimp will become tough and rubbery, while undercooked shrimp may pose a risk of foodborne illness.
What To Serve with Grilled Shrimp?
Grilled shrimp can be served as an appetizer or main course. This grilled shrimp recipe goes well with side dishes like garlic bread, boiled potatoes, or grilled vegetables. Also, it can be served with sauces such as garlic butter or lemon aioli.
Grilled shrimp, which you can add to rice, pasta, or salads, can be served with roasted vegetables. You can also use it as a taco filling to add flavor and texture to tacos.
Here are our delicious recipes that you can serve with Grilled Shrimp:
How To Store Grilled Shrimp?
You can store grilled shrimp in the refrigerator. Allow grilled shrimp to cool at room temperature before storing. Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator at temperatures between 32 °F and 40 °F for up to 3 days.
To reheat grilled shrimp, heat it in a microwave-safe bowl for 1-2 minutes or until fully heated through. Alternatively, you can heat the shrimp on medium heat until a small amount of oil is fully heated in the pan. Make sure you don't overcook the shrimp. Otherwise, the shrimp may become tough and rubbery.
