Air fryer shrimp is one of those dishes that is very simple to make, takes very little time to prepare and tastes delicious. On top, it only takes 6 minutes to cook. This particular recipe make superb shrimp with Asian influenced flavors that are hard to resist.
How to make air fryer shrimp?
There are two types of shrimp that can be made in an air fryer: breaded and marinated. Breaded shrimp can potentially have a nicely browned, crunchy exterior but there is a challenge. Shrimp cooks very quickly in an air fryer and the breading may not have enough time to crisp up well enough. Therefore, the coating should be quite thin to account for a short cooking time. Marinated shrimp, on the other hand, does not need to crisp up and only needs to be cooked to a specific internal temperature. Depending on the sauce, you may or may not get some caramelization. Sauces heavy on sugar will give you that. This particular recipe does not use breading and relies on a delicious, Asian inspired sauce to give shrimp their delicious taste. In this sauce, the shrimp can be marinated for about 15 minutes and then cooked. For best results, marinate overnight and up to 24 hours.
How many shrimp can you cook at a time?
This really depends on your air fryer. In my 6.8 quart unit I can comfortably fit about 20-25 large shrimp. More shrimp will cause crowding and uneven cooking, so try to avoid that. Similarly, in a smaller, 3 qt unit, you will be able to fit about half of that.
How long to cook shrimp in an air fryer?
To be safe to eat, shrimp must be cooked to internal temperature of 145F. In my air fryer, it took 21 large shrimp about 6 minutes at 410F to get fully cooked. An instant read thermometer is recommended to double check that your shrimp is cooked. In general, you want to see your shrimp pink, with still moist exterior, and not curled up in a circle. If the shrimp is curled up in a circle, it’s overcooked. Below is the picture of how shrimp should look fully cooked. I pulled the shrimp at 140F while the temperature increased to 145F due to carryover cooking.
Can you use frozen shrimp for this recipe?
Yes, you can, you will need to thaw them first. Place shrimp, inside a freezer bag, in cold water for about 20-30 minutes and let them thaw. Then marinate and cook.
What to serve air fryer shrimp with?
Serve them as an appetizer, with your favorite dipping sauce or prepare our favorite sauce (recipe below). Looking for more tasty air fryer recipes? Make sure to check these out:
Air Fryer Chicken Wings Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Air Fryer Sesame Chicken Breast Steak In an Air Fryer Crispy Air Fried Brussels Sprouts
Equipment used and shown on the pictures above: Chefman 6.8 Quart Air Fryer.
