Air-Fryer Shrimp
This recipe delivers perfectly tender and flavorful jumbo shrimp using an air fryer. Simple seasoning with salt, baking soda, and sugar, followed by a coating of melted butter, ensures a quick and succulent result. Ideal for a fast appetizer or a light main meal, this dish is designed for efficiency and deliciousness, serving four.
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer Ensure it has a basket large enough for batch cooking if necessary.
- 1 Medium Mixing Bowl For seasoning and coating the shrimp.
- 1 Measuring Spoons For accurate seasoning measurements.
- 1 Small Microwave Safe Bowl For melting butter.
- 1 Tongs For tossing and flipping shrimp.
Ingredients
Main
- 12 ounces 340g raw peeled and deveined jumbo (16/20) shrimp, tail on (see notes)
- 1/2 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt use half much by volume
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon 14g unsalted butter, melted (or neutral oil)
Instructions
- Thoroughly pat the raw peeled and deveined jumbo shrimp dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the dried shrimp with the Diamond Crystal kosher salt, baking soda, and granulated sugar, tossing gently to coat each piece evenly.
- Melt the unsalted butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Pour the melted butter over the seasoned shrimp and toss again until all shrimp are lightly coated.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes to ensure it's hot and ready for cooking.
- Arrange the butter-coated shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding; cook in batches if necessary to ensure optimal air circulation.
- Air fry the shrimp for 3 minutes.
- Open the air fryer basket and gently toss or flip the shrimp with tongs to ensure even cooking on all sides.
- Continue air frying for another 1-3 minutes, or until the shrimp are opaque throughout, pink, and lightly curled. Be careful not to overcook.
- Carefully remove the cooked shrimp from the air fryer basket immediately.
- Serve the air-fried shrimp hot as a quick appetizer or as part of a main course.
Notes
The baking soda in this recipe is a professional trick to 'velvet' the shrimp, which tenderizes them significantly and prevents the rubbery texture often caused by overcooking. Ensure the shrimp are thoroughly patted dry before seasoning; this promotes a better exterior texture. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in small batches to guarantee even cooking and proper browning. Shrimp cook very quickly, typically 3-6 minutes total depending on size and air fryer model, so monitor them closely and remove promptly once opaque and curled to avoid overcooking.