How do you reheat the leftover fried shrimp in your fridge in a way that preserves both its delicious crispiness and its soft shrimp without sacrificing one for the other?
It’s a tricky question to answer.
That’s why I decided to test four methods of reheating fried shrimp myself to figure out which would be the best method.
These reheating methods include:
- in the oven (a close second)
- in the air fryer (the best method)
- stovetop frying (okay)
- in the microwave (not recommended)
Let’s get into it!
A note on my experiment
I cooked a large batch of fried shrimp, then stored it in the fridge overnight.
The next day, I tested the above methods of reheating shrimp (oven, air fryer, frying, and microwave).
I tasted the results of each method, then documented my results. I based my verdicts on:
- the texture of the batter (I like crispy batter on my fried shrimp!)
- the texture of the shrimp (nobody wants rubbery shrimp, ever)
- how easy each reheating method was
Given the qualities that I was looking for, my favorite reheating method ended up being the air fryer, with the oven coming in a close second.
Re-frying the shrimp worked okay, though I didn’t like how oily the shrimp could get with that method.
My least favorite method was reheating in the microwave. It was near impossible to microwave it in a way that made the shrimp edible.
If you want to know how each reheating method tasted, read on!
Reheating fried shrimp in the oven
To reheat your fried shrimp in the oven, preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Place a wire rack on a baking sheet (to catch any drips from the shrimp), then place your shrimp on the rack. Put the shrimp in the oven and cook for about 5 minutes.
You may need more or less time depending on your oven, the size of your shrimp, and the number of shrimp you’re reheating.
How to reheat fried shrimp in the oven:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Place the shrimp on a wire rack with a baking sheet underneath, and put them into the oven. If you don’t have a wire rack, use a preheated baking sheet.
- Cook the shrimp for about 5 minutes, checking to make sure your shrimp is warmed through.
- If you’re using a baking sheet, turn the shrimp halfway through cooking.
A wire rack is best because it lets the hot air circulate the shrimp, crisping it evenly all the way around.
A baking sheet can leave you with a soggy bottom, but preheating it helps prevent this.
My verdict
The oven wasn’t my favorite method, but it wasn’t bad.
I overcooked the shrimp in my first test because I was trying to get a really crispy outside.
It’s a delicate balance to strike, and in the end, I had to settle for a slightly less crispy coating to avoid a rubbery shrimp. It was by no means soggy though!
Reheating fried shrimp in the air fryer
To reheat your fried shrimp in an air fryer, first set the fryer to 350°F (180°C). Arrange the fried shrimp in a single layer in the basket, avoiding any touching. Heat the shrimp for 2-3 minutes, or until warmed through.
How to reheat fried shrimp in the air fryer:
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (180°C).
- Lightly spray the shrimp with oil. (optional step)
- Arrange your shrimp in the basket in a single layer.
- Heat the shrimp for 2-3 minutes.
Spraying the shrimp with oil can help them crisp up but isn’t usually necessary with previously fired shrimp because there’s already residual oil in the coating.
Air fryers are harsh machines and work quickly.
Check on your shrimp regularly to make sure it’s not overcooking.
Don’t overcrowd the basket because this will impede airflow and mean your shrimp don’t crisp up as efficiently.
My verdict
The air fryer did a perfect job at reheating the fried shrimp!
The outside of the shrimp got crispy again really quickly, which meant the shrimp inside didn’t have a chance to overcook.
Just keep in mind that air fryers are very powerful, and a few seconds too long could ruin the fish.
Reheating fried shrimp by frying
To reheat the fried shrimp by frying it in a skillet, heat 1-2 tablespoons of oil or butter over a medium heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the fried shrimp and let it fry for about 3 to 4 minutes, turning them every so often to crisp all the sides.
You can also deep fry the shrimp if you’d prefer, but this is a lot more effort.
How to reheat fried shrimp by frying:
Flash frying:
- Heat a skillet on medium heat with 1-2 tablespoons of oil or butter.
- When the pan is hot, add the shrimp. A breadcrumb dropped in the pan should sizzle, but not burn.
- Heat the shrimp for 3-4 minutes, turning them every so often.
- Let the shrimp rest on a paper towel for 60 seconds before serving.
Deep/shallow frying:
- Fill a deep frying pan with an appropriate amount of oil and heat to 350°F (180°C).
- When the oil is hot, add the shrimp. It’s best to use a thermometer to measure the oil temperature. Only fry 2-3 shrimp at a time.
- Fry the shrimp for 60-90 seconds, flipping them once if shallow frying.
- Let the shrimp rest on a paper towel for 60 seconds before serving.
Oil temperature is important when you’re re-frying things.
If the oil is too cold, the shrimp will soak it all up. And if it’s too hot, the coating will burn before the shrimp has had a chance to warm up.
For deep frying, I always recommend using a thermometer.
Anything else just isn’t accurate enough.
For pan-frying, drop a few spare breadcrumbs into the oil and watch. The breadcrumbs should sizzle as soon as they touch the oil, but they shouldn’t start to brown too quickly.
My verdict
Re-frying your shrimp is a great way to get nice, crispy breading.
But since you’re adding oil on top of oil, it gave the shrimp a greasier feel which I found off-putting.
The greasy feel was a lot worse after deep frying than pan frying, so pan frying would be my go-to option, even if it is a bit harder to crisp the shrimp evenly.
Reheating fried shrimp in the microwave
To reheat the fried shrimp in the microwave, put the shrimp on a paper-towel-lined microwave-safe plate. Set the microwave to 50% power and cook the shrimp in 10-second bursts. When the shrimp is piping hot, let it rest for 60 seconds before serving.
How to reheat fried shrimp in the microwave:
- Line a microwave-safe plate with a paper towel.
- Place the fried shrimp on the microwave-safe plate.
- Set your microwave to 50% power.
- Cook shrimp in 10-second intervals until warmed through.
The paper towel will soak up any grease that leaks out of the shrimp.
Avoid heating too many shrimp at once. I would stick to 2-3. More than that, and the heating starts to become uneven.
Since shrimp is so delicate, I advise using half-power if your microwave has that setting.
My verdict
This method resulted in one of the worst fried shrimps I’ve ever tasted.
The batter got soggy no matter what I did, and the shrimp itself was rubbery.
It’s almost impossible to warm up the shrimp much at all without overcooking it. Honestly, I would rather eat cold fried shrimp than microwaved fried shrimp.
My verdict is two words: don’t bother.
Alternative idea: eat the fried shrimp cold
Instead of reheating your shrimp and risking rubbery fish, you can simply eat it cold (as long as it’s within 3-4 days). The batter isn’t good when the shrimp is cold, so it’s best to peel it off. You can then eat the shrimp on its own with a sauce, or you can add it to a salad or pasta dish.
My personal favorite is shrimp fettuccine alfredo. The warm alfredo sauce will be enough to heat the shrimp.
How to store fried shrimp
To store fried shrimp, let it cool to room temperature, then put it in an airtight container lined with paper towel. The fried shrimp will last in the fridge for 3-4 days before becoming too soggy to revive. Make sure to store the shrimp within 2 hours of cooking to avoid bacteria from building up.
Letting the shrimp cool is vital because otherwise, condensation will drip back down onto your shrimp, wetting the coating and turning it to mush.
The paper towel helps soak up any excess moisture in the container, so the shrimp stay as crispy as possible.
Always conduct the ‘smell’ test before eating leftover fried shrimp. Shrimp that’s gone bad will smell bad.
Can you freeze fried shrimp?
You can easily freeze fried shrimp. It’s a great way to extend its shelf life. Fried shrimp will last up to 6 months in the freezer (for best quality, it will still be safe to eat beyond that). The breading won’t be as crunchy as it was when you first cooked the shrimp, but it’ll still taste delicious.
How to freeze fried shrimp:
- Let the fried shrimp cool to room temperature.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the fried shrimp on the baking sheet, leaving space between each shrimp so they don’t fuse together while freezing.
- Freeze for 2 to 3 hours, or until the shrimp is firm.
- Once firm, place the fried shrimp in freezer bags or wrap them in portions tightly with aluminum foil.
- Remove any air from the freezer bags.
- Write the date of freezing on the container, then place it back in the freezer.
- Freeze the shrimp for up to 6 months for best quality.
Again, cooling the shrimp before you freeze it is important because otherwise, the moisture will turn to ice crystals in the freezer and ruin the texture of the fried shrimp.
Flash freezing is a helpful practice because it means the shrimp won’t stick together in the freezer.
Removing the air from the freezer bags helps to prevent freezer burn.
If you use a container with lots of extra air, there’s a higher chance of the fried shrimp developing freezer burn.
To remove the air from a freezer bag, you have three options:
- use a vacuum sealer
- suck it out with a straw
- dunk the bag in a bowl of water to force the air out
How to reheat frozen fried shrimp
The oven is the best way to reheat frozne fried shrimp . Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and arrange the shrimp on a baking sheet. Then, cook it for 12-15 minutes, depending on the size of your shrimp. Smaller shrimp will need less time to cook, while larger shrimp will need longer.
You can also use versions of the methods outlined above for reheating frozen fried shrimp. Air frying and deep frying should be nearly as effective as baking them in the oven.
There’s no need to thaw fried shrimp before reheating it – in fact, I advise you don’t because this can lead to a soggy coating.
The BEST Way To Reheat Fried Shrimp
Equipment
- Wire rack
Ingredients
- 1 portion fried shrimp
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Place the shrimp on a wire rack with a baking sheet underneath, and put them into the oven. If you don’t have a wire rack, use a preheated baking sheet.
- Cook the shrimp for about 5 minutes, checking to make sure your shrimp is warmed through.
- If you’re using a baking sheet, turn the shrimp halfway through cooking.
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