How Long Do You Cook Steamed Shrimp

Old Bay Steamed Shrimp

We are big shrimp lovers in our house, and these Old Bay shrimp are no exception. I remember being a kid, watching my mom pull the tiny legs off shrimp, mortified. Now — after years and years of practice, and pounds and pounds of shrimp — I am sharing our love for shrimp with our kids. Leg pulling, and all.

Old Bay and seafood were made for each other. (No, seriously, they were — read below.) If you're on the fence about steaming shrimp, let me be the first to tell you it's incredibly simple and fast!

Steaming, instead of boiling, is a more gentle method of cooking shrimp. You're less likely to overcook them, and they will be much more flavorful. (Boiling shrimp leads to a watered down flavor and rubbery texture. No thank you!)
Counterintuitive to what we thought, the shrimp were more tender and succulent without the shell on. I know — we couldn't believe it, either! But in our side-by-side tests, the shrimp that were steamed without the shell (just the tail remained) were much more tender.

If you cook with the shell on, the shrimp shells are being seasoned with Old Bay. If you steam them with the shells removed, the actual shrimp meat is being infused with all that delicious flavor. Yes, please!

Ingredients For Old Bay Shrimp

Shrimp, tails left on, shells optional
Olive oil
Kosher salt
Old Bay seasoning
Lemons, for serving
Parsley, for serving
Beer, for steaming

What's in Old Bay seasoning anyway?

Old Bay is one of those well known spices, around for generations, that is ubiquitous with seafood, particularly crab and shrimp. Ever go to a crab or shrimp boil? The seafood was likely seasoned generously with Old Bay.

Here's the thing about Old Bay seasoning: it's salty. Not like too salty, just salty enough to make you want to drink. So… ya know… serve this with something cold to quench your thirst!

How To Make Old Bay Shrimp

Steaming shrimp is so easy. Here's what you do:

Place shrimp in a large mixing bowl. You can leave the shells on or remove them. We tried it both ways and actually preferred the shrimp with shells removed, both because of the texture and flavor (the Old Bay seasoning will adhere directly to the shrimp, not the shell!). Oh, and it's easier to eat without peeling!
Drizzle with olive oil, kosher salt, and Old Bay seasoning, then toss to thoroughly coat.
Place water and beer in a skillet, then turn the heat to high and bring liquid to a rapid boil. Add shrimp to steamer basket, then place on top of skillet. Cover the pot with a lid and steam until fully cooked, about 4-5 minutes (for large shrimp, 16-20 count), tossing once halfway through to ensure even cooking.

The most important thing: the shrimp should not touch the steaming liquid (beer, water, or a combination of both). Make sure they're elevated, m'kay?

Also, note that cooking time will vary based on the size of the shrimp. Steamed shrimp can be served hot, warm, room temperature, or cold!

Is it possible to steam shrimp without a steamer?

Absolutely! Place a fine mesh strainer on top of a pot (just make sure it rests nicely without falling in) and voila! You've got a makeshift steamer basket!

Old Bay shrimp in a bowl with lemon wedges

What To Serve With Old Bay Steamed Shrimp

We're big believers in homemade cocktail sauce and a squeeze of fresh lemon!

Got leftovers? Chop up any extra Old Bay steamed shrimp, then toss with mayonnaise, a splash of white wine vinegar, some diced shallot, a pinch of cayenne, and a little extra Old Bay seasoning. Season to taste, then dig in! A simple shrimp salad the whole family will love.

You can eat the leftover shrimp salad as is or put it in a wrap, piled into a split-top bun, on a salad, or scooped onto crackers. Perfect for an easy, light lunch!

Can I Turn This Into A Shrimp Boil?

Sure can! You just need to add some fresh corn and potatoes! The key difference between steamed shrimp and a boil, however, is that the former is steamed (yes, obviously) while the latter is thrown together in a large pot of water and boiled.

If you do a seafood boil, it definitely wouldn't hurt to add in some other shellfish, such as crab or crawfish either.

P.S. If you can get your hands on fresh crawfish, I am so jealous!

Peeled shrimp in a steaming basket with Old Bay seasoning

Tips For The Best Steamed Shrimp

Do not overcrowd the steaming basket! While you might be tempted to throw a whole 2 lb bag of defrosted shrimp into the basket, you're likely not going to be able to cook all the shrimp evenly.

If working with more than 1 lb of shrimp at a time, we recommend cooking the shrimp in batches. Don't overcrowd the basket when steaming!

If usingfrozen shrimp, allow to defrost completely before using. Either defrost overnight in a refrigerator or placefrozen shrimp in a bowl of cool water.Allow to sit for 30-60 minutes and shrimp should be fully thawed.

So that's it — easy peasy lemon squeezy! At least that's what our kids would say!

Old Bay steamed shrimp in a bowl — **Don't forget to pin this for later!**

Make these today (along with our homemade spicy cocktail sauce!) and enjoy all week long!

Looking for more shrimp recipes? Definitely check out our cajun shrimp and grits or healthy shrimp lettuce wraps!

If you make this Old Bay Shrimp recipe, please let us know by leaving a rating and review below.

And make sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for moreWell Seasonedrecipes! DON'T FORGET to tag us on social channels when you make a recipe at #wellseasonedstudio !! We LOVE seeing what you're up to in the kitchen!

For more seafood recipes, check out the following:

Pan seared salmon with lemon parmesan sauce
Spicy crab pasta
Grilled lobster tails and clams
Thai scallop curry with string beans
Ahi tuna poké bowls

Old Bay Shrimp

Sweet, juicy, succulent Old Bay shrimp are steamed over water and beer, then served with homemade cocktail sauce and a squeeze of lemon. The whole family will love them!

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 5 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Course: Appetizer, Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cocktail sauce, old bay, steamed shrimp

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 204 kcal

Steaming basket or fine mesh strainer
Skillet or pot

1 lb large shrimp shell peeled, tail on
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp Old Bay seasoning can use hot if you like!
½ tsp kosher salt
1 cup beer
½ cup water
1 Tbsp parsley chopped, for serving
Lemon wedges for serving

In a large bowl, combine shrimp, olive oil, kosher salt, and Old Bay seasoning. Toss to combine.
Place beer and water in a skillet or pot, then heat over high heat until rapidly boiling. Turn heat down to a simmer. Place seasoned shrimp in a steamer basket (see note below if you don't have a steaming basket), set on top of the simmering skillet or pot, then place a lid on top. Steam for 2 minutes, check and toss shrimp as needed, then cook 2-3 minutes more, or until just pink on both sides.
Remove shrimp and place in a large serving bowl. Sprinkle with chopped parsley, then serve with lemon wedges on the side. Can be served hot, room temperature, or cold. Recipe for homemade cocktail sauce below.

We have tested this recipe with shellon and shelloff shrimp. We prefer it with the shelloff, but you can absolutely leave the shells on, then peel just before eating. The shrimp will likely beless flavorful, so feel free to season again with a sprinkle of Old Bay just before serving.
Check out our homemade cocktail sauce recipe!
If usingfrozen shrimp, allow to defrost completely before using. Either defrost overnight in a refrigerator or placefrozen shrimp in a bowl of cool water.Allow to sit for 30-60 minutes and shrimp should be fully thawed.

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