using frozen shrimp?

[Aimee]

By accident my husband put the shrimp I bought into our freezer. I normally use shrimp the same day I buy it. When I want to use them, do I have to defrost them for a few hours, or do I just throw them into the pan frozen? Thanks.

[speyerer]

Run under cold water and they will thaw in a couple of minutes without added sugar or salt and a lot faster than letting them sit in the fridge for two hours.

[trolley]

i;m sure you already ate your shrimp but a good way to defrost shrimp is to defrost in a brine for 2 hrs. 1/4 cup of sugar and salt. dump in boiling water then pour several cups of cold water and ice cubes. put the unshelled shrimp in for 2 hrs in the fridge. drain then use. i learned this from rose beranbaum's blog of the cake bible fame. yes, rose. so odd. you'd think i'd be getting baking tips but i do that as well.

http://www.realbakingwithrose.com/200...

[alkapal]

2 hours sound like a long time, but it is in the fridge. shrimp in a room temp brine would defrost really quickly -- certainly no more than 10-20 minutes. voila, ready to cook!

now, brining for plumpness, flavor, etc. is a different matter, and other threads have dealt with that (and were persuasive that it aids the shrimp texture and flavor):

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/456640
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/445613

[bw2082]

Most shrimp in this country is frozen anyway. You can throw it into a bowl and run it under cold water and it will thaw in a couple of minutes.

[Aimee]

Thanks, that sounds easy. I know it's all frozen previously which is why I would never think to refreeze it.

[pikawicca]

If you spread them out on a baking sheet, they will thaw within an hour at room temp and you can shell them.