How to Cook Shrimp for Shrimp Cocktail:
Ok so you bought your shrimp from Cooper’s Retail Seafood market and now you want to know how to make a great shrimp cocktail. Follow these easy steps and you will have a delicious shrimp cocktail! Don’t want to do all the work? We sell Shrimp platters so all you have to do it pop off the top and eat them!
Frozen shrimp needs to be thawed before cooking. If it’s not already done, peel and de-vein the room-temperature shrimp. Raw shrimp is grayish. Cooked shrimp is pinkish.
1. **Prepare the Poaching Liquid:**
– Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
– Optional: Add aromatics like lemon juice, lemon wedges, peppercorns, and fresh parsley leaves. Water and salt are essential.
2. **Boil Subsides:**
– Once the water reaches a good boil, remove the pot from heat and let the boil subside.
3. **Add Shrimp:**
– With the pot off heat, add your raw shrimp.
– Cover with a lid and let them cook in the remaining heat for 4-7 minutes. Shrimp are done when opaque and pink.
4. **Adjust Timing:**
– Timing varies based on the quantity of shrimp and water. In a 3-quart saucepan with 12 shrimp, it takes about 4 minutes.
– For more shrimp, use a larger pot with more water.
5. **Prepare Ice Bath:**
– While shrimp cook, fill a large bowl with cold water and plenty of ice.
6. **Chill Shrimp:**
– After cooking, remove shrimp (leave aromatics) using a slotted spoon or colander.
– Place drained shrimp into the ice water to chill completely.
7. **Serve or Refrigerate:**
– Serve immediately with a side of Cooper’s homemade Cocktail sauce ( available in our gift shop), or drain and refrigerate for up to 12 hours before serving. 🍤✨