Frozen large frozen prawns are an extremely versatile seafood choice, suitable for making everything from stews and noodles to grilling, sauteing and poaching dishes. Catching, cooking, and peeling are done sustainably before being individually quickly frozen for quick freezing with minimal protective ice glaze coatings to preserve quality and ensure quick results in every preparation method.
Colour can sometimes serve as a guide when it comes to naming, with pink Pandalus borealis specimens often being called “prawns” while brown ones can be labelled “shrimps.” Unfortunately, this can create some confusion for consumers.
Defrost
Though it might be tempting, defrosting large frozen prawns is essential to ensure they’re cooked evenly and safely for consumption.
One of the easiest and fastest ways to defrost frozen prawns is placing them in a bowl of cold water for approximately one hour so as to minimize bacteria growth and ensure all your prawns have been defrosted thoroughly. Defrosting can take anywhere from half an hour up to an hour, depending on your volume of defrosted items.
One easy and efficient method for defrosting frozen prawns is using plastic bags with holes cut out. Once inside, place your frozen prawns inside and submerge them in cold water; this method has proven itself both quick and effective in defrosting them quickly; its only drawback is that it may cause them to lose some flavour as they defrost.
Defrosting shrimp requires regular changes of cold water to prevent bacteria build-up and undercooking of prawns, potentially leading to food poisoning if defrosting occurs too fast. Hot and warm waters should never be used as this could speed up defrosting and may lead to undercooked prawns being placed into the refrigerator too soon – beware! Additionally, any leftover prawns should be patted dry before placing them in the fridge!
Cook
These shrimps come precooked and peeled before being quickly frozen with a low level of protective ice glaze, making them suitable for marinades as well as cooking directly from frozen. Although defrosting overnight may help ensure you obtain firm yet delicate shrimps.
Please do not attempt to defrost food in a microwave as this will increase their likelihood of overcooking and cause an uneven dish with cooked edges and raw interiors. Instead, defrosting prawns (or any food item) in cold water works best, with regular changes of water being made and being spread around to ensure even defrosting. If time is of the essence, you can speed up this process by adding salt, as this will make the boil faster and raise its temperature more rapidly, allowing a more rapid defrosting of defrost timeframe.
Preparation
Prawns can be purchased frozen for an economical and safe dining option. Frozen prawns taste very similar to fresh ones in terms of taste and texture; you can cook with frozen ones in many of the same ways and take full advantage of this versatile seafood.
Defrosting frozen prawns quickly is easiest done by placing them in a colander and running cold water over them for approximately 20 minutes, depending on their size. Make sure to regularly switch up the water as otherwise bacteria could grow in their juices during this process.
This method works well when it comes to thawing other varieties of fish, like fillets of salmon or tuna. Once the thawed fish has been placed into an ice bowl for storage purposes, doing this allows you to keep it chilled while prepping other ingredients.
Boiling large frozen prawns is another easy and efficient way to defrost them quickly and is especially useful when cooking dishes such as bouillabaisse, prawn cocktails, and other shellfish dishes that require boiling seafood. Once boiling is complete, you can add other flavour enhancers such as lemon slices, garlic cloves, onion pieces, parsley leaves or black peppercorns for extra taste and aroma.
Cooked prawns are a versatile and convenient seafood product. They can be used in a variety of recipes, including shrimp cocktails, salads, stir-fries, and pasta dishes. They can also be enjoyed as a protein-rich snack or a delicious addition to a cocktail with Newman’s Cocktail Sauce. Cooked prawns are available in a variety of sizes, from small to jumbo. If you are shopping for a frozen seafood product that is precooked, it’s important to choose a quality brand. Look for products that are IQF (individually quick frozen) and that are labelled as such on the packaging.