Can the prawns be reheated? - The best way

Prawns are one of the most popular foods out there, whether it’s a pretty tempting appetizer or the best part of a filling, flavorful, or crunchy meal.

Even people who are not very fond of seafood sometimes like shrimp. There are many ways to enjoy shrimp and many different types of dishes that you can prepare.

Whether you are simply sautéing the shrimp with butter and seasonings or adding it to some sort of dish, you have to handle it properly. Shrimp must be handled with care, from purchase to storage, cooking and even reheating.

So can shrimp be reheated? Yes, you can reheat the prawns. Using the oven or stove is best, but you can also use a steamer and even a microwave if you follow the proper steps. These latter options, however, are not the best solutions for breaded prawns, as they will ruin their texture.

In this guide, we will explain how to reheat shrimp with 4 different methods. We also have some tips for reheating a few different varieties of prawn dishes that we’ll share as we work through the guide.

How to Reheat Prawns - Complete Guide

There are several different ways to reheat shrimp. Rest assured that all the methods are quite simple.

These are the methods you will see in this guide:

• Stove
• Oven
• Microwave oven
• Vaporizer

Some people will tell you that you can’t reheat shrimp once it’s cooked, but that’s not true. These reheating methods are safe and effective as long as you store the shrimp safely in the meantime.

How to reheat shrimp in the kitchen

Cooking is our favorite way to reheat shrimp, but it’s not the only one.

Reheating the prawns in a skillet only takes about 7 minutes from start to finish. This process is quite simple and really effective if you like to wake up your shrimp with additional flavors and seasonings.

If you originally sautéed the shrimp, this is a great way to reheat them, and it works wonders. The taste and texture will remain the same.

You don’t have to worry about the shrimp becoming rubbery or tough, as long as you store it well and follow the steps.

Here are the steps to reheat shrimp in the kitchen:

1. Use a skillet and heat it over medium heat until hot.
2. Add a small amount of oil to the pan to moisten it.
3. When the oil is hot, add the shrimp to the pan in a single layer. Distribute them evenly throughout the pan.
4. Let the prawns cook without stirring for about 3 minutes.
5. Flip the shrimp over and cook for another 2 minutes or until heated through.
6. Let them cool, serve them and enjoy them.

This process is super easy! Even if it is in the kitchen, it takes very little time and does not require much effort. You will only dirty your frying pan and your serving or stirring spoon.

You can’t go wrong with this method, and it can be used for almost any type of shrimp, from skewers to patties. It may not be the best method for some whole shrimp dishes, like pasta, but it all depends on what they are.

If you just want to reheat the prawns on their own, this is definitely the best method.

How to reheat shrimp in the oven

Another great reheating method you can use for your shrimp is in the oven. The oven works great if you don’t want to mess with the cooking.

It can also be a great tool for multiple shrimp dishes or if you want to reheat a lot of shrimp at once.

The thing to watch out for with the oven is its potential to dry out the prawns.

Although this method works simply and easily and doesn’t take a lot of time, there are a few steps you’ll need to take to prevent your shrimp from being dry, tough, or rubbery.

A good way to combat this is to use aluminum foil in the reheating process. It’s truly amazing what that simple layer of aluminum foil can do to protect shrimp and ease your worries.

You will also notice that we do not use high heat for this reheating process. This is another part of the process designed to protect your shrimp and give you the best results.

Follow these steps to reheat shrimp in the oven:

1. Preheat oven to about 300°F.
2. Spread the shrimp evenly on a cookie sheet or some type of skillet. Try to spread the shrimp out so that they are in a single layer. It’s okay if they touch, but you don’t want them piling up on top of each other if you can help it.
3. Cover the baking tray with aluminum foil. If you prefer, you can also wrap the shrimp completely in aluminum foil.
4. Pop the covered tray into the oven and bake at 300 degrees for about 15 minutes. You can stir halfway if you want, but be sure to replace the foil after you’ve done so.
5. Take the prawns out of the oven, allow them to cool sufficiently, and then serve and enjoy.

The trick here is that you don’t want to overcook the shrimp. That’s why we use a low temperature.

Remember that you have already cooked the prawns once, so you are only using this process to reheat them without ruining their flavor or texture.

How to reheat shrimp in the microwave

Next is the microwave. The microwave is a good option if you want something quick and easy or simply don’t have a stove or oven at your disposal to reheat the shrimp.

Perhaps you have taken the leftovers to work or on a trip. Microwaving is a great solution if you’re looking for the fastest reheating method available.

In the microwave, you have to be careful not to dry out the shrimp or overcook it. Any of these issues can make your shrimp rubbery or tough, and that’s what we really want to avoid.

In fact, if the prawns you are going to reheat have been fried or breaded, it is better not to use this method. See our article on whether or not you can microwave frozen shrimp for more information.

Otherwise, if you follow the correct process, you should be able to avoid disaster.

These are the steps to heat the prawns in the microwave:

1. Place the shrimp on a microwave-safe plate. Make sure they are in a single layer, spread out on the plate.
2. Splash some water over the shrimp.
3. Cover the dish with a lid or microwave-safe plastic wrap.
4. Cook the shrimp over high heat for 1 to 2 minutes. We recommend starting with 1 minute and checking it then. You may need more time if you heat more shrimp.
5. Remove the prawns from the microwave and allow them to cool slightly.
6. Serve and enjoy!

Be sure to splash a couple drops of water on it and cover the dish in the microwave.

How to reheat shrimp in a steamer

Finally, you can reheat the prawns in a steamer. Steaming can be quite easy, and it works for just about every type of shrimp out there, except those that were breaded in preparation.

Follow these steps to reheat shrimp in a steamer: 

• Prepare your steamer or a double boiler with water.
• Arrange the shrimp in the steamer in a single layer, if possible.
• Set the steamer or double boiler on high heat on the stove.
• Let simmer for several minutes or until shrimp are heated through. The boil should last about 5 minutes, normally.
• Drain the prawns, serve them and enjoy them.

This process is the longest overall, but it’s still a good option.

Related questions

We hope you find this guide to reheating shrimp a valuable and informative resource. Take a look at the following Q&A section for some additional details that you might find useful.

Can the prawns be reheated?

Of course! We recommend reheating the prawns in the oven. You can add a little butter or water to the pan and cover it with aluminum foil. It just needs to warm up for about 10-15 minutes.

Can Shrimp Alfredo be reheated?

You can reheat the shrimp alfredo using the stove for the best results. You may need to add some sauce or moisture, but the stovetop will give you the best flavor when reheating.

Can fried shrimp be reheated?

Fried prawns are relatively easy to reheat. It is perhaps one of the most versatile prawns to reheat constantly.

You can use the oven, stove or microwave and they all work well. We prefer the oven so that the prawns remain crispy and tasty when frying.

Can Shrimp Grits be reheated?

The shrimp and grits can be a challenge to reheat, but it can be done. This is one of those meals that may be easier to reheat in the microwave.