Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp

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Cooking popcorn shrimp usually involves a giant vat of oil, something no one wants to have to deal with. Instead of all of that fuss, why not try making them in your air fryer instead?

Don’t want to waste the shrimp shells, try making your own Shrimp Stock! Also, don’t forget to make Homemade Bread Crumbs to use in this recipe!

Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp

Popcorn shrimp is one of those things that most people only really order when they are out at a restaurant.

Whether a seafood place or a place specializing in deep frying, popcorn shrimp just isn’t something that most people even think to consider making themselves.

However, thanks to the invention of the handy air fryer, making some popcorn shrimp has never been easier. 

How To Peel And De-Vein Your Shrimp

Most shrimp these days come pre-prepared and de-veined, making it incredibly easy to get started cooking your shrimp.

However, if you happen to get some raw, unprepared shrimp, it is actually super easy to do it yourself.

You just need to break the shell by grabbing the lip of the shrimp’s shell along the shrimp’s belly.

Simply peel it back, and the whole shell should come right off, so long as you give it a little bit of force.

You then need to remove the vein that runs down the length of the shrimp, which is actually the shrimp’s intestinal tract. To remove this, you just need to run a thin knife, like a paring knife, underneath the vein, separating it from the meat and lifting it away.

Once you have moved it totally away from the flesh, it should come right out without breaking.

Will Different Types Of Bread Crumbs Affect The Final Texture?

This recipe calls for some simply dried breadcrumbs, which work really well to not only crisp up beautifully in the air fryer but also help provide a bit of starchy contrast to the shrimp.

Contrary to popular belief, though, there are actually a few different types of breadcrumbs out there.

While most supermarkets will tend to sell the regular kind, which is nothing more than simply dehydrated bread crumbs, you could also go the extra mile and get Panko breadcrumbs instead.

Panko breadcrumbs are basically breadcrumbs made from bread cooking using electrolysis, which not only doesn’t produce a crust, but it also makes it insanely crispy all the way through.

Panko breadcrumbs may be a little bit more expensive than other types of bread crumbs, but they are also incredibly crispy and crunchy, making for the perfect crispy bite.

How To Tell When Your Shrimp Is Cooked

When you fry something, whether, in an air fryer or a deep fryer, it can be really difficult to figure out whether or not it is actually completely cooked.

This is because of the fact that you can’t really assess the internal temperature of something so small as a shrimp, but also because if you tried to break it open to check, you would basically ruin its delicate, crispy texture.

The only real way to tell whether or not your popcorn shrimp are cooked is to look at the external surface.

If it is golden brown and crispy-looking, then it is probably cooked, as the shrimps are so small that they will likely be perfectly cooked in the same time it takes for the breadcrumbs are browned, assuming you followed the recipe and heated your air fryer up to the right temperature.

Best Sauces To Serve With Your Popcorn Shrimp

What’s the point of some popcorn shrimp if you don’t have something tangy and delicious to dip it in?

• Sweet Chili Sauce

For the spice lovers among us, this sweet chili sauce would be perfect to dip your shrimp into, as its tart acidity and slight spiciness pair super well with the base flavor of the shrimp.

• Marinara Sauce

Marinara sauce is a classic for a reason – acidic, tomato-y, and with a good hint of garlic, it is one of the best ways to add a little bit of extra flavor to every bite of popcorn shrimp.

• The BEST Homemade Cocktail Sauce

Talking of classics, nothing beats the classic cocktail sauce. Whether you get it from a jar or make it yourself, cocktail sauce might just be the ultimate pairing with any kind of seafood, especially these popcorn shrimp.

Looking for more tasty Air Fryer recipes? Try these out:

• How to Make Bacon in Your Air Fryer

• Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

• Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

Happy Cooking

Love,

Karlynn

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