How to Make Tempura Shrimp from Frozen in the Air Fryer
In the words of a good friend of mine, “oh yeah, that stuff is so good”. If you are a seafood lover, then you know she is talking about tempura shrimp.
Tempura shrimp is a tasty food that you can easily enjoy as a side, appetizer, or main meal. With the air fryer, you don’t need to go through great pains to make tempura shrimp or spend big bucks to enjoy this delicacy.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about air fryer frozen tempura shrimp.
How To Make Air Fryer Frozen Tempura Shrimp
One of the benefits of cooking frozen tempura shrimp in the air fryer is that there’s minimal work on your end–and plenty of benefits to reap once you’re done cooking!
Ingredients You Need
- 1 package frozen tempura shrimp
- Oil, optional
Note: You can use any kind of frozen tempura shrimp. We love the P.F. Chang’s Frozen Tempura Shrimp or Trader Joe’s Tempura Shrimp that you can get at your local grocery store.
Air Fryer Instructions
As with any frozen air fryer treat, you should always defer to the package instructions. That said, the general process for cooking frozen tempura shrimp is to preheat your air fryer. (If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat function, run it on empty at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 200 degrees Celsius for 3-5 minutes).
Place the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Then air fry for 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 204 degrees Celsius. Be sure to rotate the shrimp have way through cooking.
Then, you have a plate full of delectable tempura shrimp on your hands just like that.
Do You Need Oil To Cook Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp Tempura?
The air fryer is a technological marvel for many reasons, and one of them is that you don’t need a drop of oil to cook your food–frozen tempura shrimp included.
While air fryers simulate deep frying, they work by circulating extremely hot air at a very high speed, browning food in the same way that a deep fryer would–all without the gallons of grease that the latter gadget entails.
However, if you would like your shrimp extra crispy, then you can spray on some oil (like avocado oil or olive oil from a reusable oil sprayer) before you start cooking it in the air fryer.
How Do You Avoid Burning Frozen Tempura Shrimp in an Air Fryer?
As with any food, the best way to avoid burning your frozen tempura shrimp is to follow the package instructions, keep track of your cooking time, and diligently watch the air fryer.
However, not all air fryers are the same, so its possible cooking time may vary.
As such, be attentive to your cooking time–keep your shrimp in the air fryer for 8 minutes. Then use an instant read food thermometer to look at the internal temperature of the shrimp. Raw shrimp is normally done at 120F/49C. But since we are making frozen shrimp from the store, the shrimp will be done at 160F/71C.
What Sauces Do You Use for Air Fryer Tempura Shrimp?
The best part about this deep fried shrimp is that it goes great with any kind of sauce. Try tempura shrimp with:
- ketchup
- BBQ Sauce
- Fry Sauce
- Bang Bang Sauce
- Piña Colada Dipping Sauce
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Soy Sauce
Final Thoughts
You can now enjoy the savory taste of air fryer frozen tempura shrimp without going out to your favorite restaurant. You can simply head out to the freezer section of your local supermarket, grab a package of frozen tempura shrimp, and begin air frying them to your heart’s desire. From different sizes to various flavors, that classic tempura shrimp you crave is now only one air fry cycle away from satisfying your craving!
Get more frozen recipe inspiration to make in your air fryer
Additional Air Fryer Shrimp Recipes You’ll Love
- Air Fryer Honey Garlic Shrimp
- The Best Shrimp Scampi Recipe for the Air Fryer
- Easy Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
- Tasty Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos
Get Quick Access to All Air Fryer Frozen Foods with my Air Fryer Cheat Sheet Guide.
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Air Fryer Frozen Tempura Shrimp
Equipment
- Oil sprayer optional
Ingredients
- 1 box frozen tempura shrimp
Instructions
- Place frozen shrimp in the air fryer. Air fry at 400 °F for 8-10 minutes. Removing once they reach desired crispiness and internal temperature of 160 °F. Use Oil to make shrimp extra crispy.
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