How to Fix Rubbery Shrimp? (And Understanding its Causes)

Cooking a shrimp-based dish requires intuition and technique. You can’t have the star of the show, the shrimp, overcook and develop a rubbery texture. But if you’ve made a mistake, that’s alright, let’s see how we can fix rubbery shrimp.

You can’t fix rubbery shrimp completely. However, you can wash the shrimp to prevent it from cooking further. Sauté the shrimp with butter to help it regain some moisture. You can also throw it back in the pan and simmer it in water and broth. If everything fails, use the shrimp in other dishes.

Fixing rubbery shrimp isn’t the most doable task in the world but saving the crustacean is worth a try. This article fills you in on how to fix rubbery shrimp. You’ll also learn the causes behind rubbery shrimp and tips to avoid them.

Table of Contents

Exploring 4 Ways to Fix Rubbery Shrimp

Shrimp becomes rubbery when overcooked, causing it to lose its juicy and succulent flavor. Unfortunately, you can’t go back in time to prevent overcooking the shrimp. But there are a few ways to improve the situation, let’s walk through them together:

1. Wash the Shrimp

If you notice the shrimp forming an ‘o’ shape, it’s a sign of overcooking. The smart thing to do is to retain moisture by washing the shrimp in cold water. This ensures that the shrimp stops cooking and if you’re lucky enough, it won’t taste as rubbery as before.

2. Sauté the Shrimp With Butter

Melt some butter in a pan and sauté the rubbery shrimp in it. The shrimp will soak up the butter and taste less rubbery. This method may even fix the rubbery shrimp entirely.

3. Cook the Shrimp in Some Broth or Water

Put the rubbery shrimp back in the pan you cooked it in. It will absorb the lost moisture. You can also pour water or broth in the same pan to ensure that the shrimp soaks up adequate moisture.

4. If Nothing Works Out

Did none of the above methods work out for you? If yes, then we’re sorry. But the good news is that you don’t have to throw the shrimp out. With a little creativity and cooking skills, you can cover up the shrimp’s rubbery texture in various dishes. Here are some ideas:

Make a flavorful sauce along with the shrimp (we recommend marinara or mushroom) and serve it on top of pasta. The sauce will make up for the shrimp’s lost moisture.
Chop up the shrimp and mix it with your favorite vegetables in a bowl. Enjoy the fresh and healthy seafood salad for lunch or dinner.
Cook the shrimp in cream, seasonings, garlic, and herbs. Enjoy this shrimp gravy with some bread or rice.

Causes of Rubbery Shrimp and How to Avoid Them

Knowing the causes of rubbery shrimp and avoiding them is better than having to fix the overcooked crustacean. Let’s take a quick look at them:

Be mindful of the shrimp’s short cooking time and stay attentive. It shouldn’t be cooked for more than 5 minutes, or else you’ll end up with rubbery shrimp.
Take equal-sized shrimp and put them in the pan evenly at the same time to form a single layer. This way, you’ll avoid overcrowding the pan, allowing the shrimp to cook at the same rate and preventing them from going rubbery.
Remove the pan from heat when the thick, transparent end of the shrimp turns opaque. Don’t doubt that the shrimp might need more cooking at this point since the protein keeps cooking even after you take it off the heat. If you cook it further, the shrimp is bound to overcook.

Summary

There you have it! You know a few methods to fix rubbery shrimp now. The best part is, even if none work out for you, the article suggests a few dishes that can complement the rubbery shrimp. In the end, you learn what causes rubbery shrimp and tips to avoid it!