Easy Shrimp Marinade Recipe with Tips & Tricks To Grill Shrimp

There are a few tips & tricks to grill shrimp that will make these yummy crustaceans one of the most delicious things to cook on the barbecue. 

I've tried cooking shrimp in various different ways.

But I particularly like to grill shrimp because it's a simple and quick method of cooking shrimp that requires little or no clean-up. 

Cooking is called an art for a reason. To cook something is to get all the details right, like the quantity of the ingredients, method of cooking, cooking time, etc. Cooking seafood like shrimp, lobster, etc., can feel like a challenge for most people. But is there a right way to do it or to make it easier? Let’s find out!

Do people eat a lot of shrimp?

Shrimp is one of the most consumed types of seafood.

There are various ways to go about cooking shrimp, the most common one being - grilling. If you’re looking for a quick and easy-to-make snack or meal, shrimp should top your list of potential options!

With the right seasoning and flavoring, along with using the right method of cooking shrimp, you can knock your dish out of the park!

But how do you do that? How to cook your shrimp as good as on the menu of Red Lobster or the menu of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.?

If you think you can never grill your shrimp the way restaurants do, you’re absolutely wrong. You just need to know the right things before you grill shrimp at home. Fortunately, I’ve got all the tips & tricks on how you can grill shrimp to perfection listed in this article.

But before we get to that part, it is important for you to be aware and know the reason why it is important to grill shrimp in the right manner and why grilling is the most preferred cooking method of cooking shrimp. So, let’s know all about it, shall we?

The Most Preferred Method Of Cooking Shrimp | Grilling

Grilling is the best and the most common way of cooking shrimp.

Basically, grilling involves dry heating food items.

It is mostly preferred because it cooks the food in the quickest way possible and keeps its flavor intact, along with providing it with a smoky texture.

Why Does Grilled Shrimp Taste So Good?

Grilling shrimp provides the shrimp with a certain smokiness and cooks the shrimp covered in the marinade properly.

It enhances the flavor of the shrimp by heating the marination the right way. It makes the shrimp keep its juices intact and provides a depth of flavor to the whole dish. So, the next time you decide to cook some shrimp, grill it!

Tips & Tricks To Grill Shrimp

• Picking The Right Shrimp

There’s a variety of shrimp available at the market for you to buy. But choosing the right shrimp is as important as the way of cooking it. The best-grilled shrimp is the one that is large in size.

Large shrimp cooks well because of its size and also helps in preventing the shrimp from getting overcooked. It’s best to buy shrimp that has its tail on along with its shell. They’re much cheaper and are widely available as well.

Although precooked shrimp and frozen shrimp will be fine to grill as well, it’s still better to go for raw shrimp if they are available. So, keep that in mind and enjoy the taste of nicely grilled shrimp!

• Shrimp-ing It Fresh!

The freshness of the shrimp makes a huge difference in the flavor and quality of the shrimp after grilling. Even if you’ve got frozen shrimp on your hands, it’s important to check if it’s still fresh or not.

To check if frozen shrimp is fresh or not, see if the shrimp is translucent and shiny or not. If it is, then the shrimp is fresh, and if it isn’t, then the shrimp is not as fresh as you’d want it to be.

Also, check what the shrimp smells like. If it smells a bit funky or stinky, then the shrimp is not fresh.

Raw shrimp is usually sold fresh. Fresh raw shrimp will have a mild salty smell. It should be slightly sweet and briny.

It’s important to check the freshness of the shrimp you’re consuming, as carelessness in this matter can lead to health hazards or problems.

• Addressing The Shell-ephant In The Room

Shrimp can be grilled both ways - with its shell on or without its shell. Depending on where you live and what your personal preferences are, you can go about grilling your shrimp either with the shell on or without the shell.

Grilling shrimp with its shell on prevents it from drying and keeps it moist. A shrimp shell will also impart additional flavor from the grilling.

The disadvantage is of keeping the shell on is that, before eating the shrimp, you’ll have to remove the shell. 

Grilling shrimp without the shell makes it easier for it to soak in the flavor of the marinade and for you to skewer it. So, you can choose to keep the shell on or remove the shell according to your preference.

• Spicing Up The Shrimp Scene

To go about flavoring the shrimp or seasoning it, do it whatever way you feel is right. Since you’re the one who’s going to eat the shrimp, season it to your liking.

When it comes to seasoning or flavoring shrimp, there are tons of options available. If you want to keep it simple but tasty, season the shrimp in a mixture of butter or olive oil, barbecue rub, and garlic.

The addition of spices like paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, etc., will add a bit of spice to the shrimp and will uplift its flavor. Including herbs like cilantro, basil, etc., will also give the shrimp a better taste. 

• Skewers - To Use Or Not To Use?

Grilling large shrimp might make you think that you don’t need to use skewers. But using skewers is a good idea.

No matter what, there will always be that one shrimp that will manage to fall underneath the grate, and at least with skewers they stand a chance of not being sacrificed to the fire gods.

Using skewers can help you in keeping your shrimp together *wink* Skewers make it easier for you to flip the shrimp and prevent them from getting burnt. 

While skewering the shrimp, remember to keep a bit of space between the shrimp to help the shrimp cook evenly. A little extra help never hurts, and skewers are there to help you with grilling the shrimp.

• Get The Heating Right!

It is very important to grill the shrimp at the right temperature. To ensure even cooking and not overcooking the shrimp, the right temperature is extremely important and is required.

You can preheat the grill to 350-450℃ to prepare it for cooking the shrimp. Avoid grilling the shrimp over high heat. If you cook your shrimp over high heat, it’ll make it extremely chewy and dry. 

Remember to keep on flipping your shrimp so that each side gets cooked evenly and nicely. After the shrimp is properly grilled, turn off the grill. Serve the shrimp hot and crispy, and pair it up with a delicious drink!

Conclusion

Shrimp tops the list when it comes to the finer things in life.

It's one of the best seafood you can ever try, and cooking it properly is important. Grilling shrimp the right way and using the right tricks is the most crucial part of the process.

Given above are a few tips and tricks you can practice when grilling shrimp the next time. So, now that you know all about how to grill shrimp, you should probably be on your way to buy some from the market and try them out!

If you love shrimp as much as I do, check out this easy shrimp and grits recipe, or this grilled romaine salad with grilled shrimp. 

 

📖 Recipe