Air Fryer Frozen Coconut Shrimp (In 10 Minutes Or Less!)

Name: Air Fryer Frozen Coconut Shrimp
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 lb Coconut Shrimp (frozen)

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This easy method for Air Fryer Frozen Coconut Shrimp turns a frozen shrimp coated in coconut into a crispy appetizer in 10 minutes or less. Great for any air fryer or Ninja Foodi!

Making a decadent appetizer like coconut shrimp does not need to be complicated! I always take a short cut here and by my favorite frozen coconut shrimp.

Cooking frozen coconut shrimp in the air fryer is the perfect way to get this delicious appetizer on the table in just 10 minutes or less!

Shouldn’t I just use the directions on the packaging?

Since the air fryer is a small convection oven, it uses dry heat to circulate air around the food making it cook fast. This means that the time and temperature may need to be adjusted and will be different from what’s on the package instructions.

🤔Why make frozen coconut shrimp in the air fryer?

No need to turn on your oven. These shrimp cook in a small convection oven which takes only a fraction of the electricity and doesn’t heat up the whole house.

They get a much better texture. The texture of air fried food delivers a nice and crispy outside while keeping the inside tender and juicy.

The shrimp cooks faster. Since the dry hot air is circulating quickly around the coconut shrimp, it will cook much faster than on the stovetop or in the oven.

No thawing needed. You don’t need to remember to pull frozen shrimp out of the freezer to defrost.

🍤Ingredients You’ll Need

Frozen Coconut Shrimp – You can purchase frozen coconut shrimp in the freezer section at your grocery store. We enjoy SeaPak, Margaritaville, Aqua Star, or Royal Asia brand.

Air Fryer – There are so many air fryers to choose from these days. I enjoy using my Ninja Foodi because I think it’s the absolute best. I enjoy using my all-in-one air fryer and pressure cooker because it saves time and there saves valuable counter space.

📖How To Air Fry Frozen Coconut Shrimp

Preheat the air fryer. There are some recipes that do well with preheating and some that don’t need it at all. This recipe benefits from preheating because it allows the basket to become hot so that it helps both thaw AND cook the shrimp until crispy. For this recipe, preheat the air fryer to 375F.

Air Fry The Coconut Shrimp. Place the frozen coconut shrimp in a single layer at the bottom of your preheated air fryer basket and set the timer for 12 minutes. You may not need to use all of this time. At the 5 minute mark, flip halfway then continue to cook for another 5 minutes. If you like more crispy shrimp, let it cook the additional 2 minutes. Remove with tongs and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

⏲Best Time & Temperature for Frozen Coconut Shrimp

The amount of time it takes to air fry frozen coconut shrimp depends on how big they are and the individual temperature of your air fryer. These are general recommendations.

Small Coconut Shrimp – 8-10 minutes at 350F
Medium Coconut Shrimp – 8-10 minutes at 375F
Large or Jumbo Coconut Shrimp – 10 -12 minutes at 400F

📝NOTE: IF you like your coconut shrimp extra crispy, add 2-3 minutes to the cooking time, but make sure it doesn’t burn!

♻Storing & Reheating

Storing: Air fried coconut shrimp will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days.

Reheating: You can reheat leftover coconut shrimp in the air fryer by preheating to 325F and cooking for 4-5 minutes until warmed through and crispy.

❔FAQ

Should I add oil to the bottom of the air fryer basket?

Nope! The beauty of air frying is that the natural fats in the sausage will crisp up on it’s own due to dry circulating heat without the use of any excess oil.

Can I add aluminum foil to my air fryer?

This depends on the type of air fryer you have and where you’re putting the foil. I like to put the foil UNDER the basket to catch any excess oil or grease that comes off the shrimp. This eliminates the need to clean the entire air fryer and you’ll just use the basket. If the foil is in a position where it can become loose, it may get sucked into the heating element when the air circulates so be sure it’s weighed down properly.

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