I always say if you want to have a swanky party, you've got to have shrimp. From cool jumbo shrimp cocktail, to hot and spicy popcorn shrimp, it seems like shrimp is big favorite with most crowds around the world. Shrimp are widely available, can be budget friendly and can be cooked so many different and exciting ways. In this post I am going to let you know why shrimp don't always turn out great and drop a couple tips on how to cook shrimp perfectly every time.

There are 3 reason why shrimp can be pretty bad.

1. The shrimp are overcooked, undercooked or cooked improperly causing them to be chewey and rubbery.

2. Shrimp are tasteless and waterlogged because they have been frozen, defrosted, frozen and defrosted again.

3. Shrimp smell and taste bad because they are no longer fresh. Either they are old or have been left out in the temperature danger zone (40-140° F) too long.

Here are some tips to make sure your shrimps turn out great every time.

1. Buy fresh shrimp the day you need them. If you have to, store shrimp in the fridge, place them in the bottom shelf of your fridge covered in ice.

2. Before you cook shrimp make sure you dry them well with paper towels. If you dry your shrimp of all moisture before cooking it will increase the browning effect and overall flavor.

3. Season your shrimp with a pinch of salt and pepper to enhance the natural flavor. After you season the shrimp add spices like paprika, assorted chili powders, curry powder and jerk seasonings. Fresh and dried herbs like basil, oregano, thyme, dill and tarragon add nice fresh flavors. Lastly you can add ingredients like fresh garlic, ginger and citrus zest to give your shrimp a big flavor boost. Remember that a little goes a long way.

4. Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking your shrimp. If you put too many shrimp in the pan it will not get hot enough and your shrimp will release water. If you have water in the pan, they will never get brown and delicious.

5. Cook the shrimp in a hot skillet for a very short amount of time, tossing them once every 2 minutes. Once the shrimp curl up completely they are done. Remove and serve them right away.

Check out the video below to learn how make my world class Spicy Garlic Shrimp. It's a really easy recipe that will impress all of your friends and family.

Now get Crackin'! Chef Egg