Discover my handy guide and tips for How to Air Fry King Prawns to perfection. Keeping things nice and simple, I show you how to prepare raw peeled prawns ready to air fry and how to get the best caramelisation without overcooking them.
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I love a big fat king prawn. But like most things, I’m very picky with them. I buy them frozen, raw and already peeled. I’m not a big fan of reheated cooked prawns, cold prawns or wrestling with the shell. So these are just perfect. I also like them as big as possible!
Air frying can be trickier when dealing with foods which cook very fast like prawns and other shellfish/fish. It can be harder to not overcook them whilst trying to get a little colour on them. But I’ve developed a little easy trick to move the prawns closer to the heat source and remove this issue.
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How to Serve
Despite my general preference for hot prawns, these king prawns can absolutely be served cold too. They’re handy for canapes, prawn cocktails, salads and just simply eating them as they are.
King prawns are endlessly versatile. I add them to Japanese inspire ramen, caesar salads, steak dinners (who doesn’t love a bit of surf and turf?!) and pasta dishes. I often cook the prawns separately to ensure they are perfectly cooked. It can sometimes be difficult to not overcook them in a sauce etc.
Once of my favourite ways to serve them is in Mexican or Tex-Mex inspired meals. Try them stuffed into tacos, salads or served as fajitas. Or like I’ve served them here, as part of a fully loaded nachos platter layered with:
- Sautéed bell peppers, onions and courgettes
- Shredded iceberg lettuce
- Peach salsa
- Guacamole
- Sour cream with coriander
- Tortilla chips
Ingredients
Prawns/Shrimp
There is a lot of confusion about the differences and similarities between prawns and shrimps. Technically they are slightly different species with shrimps generally being much smaller and sweeter than prawns. Although you can get very small prawns too.
Jump over to the US and they often give the name shrimp to prawns. I have no idea what they call actual shrimps! But to confuse things even further, some parts of the US do use prawn rather than shrimp.
We keep things fairly simple in the UK. King prawns are just large prawns. They come in various sizes and they are noted per the average number of prawns per pound or per kilo. Prawns marked 8/12 are going to be much larger in size than those marked 26/30 – bigger prawns means less prawns for the same weight.
I always look for the biggest prawns I can find. The ones I’ve cooked here are a fairly decent size but akin to something you would buy in the supermarket rather than anything super special. The defrosted and dried weight for 24 prawns was 350g.
Look for prawns which have been “deveined”. This means that the digestive tract has been removed. It’s pretty unusual to buy prawns which are already peeled that haven’t had the “pop shoot” removed already. I have shown in the recipe how to check this.
Oil
I’ve used a very neutral vegetable oil in this recipe but you can use any oil that suits the dish you’re cooking. Olive oil for something Mediterranean inspired would be ideal. You can also use melted butter as an alternative.
Seasoning
I used a mix of garlic salt and paprika to season my prawns. I could have used a shop bought or homemade fajita seasoning mix made with added oregano, cumin and chilli flakes to serve with my nachos. As it happens I highly seasoned the vegetable mix instead. Or you can use any other seasonings you wish. Citrus is a great addition to prawns too, as is some finely chopped fresh chilli for extra kick.
Whatever seasonings you decide to use, just make sure that there is some salt involved.
Allergen Information
This recipe is free from egg, dairy, gluten and nuts.
Please note that this recipe may contain other allergens not referred to above and any variations suggested have not been tested unless otherwise stated. For more information regarding any dietary information provided on this website, please refer to my Nutritional Disclaimer.
How Long to Air Fry King Prawns
Prawns cook exceedingly quickly. And it is worth remembering that they will continue to cook slightly after you’ve stopped applying heat. Overcooked prawns are rubbery so please don’t panic and end up overcooking them. I find that 4 minutes is the perfect cooking time with the air fryer crisper plate raised to near the heat at the top of the air fryer basket.
This also relies on the air fryer being preheated – I find this extra essential when dealing with very short cooking times.
How to Air Fry Raw King Prawns From Frozen
Prawns cook very well straight from frozen but it is harder to prep them. If you aren’t bothered about removing the vein from the front of the prawn then you should be fine.
The trick as with most frozen meat and fish is to run the prawns under water until any surface ice has been removed. Dry thoroughly and then continue to oil and season as normal. An extra minute added to the cooking time will be enough to cook them through.
It is worth mentioning that with prawns of this size, leaving them to sit in cold water for 5 minutes will pretty much see them fully defrosted in any case. If they are in a ice casing to preserve them, just crack this off with your fingers after a minute or two. They really are the ultimate fast food.
Leftovers – Storage & Reheating
Cooked and uneaten prawns can be stored in the fridge for a couple of days providing they are well wrapped or stored in an air-tight container.
They can also be frozen without issue. It is a good idea to free freeze the prawns on a tray before adding to a container or bag. This will ensure that they don’t freeze together in a clump. The prawns are ready to eat as soon as they are defrosted.
To reheat leftover prawns, you can throw them back in the air fryer for a minute or two. Or you can add them to a sauce or curry etc just a minute or so before serving.
Common Air Fryer Questions – A Brief Guide to Air Frying
- What exactly is an air fryer?
- What are the benefits of using an air fryer?
- Are all air fryers the same?
- Is an air fryer always better to use than an oven?
- Do air fryers need to be pre-heated?
- What is the best temperature to air fry at?
- What setting is best to use? Air fry, bake, dehydrate, etc…
- Can food be cooked from frozen in an air fryer?
- Can I reheat food in an air fryer?
- Are air fryer liners a good idea?
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What Exactly is an Air Fryer?
Very simply, an air fryer is a small convection (fan) oven. The benefit is that the hot air is circulated all around the food being cooked which speeds up the cooking time and cooks the food more evenly.
What are the Benefits of Using an Air Fryer?
Size, time and energy usage. Air fryers are ideal for cooking smaller quantities. Heating up a space that the food just fits into requires less energy and means that the heat source is much closer to the food. Combining these two things can speed up the cooking time.
Are all air fryers the same?
Nope! The term air fryer is now used very broadly. I consider there to be 4 main types:
Basket Air Fryers
These are what I would consider to be the most common, especially in the UK. A boxy type unit has a pull out drawer/basket. Food isn’t usually visible whilst cooking.
Some larger models have two drawers so different items can be cooked at different temperatures or for different times.
This is the type that you’ll see in the images in this recipe. I mostly use a Cosori Lite 3.8L (CAF-LI401S) with a 3.8 litre capacity. The square(ish) shaped basket is 21cm x 21cm and 24cm on the diagonal. It isn’t an overly expensive or fancy model.
I’ve also recommended to several friends and family the model with a slightly larger basket. This is the Cosori 4.7L (CAF-L501) with a 4.7 litre basket. The unit is no larger than the 3.8 litre model on the outside but does have a larger internal basket capacity. I’ve since bought this version to use for some recipes where my smaller model was just too small. I’ll always note this in the recipe.
Rotary Air Fryers
Round air fryers with a paddle in the centre that rotates to move the food. This is the type I used for years – the most common is a Tefal Actifry.
Rotary types are not usually good for recipes where the food is breaded, glazed, likely to break up or in a tray/container. They do however make the best chips and roasted veg.
My 2 in 1 version like the one I’ve linked also has a rotating tray for things that could be broken up by a paddle, but the height clearance with the lid isn’t deep enough to use it to cook some items like sausage rolls. I’ve now actually retired by Actifry in favour of having my two basket type fryers.
Mini Oven Air Fryers
These usually have a glass door, shelves and overall are really quite large. You can cook quite a decent quantity of food in them so are best if regularly cooking for multiple people. They often come with extra features like a rotisserie spit or kebab skewers.
Multicookers with Air Fryer Functions
Some like Ninja 11 in 1 and some of the earlier versions with a few less functions, have an air fryer option. They mostly operate the same as a basket fryer but the basket drops in the top rather than sliding in like a drawer.
Some electric pressure cookers like Instant Pots can also air fry when used with a specific lid.
Is an air fryer always better to use than an oven?
As much as I do love air frying, the honest answer to this is no. And the more detailed answer is that it will always depend on what you’re cooking, how much of it you’re cooking and what type and size of air fryer you have.
Once you need to cook in more than 2 batches, it often makes more sense to use an oven. If you already have the oven on to cook other items, it may make more sense to throw one more item in rather than using an additional appliance.
I don’t think either method is often necessarily better than the other. The important point to note is that there is absolutely no difference in the finished product.
Do Air Fryers Need to Be Pre-Heated?
The answer to this is rather annoying – it depends. It depends entirely on your model and type of air fryer. The best advice I can offer is to check your manual and follow their guidance. My Cosori models have a preheat function. I press a button and it heats at 205c/400f for 4 minutes.
It’s also worth noting that regardless of whether you are supposed to pre-heat or not, if you are cooking in batches, it is quite likely that anything after the first batch will cook a little quicker because of the retained heat. It is best to check on them before the cooking time is completed.
What is the best temperature to Air Fry at?
It will always depend on what you are cooking and from what state. All of my air fryer recipes don’t use temperatures above 200c/390f because many of the most common fryers in the UK don’t go above this. Mine goes to 230c/450f and I use this temperature a lot but it is no help for me to share recipes which many people can’t use.
What setting is best to use? Air fry, bake, dehydrate, etc…
Not all air fryers have different settings like this. When they do it usually relates to the fan speed. The default setting to use will always be “air fry” so unless something else is specifically stated in the recipe, always use the air fry option.
There are other air fryers that have an additional heating element which cooks from underneath rather than just the top. Just as with the other settings, unless you are using a recipe which states to use a second heating element, stick with just using the top down air fry option.
Of course if and when you become more confident with air frying, using recipes and the settings of your air fryer, you can start adapting them to suit.
Can Food Be Cooked From Frozen In An Air Fryer?
Absolutely! To cook from frozen you usually will need to reduce the cooking temperature and increase the time to make sure your food is cooked right through to the middle.
It is best to check my individual recipes for cooking from frozen advice as some items are a little different. And there are occasionally exceptions to the rule.
Can I Reheat Food In An Air Fryer?
Yes. As a general rule I reheat food for roughly 1/3 of the original cooking time at the same temperature. Or at 10 degrees lower for half the time for larger items.
Are Air Fryer Liners a Good Idea?
Unless otherwise stated, I do not use liners when air frying. Basket and rotary type air fryers are designed to be used without liners. Mini oven types will generally require some kind of tray like with a regular large oven although most come with crisper racks to use.
There are many air fryer liners available including quite thick silicone ones. These will affect the cooking times and possibly temperatures of your cooking/baking. I also don’t like how cooking juices are prevented from dripping through the basket rack. This can stop food from crisping all the way around.
When I do want to collect the juices, I mostly use some foil, or occasionally a foil tray which can be washed and reused.
If you do prefer to use them, once you have got a feel for how they affect your cooking and baking, you may need to make adjustments to the recipe accordingly.
More Air Fryer Recipes
All my recipes with instructions for how to cook or bake them in the air fryer can be found in my Air Fryer Recipe Index.
Don’t forget to let me know in the comments if you try making this recipe – I want to know what you think and if you made any substitutions, how did it turn out?
Still Have Questions?
Simple! Just contact me and I will do my best to help as quickly as I am able. Head over to my Contact Me page, any of my social media channels or post a comment at the bottom of this page and I’ll see what I can do.
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The Recipe
How to Air Fry King Prawns (Raw-Peeled)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 24 Large King Prawns (Shrimp) - 24 = roughly 350g/12oz
- 1 tbsp Oil - see notes
- ¾ tsp Seasoning - see notes
Instructions
Prepare the Air Fryer
- If your air fryer requires pre-heating, start this setting now.
- Place a heatproof bowl or dish into the air fryer basket underneath the crisper plate.
- This will bring the prawns closer to the top of the basket and the heat source.
Prepare the Prawns/Shrimp
- Thoroughly dry 24 King Prawns/Shrimp.
- Prepare the prawns by making sure they have been fully deveined. This is the "poop shoot" which runs along the back (outside curve) of the prawn. This is not optional – you do not want to eat this.
- Removing the front vein is optional but I prefer to do this. You will see this along the inner curve of the prawn.
- Use a small sharp knife to slice the length of the inside of the prawn. Don't cut too deep as you don't want to split the prawn in two.
- Remove the vein which will now be exposed.
- Place all the dried and prepared prawns into a bowl.Note: I've also cut off the very tail tips of the prawns. You don't need to do this unless you wish to. I happen to find the texture objectional and my cats get a treat.
- Drizzle over 1 tbsp Oil and ¾ tsp Seasoning and toss to thoroughly coat the prawns evenly.
Cook the Prawns/Shrimp
- Place the prawns into the air fryer basket. Try to place them in one layer and leave a little space around each if you can.
- Cook for 6 minutes at 200c/390f. If you want to turn them after 4 minutes, you can do although I didn't.
- Allow to rest for a minute before tucking in. Spoon over juices that have collected in the bottom of the air fryer (or bowl) for extra flavour.
To Cook From Frozen
- Cook for 6 minutes at 200c/390f.
Notes
- Oil – Choose your oil to match your flavouring. For example use garlic, salt and rosemary with olive oil or for a more neutral flavour, sea salt and black pepper with vegetable oil.
- Seasoning – Choose any seasoning mix, spices or dried/fresh herbs. Make sure that salt is included in the mix. You can also add a little citrus juice.
- I used vegetable oil with a 50/50 mix of garlic salt and paprika.
- The air fryer version of this recipe is tested in a Cosori Lite (CAF-LI401S) with a 3.8 litre capacity. The square(ish) shaped basket is 21cm x 21cm and 24cm on the diagonal.
- Not all models advise preheating is required. Please follow the recommended instructions for your model. Mine has a specific preheat setting which is 4 minutes at 205c.
- For this recipe, I can just fit 24 king prawns in the basket at a time. This gives just enough room to allow air to circulate.
- As all air fryer models are a little different, you may find that you can fit more or less in at a time. Some models include stacking shelves which will increase capacity.
- Required cooking times and temperatures can also vary between models and brands. If you know that your air fryer runs a little hotter than most recipes suggest, use a lower temperature. And vice versa. Equally if you find that food cooks more quickly in your machine than instructions usually state, reduce the cooking time (or check it earlier) and vice versa.
Cat says
These turned out a treat, perfectly cooked and so quick!
Dave says
I’ve tried cooking prawns in my air fryer before and they came out like rubber. I gave your recipe a try and the prawns were perfect!
Karen says
Cooked the prawns with some garlic salt and smoked paprika. Packed with flavour and perfectly cooked. I’ll be cooking them in the air fryer from now on.