I love tempura shrimp, but it never seems to hold onto its crispiness when you order takeout. Instead of slogging it to the restaurant to get my fix, now I make frozen tempura shrimp in the air fryer. It gets nice and crispy, so it’s just as delicious and I don’t even need to leave home!
Can You Cook Frozen Tempura in an Air Fryer?
Yes, you can absolutely cook frozen tempura in an air fryer! In fact, I think it’s one of the best cooking methods for it.
Using frozen tempura, whether it’s shrimp (also called prawns), vegetables or anything else saves you the time and effort of having to prep and tempura batter them. Instead, it’s ready to go, flash frozen, and cooks easily in your air fryer right from frozen – no defrosting required!
There are lots of different brands you can find as well. I always stock up when I can at Aldi, but you can find frozen tempura shrimp at Costco (Kirkland brand), Trader Joe’s, and even at larger grocery chains thanks to Seapak.
Air fryer frozen tempura shrimp are incredibly versatile for serving options. You can roll them into some delicious sushi rolls, or enjoy them on their own as an appetizer, lunch, or even dinner when paired with some sides!
Best of all, frozen tempura shrimp in the air fryer is ready in only around 10 minutes, making it quick and convenient for a midday meal or a weeknight dinner.
Katie’s tip
If you’re looking for a bite-sized appetizer option, make sure to check out Aldi boom boom shrimp in the air fryer (which are kind of like a rock shrimp tempura) for a crispy snack!
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What You’ll Need to Make Frozen Tempura Shrimp
- Frozen tempura shrimp, such as Aldi Fremont Fish Market
- Additional sides or sauces for serving (optional)
Ingredient Tips and Notes
- You can use any brand of frozen tempura shrimp you like. I have Fremont Fish Market (Aldi) here, but I’ve also used Seapak, Kirkland (Costco) and Trader Joe’s frozen tempura shrimp. They all work great! Look for them in the freezer section of your local grocery store
- Some brands come with dipping sauce. If yours doesn’t and you want a sauce, Tentsuyu is the traditional soy-based accompaniment. It’s also great with sweet chili, honey mustard, Yum Yum sauce, or spicy mayo for some less traditional options
How to Cook Frozen Shrimp Tempura in Air Fryer: Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 390°F, and remove frozen tempura shrimp from all external packaging
- Place the shrimp in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer (cook in batches if needed)
- Cook on air fry setting for 8-10 minutes at 390°F, pausing to flip the shrimp halfway through cooking, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauces or sides for a complete meal
What to Serve With Shrimp Tempura
Dipping Sauces
- Tsuyu sauce
- Honey mustard
- Sweet chili sauce
- Cocktail sauce
- Ginger sauce
- Soy sauce
- Ponzu sauce
- Orange sauce
- Sweet and sour sauce
- Chili garlic sauce
- Teriyaki sauce
- Spicy mayo
- Garlic aioli
Side Dishes
- White rice
- Curried rice
- Fried rice
- Soba noodles
- Ramen
- Udon soup
- Steamed vegetables
- Tempura vegetables
- Green salad with ginger or soy dressing
- Pickled radish
Try frozen tempura shrimp in the air fryer with my recipe for crispy Air Fryer Frozen Spring Rolls, Air Fryer Bibigo Dumplings, Air Fryer Bok Choy, Trader Joe’s Scallion Pancake in the Air Fryer, Spicy Garlic Air Fryer Edamame, or Frozen Fried Rice in the Air Fryer for a more substantial side dish.
You could also serve them with tortillas and slaw for some easy air fryer shrimp tacos!
Frozen Shrimp Tempura Recipe FAQs
How Long Do I Cook Frozen Tempura Shrimp in the Air Fryer?
You cook frozen tempura shrimp in the air fryer for approximately 8-10 minutes. Very large shrimp may require slightly longer.
The shrimp are done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F for food safety reasons.
What Temperature Do You Air Fry Tempura Shrimp?
Typically, you air fry tempura shrimp at a temperature of 390°F.
If your air fryer does not have that setting, you may cook them at 400°F and reduce time by 1-2 minutes. Alternatively, for a less browned exterior, cook at 375°F for 1-2 more minutes.
Is Frozen Shrimp Tempura Already Cooked?
Yes, typically frozen shrimp tempura is already cooked.
You can tell by the color of the breading typically. If it is already browned, it has been cooked before freezing. If it is blonde colored, then it has not. Always refer to the box to check for the words fully cooked if you’re unsure.
Do I Need to Thaw Frozen Tempura Shrimp Before Air Frying?
No, you do not need to thaw frozen tempura shrimp before air frying.
Cook them directly from frozen for the best results.
How Can I Ensure My Tempura Shrimp Is Crispy in the Air Fryer?
To ensure your tempura shrimp is crispy, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket.
Cook the shrimp in a single layer and make sure there is enough space for air to circulate around each piece.
Is Air Frying Frozen Tempura Shrimp a Healthier Alternative To Deep Frying?
Not really. While air frying uses less oil than deep frying, frozen tempura shrimp have already been cooked. This means that they’ve already absorbed the oil from the initial frying process.
While you don’t need to add any additional oil for air frying, it doesn’t get rid of what’s already there, so they aren’t really healthier this way.
Frozen Tempura Shrimp Cooking Pro Tips
- There is no need to add additional oil before cooking, as frozen tempura shrimp already has it in the coating prior to freezing
- If your shrimp comes with a frozen sauce packet, place it in a glass of hot water to thaw while your shrimp is cooking
- Most frozen prawn tempura have a flat side and a rounded side. I recommend facing them all the same way in the basket, which makes it easier to tell which ones you’ve flipped during the process
- My Aldi tempura shrimp were perfect (verified via thermometer) after 8 minutes in a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer. Other air fryers and different brands of shrimp may vary slightly
Tempura Shrimp Storage and Reheating Tips
- Store any leftover shrimp tempura in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. I do not recommend refreezing after it has been cooked once, as the texture starts to deteriorate
- To reheat cooked shrimp tempura, air fry at 350°F for 3-4 minutes, until heated through and re-crisped (flip halfway through for the most even heating). This method works for restaurant leftovers as well!
More Air Fryer Frozen Seafood Recipes
Aldi Tempura Shrimp Review
I made Aldi’s Fremont Fish Market frozen tempura shrimp in my air fryer to create these instructions, so let me share my overall review with you!
They were incredibly easy to cook. In my Ninja air fryer, they were hot and crispy in just 8 minutes of cooking time. You can’t go wrong with the speed and convenience there.
The shrimp itself was nicely cooked and not too rubbery, and the outside batter was crispy and golden brown. However, the batter really has no flavor to it at all, so all you really get is a mild shrimp flavor if you eat them on their own.
Thankfully, Aldi includes a sweet soy dipping sauce, and you really need it. Once I dipped the shrimp into the sauce, they were nicely flavored (if you can’t have soy, then I recommend grabbing another sauce of choice to have on hand).
I also added some spicy mayo for a little heat, but that’s just my personal preference!
These shrimp are a great snack or light meal, but they are also the perfect choice for making homemade sushi! You’ll add all sorts of flavors there, and the shrimp are straight, even, and sturdy to hold up well for the rolling process.
Completely on their own, I’d give these tempura shrimp a 5. They’re middle of the road, nothing wrong with them, but lacking flavor. Add in a complimentary sauce, and now I’m up to between 7 and 8.
I’ll definitely buy them again, as they’re a really convenient option to have on hand. I just know that it needs sauce or to be incorporated into another flavorful dish like sushi, ramen, poke bowls, or similar to enhance the flavor and highlight the crunchy texture.
Final Thoughts
Making frozen Aldi tempura shrimp in the air fryer is so easy, and they’re ready in less than 10 minutes! They make for a perfect lunch, or a dinner when paired with some sides.
I think on their own you really need a dipping sauce, as the breading doesn’t have tons of flavor. However, if you’re going to roll your shrimp tempura into a sushi roll, that will give you plenty of additional tastes!
If you love shrimp tempura and don’t want to suffer through cold takeout or sit in the restaurant, then this frozen shrimp recipe is a great alternative.
Whether you opt for Fremont Fish Market, Costco (Kirkland), Seapak, or Trader Joe’s, just reach for the freezer instead of the keys – you won’t be sorry!
Crispy Air Fryer Frozen Tempura Shrimp
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 Frozen tempura shrimp (any brand, like Aldi Fremont Fish Market)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 390°F, and remove frozen tempura shrimp from all external packaging3 Frozen tempura shrimp
- Place the shrimp in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer (cook in batches if needed)
- Cook on air fry setting for 8-10 minutes at 390°F, pausing to flip the shrimp halfway through cooking, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauces or sides for a complete meal
Notes
- You can use any brand of frozen tempura shrimp you like. I have Fremont Fish Market (Aldi) here, but other common options are Seapak, Kirkland (Costco), and Trader Joe’s
- Some brands come with dipping sauce. If yours doesn’t and you want a sauce, Tentsuyu is the traditional soy-based accompaniment
- There is no need to add additional oil before cooking, as frozen tempura shrimp already has it in the coating prior to freezing
- If your shrimp comes with a frozen dipping sauce packet, place it in a glass of hot water to thaw while your shrimp is cooking
- Most frozen tempura shrimp have a flat side and a rounded side. I recommend facing them all the same way in the basket, which makes it easier to tell which ones you’ve flipped during the process
- My shrimp were perfect (verified via thermometer) after 8 minutes in a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer. Other air fryers and different brands of shrimp may vary slightly
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, dipping sauces and sides added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
