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That makes shrimp the ultimate fast food, doesn't it? Home-cooked food in under 15 minutes? Awesome!
Most shrimp comes frozen. Even the fresh shrimp you see in the seafood case was generally frozen first, right aboard the ship that caught it. That "flash freezing" helps retain every bit of freshness.
It's very easy to thaw shrimp, though. The night before you want to serve it, put the shrimp (in a well-sealed plastic bag, to prevent drips) in the refrigerator, and it'll be ready for your dinner menu.
If you have less time, put the shrimp in a colander and run cold water over it. In just a few minutes, the shrimp will be ready to use. To shell or not to shell…that's the question. Most chefs agree that cooking shrimp in the shell makes them more flavorful, but it's really a matter of convenience and preference. When you buy shrimp at our stores, ask an attendant about shelling. Most of the time, the shrimp can be peeled for you, while you shop.
So how do you cook shrimp so fast? It's easy. You can grill, broil, sauté and pan fry. It only takes about 2 or 3 minutes, and you can tell shrimp are ready when you see them turn pink and when the tails curl.
Here's an easy way to cook shrimp: Preheat the broiler. Sprinkle shrimp (peeled or not) with Old Bay, Cajun or an Italian seasoning blend. Broil for 2 minutes (or until pink and curled). While the shrimp is broiling, tear open a bag of prepared salad greens and that will be the base for your shrimp and lettuce salad. Place the cooked shrimp on the lettuce, top with dressing of your choice and presto: supper in under 10 minutes!
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How long does it take to pick up fast food or take-out? Maybe 10 minutes, plus driving time? Well, you can fix an awesome shrimp dinner in about the same time. 
