Big shrimp were on sale this week. I wasn’t sure what recipe I’d use when I bought them, but when I got home I thought it would be the perfect chance to try a head to head competition of Fried Vs. Air Fried Shrimp.
I made the raw shrimp together and then Air Fried 8 Shrimp and Fried 8 shrimp (the pound of shrimp was 16 shrimp, so that worked well!) at the same time. So they were exactly the same, other than the method of cooking.
Then time for the taste test. Tried one and then the other. I kept going back and forth about which one was better. The Fried shrimp puffed up much better. I was able to taste the shrimp a bit more with the Air Fried and felt less greasy. The shrimp overall tasted almost the same.
The verdict: It was pretty unanimous that we liked the fried shrimp better. My son went back and forth but ended up voting for the fried. However, the Air Fried was almost just as good. The taste was almost exactly the same, but the fried was just a bit crispier and we liked the thicker/fluffier breading. It was probably bigger because it soaked up the oil. ha! Basically, you win no matter which way you decide to make these shrimp. If you don’t care about counting calories, go with the fried. If you want to save some calories for some chocolate for dessert, go Air Fried and I promise you won’t miss much! (I’d probably save the calories and go Air Fried… the Fried wasn’t that much better!)
Ingredients:
- 1lb shrimp – peeled and deveined
- 1 cup flour
- 1tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 2 1/2 tsp Cajun or seafood seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 beaten egg
- 1/2 cup buttermilk (or milk and a bit of vinegar)
- Oil (if frying) or cooking spray (if Air frying)
Directions:
Season the shrimp with 1/2 tsp of the Cajun or Seafood Seasoning. In a bowl or paper bag (I used a paper lunch sack) mix the flour, baking powder, cornmeal, garlic, onion, and cumin. In another bowl, mix the egg and buttermilk. Shake or dredge the shrimp in the flour mixture, then into the egg/milk mixture, then back into the flour. If frying, heat some vegetable oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat. Shake the excess flour off the shrimp and place in the oil or in the basket of your air fryer. If using an air fryer, spray with cooking spray after shrimp is in the basket. Fry at 375 or 400 in the air fryer. Each method takes about 3-4 minutes per side. The oil frying was a bit faster. Flip to other side – both frying or air frying) after about 3 minutes. If air frying, spray the other side with cooking spray. Done! If frying, move shrimp to a paper towel to soak up any excess grease.
Enjoy whichever method you choose to make these yummy shrimp!
Ingredients
- 1lb shrimp - peeled and deveined
- 1 cup flour
- 1tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 2 1/2 tsp Cajun or seafood seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 beaten egg
- 1/2 cup buttermilk (or milk and a bit of vinegar)
- Oil (if frying) or cooking spray (if Air frying)
Instructions
- Season the shrimp with 1/2 tsp of the Cajun or Seafood Seasoning.
- In a bowl or paper bag (I used a paper lunch sack) mix the flour, baking powder, cornmeal, garlic, onion, and cumin.
- In another bowl, mix the egg and buttermilk.
- Shake or dredge the shrimp in the flour mixture, then into the egg/milk mixture, then back into the flour.
- If frying, heat some vegetable oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat.
- Shake the excess flour off the shrimp and place in the oil or in the basket of your air fryer.
- If using an air fryer, spray with cooking spray after shrimp is in the basket.
- Fry at 375 or 400 in the air fryer.
- Each method takes about 3-4 minutes per side. The oil frying was a bit faster.
- Flip to other side - both frying or air frying) after about 3 minutes.
- If air frying, spray the other side with cooking spray.
- Done!
- If frying, move shrimp to a paper towel to soak up any excess grease.
