How to cook Raw & Peeled King Prawns in air fryer

One surprising fact about cooking prawns in an air fryer, is how they cook similar to pan frying, with the cooking time about the same.

To air fry prawns, it takes just 2 minutes to cook with a little oil sprayed inside the basket, setting temperature to 400°F / 205°C. You will continuously turn over the prawns too stop them sticking and to evenly cook. Key to a quick air fry, is to first preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes - followed by 2 minutes of cooking time.

Hey, don't let the idea of cooking raw prawns in your air fryer set your back, as its quick, easy and no fuss at all.

Prawns will need to be prepared by first allowing them to sit at room temperature, as a cold internal temperature would lead to extending the cooking time - which will cause the prawns to dry out. You only have a couple of minutes to air fry prawns, of which a cold centre will effect the outcome.

Cooking prawns would normally only allow for pan frying, with no options to grill/broil or oven cook.

Well, this isn't true, in fact it takes the same time to cook in an air fryer than it does to flash fry in a frying pan.

Unfortunately, a little time is lost when you preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes, but then its just a matter of turning individual prawns frequently.

Blast the air fryer basket in oil to prevent sticking whilst covering the prawns in a little spray oil, but only once they've been evenly spaced in the air fryer basket.

Prawns can touch but ensure they're laid flat in a single layer. I would encourage you to flip each prawn over with tongs, as tossing them over randomly won't guarantee even cooking on both sides of prawns.

How-to demonstration was pictured using TESCO Raw Peeled King Prawns, weighing 165g - which included approximately 20 prawns all together.

Prepare King Prawns for air frying

Once your pack of prawns have sat out of the fridge for 20-30 minutes, you can begin to air fry. Oiling the basket is essential for preventing the prawns sticking, whilst additional oil sprayed over the prawns will help keep them tender.

• STEP 1: Sit Prawns at room temperature - With the short time to air fry prawns, its best they're cooked from room temperature
• STEP 2: Spray/rub oil directly on air fryer basket - To stop Prawns sticking, and to closely replicate Prawns cooked in frying pan

• STEP 3: PREHEAT for 5 Minutes - Heat oil in air fryer while its preheating, so its similar to dropping Prawns into a hot frying pan
• STEP 4: Evenly position Prawns in single layer - Try to keep all the Prawns spaced apart, with the prawns laid out in a layer

NOTE: Preheating air frying is imperative for quickly air frying for 2 minutes; NO preheat would lead to an additional 3-4 minutes of air frying time.

Directions for air frying King Prawns

You will be air frying your raw and peeled King Prawns just as you are instructed to for pan frying; only oil is sprayed onto the basket as oppose to the frying pan - whilst the prawns are frequently turned over for even cooking.

• STEP 1: Blast Prawns with extra oil - With the Prawns sitting in the air fryer, spray them in additional oil; or toss them in a little oil out of a bottle
• STEP 2: Set temperature to high of 400°F / 205°C; time to 2 Mins. - Air fryer must be set to a high heat, which will be similar to how prawns are cooked in a frying pan

• STEP 3: Frequently turn Prawns over - Continue to flip over the Prawns every minute or so, to ensure even cooking
• STEP 4: Check for doneness - When air fryer comes to a stop, break open a Prawn to check for doneness

NOTE: Cooking instructions are for quick and easy air fryer raw King Prawns, with air frying time and temperature used for all kinds of shrimp/prawn recipes done in your air fryer.

How long to cook prawns in air fryer

Initially, I figured it would take approximately 5-8 minutes to air fry king prawns, yet little did I know it would take the same time as pan frying, which is 2-3 minutes.

In fact, air frying King Prawns from a preheat, took just 2 minutes... and not a minute over.

Preheat is essential for a quick 2 minute cook time, of which NO PREHEAT would lead to extra cooking time - which won't guarantee tender prawns.

With the air fryer nice and hot from a 5 minute preheat, the prawns will air fry in just 2 minutes.

Temperature was set to a high of 400°F/205°C, which is similar to pan frying prawns.

Air fry prawns for 2 minutes or until the prawns have gone from black and translucent; to a white and pink in colour. Check prawns are cooked on the 2 minute mark by splitting one open, and making sure the centre of the prawns are pure white, and piping hot.

Summarise

To successfully air fry raw and peeled king prawns in an air fryer, it will take just 2 minutes with the temperature set to 400°F/205°C.

Air fryer must be preheated for 5 minutes for a 2 minute cooking time only.

Its vitally important you blast the air fryer basket in oil so it heats up during the preheat stage, which will help to prevent the prawns sticking. Prawns will need an additional coating of oil, which helps to keep the prawns moist and tender.

With the extra oil sprayed over the King Prawns, this will be a good time to sprinkle a little freshly ground back pepper and salt over individual prawns.

Air fry prawns directly on the air fryer basket which will mimic pan frying a little, and will retain the heat, better than lining the basket in foil or parchment paper.

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