| How to Cook Frozen Prawns Posted: 12 Feb 2021 04:00 PM PST Prawns can make a quick and delicious meal, and if you keep them in your freezer, you can pull them out on a night when you are having trouble coming up with dinner. Defrosting prawns takes less then 20 minutes when you use cold water, and you can pan-fry them or boil them from there. However, you can also cook them from frozen, if you prefer, cutting out the extra step of defrosting them. [Edit]Defrosting Frozen Prawns - Soak the prawns in salt water for about 20 minutes. For a rapid defrost, add (34 g) of salt to of cold water. Take the prawns out of the bag, and add them to the water, making sure they are completely submerged. Leave them for 20 minutes.[1]
- Drain the water off once the prawns are defrosted. They should feel squishy rather than solid.
- The salt helps add flavor to the prawns.
- Do not refreeze the defrosted prawns without cooking them.[2]
- Thaw prawns under running water for the fastest method. Put the prawns in a colander, and place them under running water. As the water runs, move the prawns around to help incorporate the water. This method typically takes 5-10 minutes to defrost the prawns.[3]
- Make sure your water is cool. Warm water can begin to cook the prawns.
- Don't refreeze the prawns without cooking them first.[4]
- Avoid defrosting prawns in the microwave. While you can use the microwave to thaw prawns, you'll likely end up partially cooking them while doing it. You're more likely to end up with chewy, rubbery prawns if you defrost them this way.[5]
- Alternatively, place the prawns in the refrigerator overnight. This method takes a while, but it's also the easiest. Simply take the prawns out of their freezer bag, and put them in a covered dish. Set them in the refrigerator. They should be defrosted the next day.[6]
- Once they're defrosted, they're ready to cook.
[Edit]Cooking Defrosted Prawns - Boil prawns in salt water. Add of salt (34 g) to about of water in a pot. Bring the water to a boil, and pour in the prawns. This should be enough water for about of prawns. Once the water comes back to a boil, turn the heat down and cook the prawns for 3-6 minutes, until they turn pink and opaque.[7]
- The prawns will float to the top when they're done.
- To stop the cooking process, you can run the prawns under cold water.
- You can leave the shells on to cook them this way.
- Butterfly and grill the prawns. Heat up the grill first. If it's a gas grill, put on medium heat. If you have a charcoal grill, let the initial heat die down some before you grill the shrimp. Cut along the back of the prawn, creating an opening. Pull the prawn open in the back, making a wide, flat prawn. Place the prawns on the grill, and cook them until they're pink and opaque, which usually takes just 3-5 minutes.[8]
- If the prawns still have their shells, leave them on, but trim off the legs. You can still butterfly the prawns, even with their shells on.
- Adding a little oil or butter to the prawns before grilling will add flavor.
- Sauté prawns in a pan. Place a pan over high heat, and add a pat or 2 of butter and a spoonful of olive oil. Once the oil is hot and the butter is melted, add a little minced garlic (1-2 cloves) to the pan, and let it cook by itself for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Pour in the prawns, and sprinkle them with a dash of salt and freshly ground black pepper. You don't want to crowd the pan, but the amount you can add depends on the size of your pan. Cook them 3-5 minutes, stirring often.[9]
- Take them off the heat when they turn pink.
- It helps to pat the prawns dry before adding them to the pan, as they will sear better.
- While you can leave the shells on for this process, it's easier to peel them before cooking when you're sautéing them.
[Edit]Cooking Frozen Prawns without Thawing - Rinse the prawns to remove ice crystals for baking or sautéing. Place the prawns in a colander and run them under water quickly. You just want to break up the clumps and remove any excess ice crystals on the outside of the prawns.[10]
- If you're using a wet cooking method, such as poaching, you can simply bang the bag on the counter to break up the clumps. There's no need to rinse.[11]
- You can use shelled or unshelled prawns for these cooking methods.
- Poach the prawns in boiling water with additional flavors. Fill a small pot with water, and place it over high heat. Stir in several heavy pinches of salt and any spices or flavors you'd like. Bring the pot to a boil, and then remove it from the heat. Stir in the prawns, and cover the pot. The prawns should be done in 5-6 minutes, when they're pink and opaque.[12]
- Add in aromatics and other flavors like half a lemon with the juice squeezed in, 3-4 garlic cloves, 1/4 of an onion, a handful of parsley, and/or 12-15 peppercorns. The amounts do not need to be precise, as they are just adding flavor. You can be as light or as heavy-handed as you'd like.
- Try a 1/2 a teaspoon (2.5 g) of salt to of water, which will easily hold of prawns.
- Roast the prawns in a hot oven. Place the rack in the oven about from the broiler. Turn on the broiler, and place a rimmed baking sheet in the oven to heat for 10 minutes. Toss the frozen, rinsed prawns in the seasoning mix of your choice, such as a Cajun seasoning mix. Once the pan is hot, pull it out with a oven mitt, and pour the prawns on the pan. Put them back in the oven to cook for about 5 minutes.[13]
- You can make your own Cajun blend or simply buy some from the store. You could also use taco seasoning or just sprinkle on some rosemary, basil, and garlic.
- The prawns will curl slightly when they're done.
- If the prawns clump up as you pour them, use tongs to spread them out.
- Sauté prawns in a pan with a little oil and garlic. Heat a pan on the stove to high heat, and pour in a spoonful of olive oil and a couple of pats of butter. Cook 1-2 cloves of minced garlic in the pan for about 1 minute. Pat the prawns dry, and add them to the oil. Sprinkle on some salt and pepper. Cook them 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until they turn pink.[14]
- Try not to crowd the prawns, as they won't sear as well.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Colander
- Pot or pan
- Oven mitt
- Salt
- Oil or butter, optional
- Seasonings, optional
[Edit]Warnings - Don't defrost prawns at room temperature without water, as they may sit at an unsafe temperature for too long and grow bacteria.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make Cards for Valentine's Day Posted: 12 Feb 2021 08:00 AM PST A homemade card can show a little extra love and care on Valentine's Day. Homemade cards can include plays on language, like puns. You can attach small gifts, such as candy, to cards. Go for eye-catching decorations, like ribbon and fabric, to make your cards attractive. [Edit]Playing with Language and Puns - Make a tic-tac-toe pattern. Instead of using circles and X's, use X's and hearts on the tic-tac-toe board. Make a line of three hearts running diagonally, horizontally, or vertically on the board. Then, write something like, "You won my heart!"[1]
- If you're handwriting isn't great, you can use stencil letters or print out the words and then glue them onto the board.
- Use a king or queen card. Take a king or queen card from a deck of cards. Glue it onto the front of a blank card. Then, write, "You're my queen" or "You're my king" on the card.[2]
- Pick cards that are the right colors for Valentine's Day, such as red or pink cards.
- Use a maze. Go online and print out a small maze. For an added Valentine's Day effect, try printing a maze in the shape of a heart. Glue the maze to the front of a blank card. Either on the inside of the card or on the front, write, "You are a-maze-ing."[3]
- You can add other decorations to the front of the card to make it a little more festive. For example, you could use a stencil or stickers to add heart shapes surrounding the maze.
- Stencil a key shape onto your card. Pick up a key stencil at a local craft store or simply trace around your own set of keys. Draw a key shape on the front of the car and color it in in Valentine's Day shades like reds or pinks. Then, write on the card, "You have the key to my heart."[4]
- As keys may not lie completely flat on paper, it may be easier to use a stencil than your own key.
- Stencil on puzzle pieces. Take two connecting puzzle pieces and lie them flat on card side-by-side. Trace around them using a pen or pencil. Color them in in Valentine's Day shades, like pink or red. Write on the cover or inside of the card something like, "We're a perfect fit!"[5]
[Edit]Adding Objects to Cards - Attach candy to cards. Candy is traditionally given out at Valentine's Day. Try arranging pieces of candy, still in the wrappers of course, into shapes or letters on a card. The recipient can then pluck the candy off to eat later.[6]
- For example, arrange heart-shaped candy into the outline of a heart. Inside the heart, you can write something like, "I Heart You!"
- Glue candles on a card. Take a few small birthday candles and glue them onto the front of a blank card. Draw little hearts puffing out of the tops of the candles like flames. Then, write somewhere on the card something like, "You Light Up My Life."[7]
- Choose candles with a Valentine's Day color.
- Add a race car. This is a great idea for young children who play with toy cars. Tape a toy car to the front of a blank card. Then, write something like, "You Make My Heart Race!" inside the card.[8]
- You can add extra decoration by drawing tire marks jutting out the back of the car.
- You can also glue or stencil on hearts, cupid bows, or other Valentine's Day shapes around the car.
- Glue letter magnets on a card. Take some letter magnets, which you can buy at most craft stores and even some department stores. Glue them on the front of the card to spell out the name or initials of the card's recipient.[9]
- Choose colors related to Valentine's Day, like reds or pinks.
- Add extra decorations, like hearts and cupid bows, surrounding the letters for extra decorations.
- Tie tiny toy animals onto cards. These are great for kids who love animals. Print out small, rectangle-shaped pieces of paper. Print out pictures of animals online and glue them onto the paper. Then, punch a hole in the corner of the card. Use a small piece of twine to tie toy animals onto cards. Tie animals onto the cards that have the same animal printed on them. For example, if a card has a lion printed on it, attach a small plastic lion to the card.[10]
- You can also write cute phrases on the cards, such as, "I'm Wild For You!"
[Edit]Using Eye-Catching Decorations - Make a pop-up card. Take a piece of construction paper and fold it in half. Draw a small heart on the fold, so the fold forms a line in the middle of the heart. Then, draw another larger heart around the first one. Cut around each heart, but do not cut them out of the card itself. On the sides of each heart, leave a small space uncut so the hearts stay attached to the card. Take a second piece of paper. Use a glue stick to glue a border around the sides of your first piece of paper. Attach your first piece of paper to your second piece of paper and fold your card in half. When you open it, both hearts should pop out slightly.
- For an added touch, use paper decorated with hearts, bows and arrows, and other Valentine's Day patterns.
- Paint on a card with watercolor. If you're adept at painting, get some watercolors. Do some free form painting on the front of a blank card. You can paint an abstract arrangement of Valentine's Day colors and then write a message over it when it dries. You can also paint Valentine's Day shapes, like hearts or bows and arrows. When you're done, let the card dry completely before adding any other decorations or words.[11]
- Add felt hearts. Pieces of felt can give your Valentine's Day card a fun, fuzzy feel. Pick up some red and pink felt and cut out small heart shapes. Glue them onto the fronts and insides of cards.[12]
- A fun idea is to use a needle and thread to run a string through a line of hearts. Then, glue the ends of either string down onto the card and write something like, "You Have My Heart on a String."
- Make a jar of hearts. Cut heart shapes out of construction paper in colors like red and pink. Use a stencil to draw a jar shape upside down on the top corner of your card. Then, glue on your heart shapes. Have some of them inside the jar and some spilling out down through the card. Add letters as well, spelling messages like, "Love You."
- Glue ribbon onto your cards. Ribbons can be a nice touch. You can add them as a finishing touch to any of the card designs listed here. For example, tie a ribbon into a bow and stick it at the bottom of a card if you feel it needs a little extra decoration.[13]
- Add a glitter heart. Cut out a heart shape from construction paper. Use a glue stick to glue the full surface of the heart and then sprinkle on some glitter. Once the heart dries, glue it to your card to add some sparkle.[14]
- Glitter hearts can be used as decoration in the above designs if you feel they look a little bare.
[Edit]Sample Valentine's Day Cards - Some stores sell a packet with everything you need to make your own Valentine's Day card. They often include red, white & pink paper for the card and stickers as well.
- Make what you think the recipient will like and get creative!
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Find a Job in a Slow Economy Posted: 12 Feb 2021 12:00 AM PST Whether you were laid-off, just graduated, or simply want a change from your current job, it's especially stressful to look for work during bad economic times. It's completely normal if you're having a tough time landing the right job. Luckily, there are some key strategies that can help. Try these important steps to find postings, tailor your applications, and nail interviews, even in a bad economy. [Edit]Focus your search on growth industries. - No industry is recession-proof, but some are more resistant than others. Some of these industries actually grow during poor economies, depending on where the recession is focused. If you search in these sectors, you have a better chance of finding and landing a job.[1]
- In general, healthcare, education, civil service, law enforcement, IT, cybersecurity, and law are stronger industries during a recession.[2]
- You might have to do some extra work in your application to explain why you're a good fit for certain jobs if they're outside your normal sector. This is why a strong resume and cover letter are so important.
- Service sectors like restaurants, travel, or retail tend to suffer during recessions. Manufacturing jobs tend to fall as well.
[Edit]Zero in on the largest companies in strong industries. - Big companies are more likely to make it through the recession. Once you identify the major industries that are safe during the recession, go a step further and find the biggest hirers in that field. You're much more likely to find job postings and land a job that will last through the downturn.[3]
- If you're looking in IT, for instance, companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple are usually solid choices.
- Not all of these companies post on general job boards like Indeed. You might have more luck checking on their main websites.
- Businesses with a lot of debt or financial trouble before the recession are still at risk, no matter how big they are. It helps to do some research and confirm whether or not a company is healthy.
[Edit]Tap into your network to find job openings. - Don't be shy about asking for help in your search. There's no shame in it! Reach out to friends, family, old coworkers, or even casual acquaintances to say that you're looking for work and would appreciate any leads on job openings. One of them might know about an opening that could be your next job.[4]
- Networking like this is also a very important way to get your foot in the door for a job. Companies are probably receiving hundreds of applications, and a recommendation from someone could put you ahead.
- Many jobs, maybe even up to 70%, aren't even advertised publicly. That's why networking is so important to uncover these openings.[5]
[Edit]Partner with a recruiter to help find jobs. - Recruiters match candidates with jobs that they're a fit for. They can be great resources during a recession since recruiters already have industry contacts that will make your job hunt a lot easier. Even better, recruiters are paid by the companies they match with, so their services won't cost you anything. Try contacting some recruiters or recruiting agencies to see if they can help.[6]
- Recruiters can also review your job materials and resume, which is a big help for you.
- Sometimes, recruiters will reach out to you if you set your LinkedIn or Indeed profiles to say you're looking for work. Try doing that to make yourself more visible to recruiters.
- Don't just work with any recruiter. Investigate the person to make sure they match people in the industry you want to work in and have a good track record of success working with major companies. If not, then they may not be much help.
[Edit]Contact companies even if they haven't posted jobs. - Find the contact information for a hiring manager with the company. Email or call and briefly state your qualifications, then ask if there are any open positions. Since a lot of jobs aren't advertised, you can find some hidden openings this way.[7]
- You'll be a lot more successful with this tactic if you know someone who works at the company. They can put in a good word for you.
- Be prepared for a lot of "no's" with this method. It'll be frustrating, but it only has to work once to find you a job. Try to stay positive and keep up with it.
[Edit]Don't be too picky about the jobs you apply for. - You might not find your dream job during a recession, and that's okay. You need to be open-minded and step outside your comfort zone a bit. Consider applying for jobs for companies or industries that you didn't think of. Be prepared to take a smaller salary if you have to. Staying flexible like this gives you a greater chance of success.[8]
- You might even discover a new passion by getting a job in a different field!
- Even if you get a job that's not ideal, you can start looking for a new one when the economy improves. You only need to take care of yourself until things get better.
- This doesn't mean you have to take a job you know you'll hate. It's okay to pass over jobs that you could never see yourself doing. Just try to keep an open mind.
[Edit]Do some freelancing or temp work in the meantime. - If you're like most people, you need income while you're job-hunting. There's no shame in taking temporary work to make ends meet for the time being. Try looking for part-time, temporary, or seasonal positions while you're sending out other applications. It might not be ideal for you, but the income will be a huge help.[9]
- Around the holidays, delivery companies like FedEx or Amazon usually hire seasonal workers to help with the increased demand. Getting one of these jobs could give you a nice income for 2-3 months while you look for other work.
- If you have any particular skills like writing or graphic design, you could also freelance on a site like Fiverr to bring in some temporary cash.
- Some positions might even become full-time when things improve, so this is another reason you shouldn't discount temporary work.
[Edit]Revamp your resume and cover letter. - Having both of these prepared means you'll always be ready to apply. Old or poorly-written job materials can make you look bad, and you definitely don't need that in a bad economy. Revisit your resume and make sure it's up-to-date, readable, and really displays your skills. Then put together a strong cover letter template that explains your qualifications and interests.[10]
- Make sure to list any recent accomplishments, awards, certifications, and promotions on your resume. Make these front and center so employers see them clearly.
- While you should write a new cover letter for each job application, some sections can be reused. Your greeting and explanation of your past work, for example, can work in most cover letter versions.
[Edit]Tailor your application to each job you apply for. - It's more work, but generic resumes and letters show a lack of effort. You need to show each hiring manager that you're a hard-worker and enthusiastic about the job. Review each job posting and be sure to address some of those points in your cover letter and resume. This shows that you're familiar with the position and willing to put work in. This will be time-consuming, but it gives you a higher chance of success.[11]
- Simple things like naming the company, hiring manager, and job title in the cover letter show that you did your research and personalized the application.
- It's helpful to have a few different resumes tailored for different fields. An IT resume could highlight your technical experience, while a salesman resume focuses on your interpersonal skills.
[Edit]Explain your relevant skills when you apply. - This is very helpful if you're applying for jobs in different industries. Your old job role might not be relevant to the new position, but the skills you used are. Try to highlight how the skills you have will help in this new job. This shows a hiring manager that you're a good fit, even if your old job doesn't seem relevant.[12]
- If you were an event planner, for instance, you probably have excellent communication and negotiation skills. These would transfer well into a sales position, so be sure to highlight them.
- This is especially crucial if you're trying to enter a new industry.
[Edit]Prepare extensively so you nail the interview. - Be ready to really sell yourself when you do land an interview. A bit of extra work will go a long way, so try these important prep tips to impress the hiring manager:[13]
- Learn about the company and the position so you can explain how you'll be a good fit.
- Prepare some stories to highlight your qualifications.
- Be on time!
- Dress well and be polite to everyone you meet. Stand and sit up straight so you look confident.[14]
[Edit]Follow-up after every interview. - Don't be passive after applying and doing your interview! Let the hiring manager know that you're enthusiastic by sending a follow-up email. Thank them for their time and say that you're still very interested in the position. This might convince them to move forward with you if they were on the fence.[15]
- If you don't follow up, it could make you look rude or disinterested. This could definitely hurt your chances.
- Don't be hard on yourself if you don't get a response or they tell you that you didn't get the job. These are normal parts of the process. Move on with your applications to find another opening.
- Try to stay positive! Job-hunting is tough during a recession, but you can pull through if you're consistent.
- Take care of yourself during your job hunt too. Eat right, get some sleep, and exercise to stay healthy.
- If you name any references in your application, be sure to let them know ahead of time so they're ready to put in a good word for you.[16]
[Edit]Warnings - With so much competition employers will be more selective. Don't lie on your resume' or inflate your credentials. This could cost you the job.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
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