Prepare Shrimp for Cooking
Many recipes call for shrimp, but before you can skewer them, boil them for your favorite cocktail sauce, or use them in a stir fry, they require a few minutes of preparation. The process is almost the same whether you have fresh shrimp or frozen.
Contents
Steps
Preparing Frozen Shrimp
- Buy shrimp that has not been peeled or deveined.
- Inspect the packaging prior to your purchase. Look for ice on the shrimp or a break in the bag. If you see ice on the shrimp, it's likely the shrimp have been thawed and refrozen. Select a different bag to buy.
- Defrost the shrimp. Remove the shrimp from the bag and refrigerate overnight in a bowl of cold water.
- Soak the shrimp in salt water to replenish their freshness once they are thawed and before you clean them.
- Remove the shell to the shrimp by holding it with a few fingers of one hand and pull off its legs using the fingers of your other hand.
- Peel back the shell and remove by using your thumbs, and remove. The head will come off too.
- Remove the tail at this point, if you wish, by holding the body of the shrimp and pulling the tail. The shell will also come off.
- Devein by making a cut down the back of the shrimp using a small utility or paring knife. You will see the vein.
- Pull the vein out using your knife and rinse the shrimp. You can also use something small like a toothpick to remove the vein.
- Place the shrimp in a fresh bowl of water to keep them fresh while you clean the rest of the shrimp you will be using.
Preparing Fresh Shrimp
- Prepare fresh shrimp using the same steps as for frozen shrimp by removing the shell and the veins. The only difference is the smell of fresh shrimp.
- If you smell something that smells like ammonia, this is shrimp to avoid.
- Otherwise, prepare the fresh shrimp the same way as you would frozen shrimp; removing the shell/head, tail optional, and the vein.
Tips
- Once your shrimp has been cooked, it's best eaten within two days.
- Prepare and use fresh shrimp within a day or two.
- Defrosted shrimp cannot be refrozen, so plan to use it soon after thawing.
- While frozen-bought shrimp will last approximately six months in the freezer at home, even if it's wrapped well, it will lose its texture.
- Fresh shrimp can be stored in a bowl of ice or in very cold water, then covered loosely with wax paper.
Things You'll Need
- Bowl of cold water
- Bowl of salt water
- Paring or utility knife
- Toothpick (optional)
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