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Learn how to clean shrimp the easy way. This step-by-step guide shows you how to cut, devein, and prep shrimp for cooking, whether they’re fresh or frozen. Simple tips, clear visuals, and everything you need to get them ready for your favorite recipes.
How To Clean Shrimp With Shell On
Cleaning shrimp might seem intimidating at first, but once you try it, you’ll see how quick and easy it really is. I like to keep things simple by using kitchen shears instead of a knife. It’s faster, cleaner, and makes the process much smoother. After a few tries, you’ll be able to prep a whole batch of shrimp with shell on in minutes.
If you love cooking seafood dishes, starting with clean, deveined shrimp with shell on makes such a big difference in both texture and flavor. Whether you’re grilling, steaming, or tossing them into a stir-fry, these simple tips will help you get your shrimp perfectly prepped and ready for any recipe.
Before You Start: Choosing And Defrosting Shrimp
Before cleaning, it helps to know how to pick and prep your shrimp. A few small details can make a big difference in flavor and texture.
How To Choose Fresh Shrimp
Look for shrimp that are firm, glossy, and smell like the ocean, fresh and slightly briny, not fishy. The shells should be intact with no black spots or yellowing. If you’re buying frozen shrimp, check that there’s no frost or ice crystals in the bag. That can be a sign of freezer burn.
How To Defrost Shrimp
If you have time, thaw frozen shrimp in the fridge overnight. This helps keep the texture firm and fresh. For a quicker method, place the frozen shrimp in a bowl of cold water for about 10 to 15 minutes until thawed. Drain well and pat dry with paper towels before cleaning. Avoid using the microwave, as it can make the shrimp rubbery.
How To Clean Shrimp
Cut the head off the shrimp.
Pro Tip: Cut right behind the eyes. That’s the best spot to separate the head cleanly and keep all the meat intact.
Use your kitchen shears to cut along the back of the shrimp, starting from the head and going all the way down to the tail. This opens up the shell so you can easily remove the dark vein running along the back.
Next, snip off the legs along the underside of the shrimp. They come off easily with kitchen shears and make the shrimp look neat and clean. This step also helps the shrimp cook more evenly later on.
And that’s it! You’ve got clean, deveined shrimp all ready to cook.
How To Clean Shrimp
Equipment
- kitchen shears
Ingredients
- shrimp
Instructions
- Cut the head off right behind the eyes.
- Cut along the back from head to tail to open up the shell and devein the shrimp.
- Cut off the legs along the underside.
- Now you have cleaned and deveined shrimp, ready to cook.
