Many-a great meal have shrimp as their base. They’re good in just about every which way, and they are widely available thanks to the variety of species that populate the Earth’s oceans. Like any good product, though, you need to work a little bit before you’re able to use shrimp in so many different ways.
Sure, you can buy peeled, deveined, and pre-cooked shrimp at the grocery store, but that’s the easy way out. Say your new love interest really loves shrimp scampi and you are going to make it for her. Won’t you feel much better knowing that you a) found the best damn shrimp you could find and b) you made that shrimp dish from beginning to end?
We thought so. In order to do that, you’ll need to know how to properly peel and devein a shrimp.
How to Peel and Devein Shrimp
For peeling, You’ve basically got two choices. You could use your hands and peel apart the legs, pulling the shell off from the bottom up or you can take a pair of kitchen shears and run it under the shell from the top, snip it, and pull the shell off towards the legs. (Side note: If the shrimp comes with a head on, twist that sucker off before you do anything.)
What is deveining, exactly? It’s cleaning the shit out. Literally. The dark line you see that runs the length of the shrimp is the intestinal tract. While some may argue you don’t have to take it out, it could affect the taste of the shrimp.
To devein the shrimp, take a knife and run it along the top of the shrimp. Pull the tract out and rinse.
Tools
If this sounds like a lot of work, you’re not wrong. Depending on how many shrimp you’ve got to prepare, this could add up. Thankfully, there is an easier way to peel, devein, and butterfly a shrimp. It’s so easy, in fact, we’ll put money down that it’s idiot-proof.
Use the Frogmore Shrimp Cleaner from Toadfish Outfitters, which peels, deveins, and butterflies a shrimp in one smooth motion. If you can open a beer, you can open a shrimp. Don’t believe us? Check out this video we did with Toadfish Outfitters and Charleston’s The Macintosh above to see just how easy it is.
Toadfish is a Charleston-based company that is dedicated to not only creating high-quality products made from recycled materials but also to making sure that we aren’t the only ones who will be able to enjoy delicious oceanic treats. Each purchase from Toadfish contributes to environmental causes that help preserve the coastal lands, ensuring that the next generation will also get to reap the beauty and benefits of the area.
Now you’re well on your way to the best cocktails, scampis, and Alfredos on the block.
