Large prawns are a delicious addition to any seafood dish. To get the freshest prawns, make sure you pay attention to the packaging, color and smell. When cleaning shrimp, rinse them in cold water before peeling the skin and removing the veins. For most recipes, you'll need to remove the heads, tails, and legs of the shrimp before cooking.
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Part 1 of 3: Rinsing and Storing Large Shrimp
Step 1. Defrost the prawns
If the prawns are frozen, you will need to thaw them. Place the shrimp in a large bowl, preferably a glass bowl. Pour in cold water and stir. After that, dry the shrimp and repeat this step several times. The whole process will take about 15 minutes until the prawns are completely liquid.
Defrosting shrimp in the microwave will make them brown or done
Step 2. Rinse the prawns in cold water
Put the shrimp in a colander and rinse under cold water over the sink. Use your hands to wash them one by one. When washing, check for damaged shrimp, that is, those that have changed color or are slimy. Before cooking, large prawns should appear white or gray in color.
Never use water that is warmer than room temperature as it can make the shrimp tough or even tough
Step 3. Cook the prawns immediately after cleaning
Ideally, shrimp should be cooked immediately after cleaning. However, if you must save it for later, keep it in the refrigerator for no more than 24 hours. After this time, the shrimp may start to rot.
For the freshest and best taste, clean and cook prawns immediately after purchase
Step 4. Store the cleaned shrimp in the refrigerator
Shrimp should be stored in a cool place such as a refrigerator. Store at a temperature between 0 and 3 °C. When refrigerated, place all shrimp on a tray covered with plastic wrap or in a plastic container.
- You can also freeze shrimp for up to 3 months in the freezer at 18 °C, but the shrimp won't taste as fresh as they used to.
- Never leave shrimp at room temperature for more than a few minutes.
Part 2 of 3: Preparing the Shrimp
Step 1. Remove the prawn heads
Hold the shrimp body with one hand and use the other hand to hold the head firmly. Place the fingers of both hands at the intersection point between the head and body of the shrimp, where the two halves will be separated. Pull with both hands and twist until the head comes off.
Immediately throw the shrimp heads that will not be used in the trash
Step 2. Pull the tail
Hold the shrimp body and grab the tail with the other hand. With a firm grip, pull the shrimp tail off at the point where it connects to the fleshy part of the body. Discard the prawns once they are released.
Removing the tail before peeling the skin will make stripping easier
Step 3. Peel the skin and legs of the shrimp
Once the skin is removed, you can peel off the remaining outer layer fairly easily. Use your fingers to pull the foot on the underside of the shrimp. Then, peel off all the remaining skin.
Stripping will leave only the flesh
Step 4. Remove the shrimp vessels
Use a sharp knife to slice a small line along the back. This incision is made at the top of the shrimp's body, opposite where the legs were originally. Inside, you will see a small black vessel. Use the tip of a knife to pull out the vessel and throw it away.
- These black vessels are shrimp intestines. By removing it, the shrimp will taste better.
- After the vessels are removed, rinse one more time with cold water. This will ensure that all bowel remains are completely clean.
Part 3 of 3: Choosing Good Shrimp
Step 1. Choose raw shrimp with the skin still attached
It seems more comfortable to choose shrimp that have been cooked or peeled, but this will make the taste less good. Shrimp have the best taste when they are first cooked. So better, buy raw shrimp.
Peeling the prawns will remove all the oil. So, opt for unpeeled prawns to keep them taste good
Step 2. Buy prawns placed on ice
Shrimp should be bought fresh from the market or grocery store and placed on ice cubes in the meat section. This way, you can check for changes in color and smell, and can choose the best one.
Packaged shrimp are usually not very fresh and will not taste very good
Step 3. Check the color
Shrimp should be white or gray in color with white flesh. Inspect every spot and part of the shrimp's body for discoloration that may indicate damage. Choose shrimp that are light in color and don't have dark spots.
There are also varieties of brown shrimp that should look brown. This shrimp should also not have spots or discolored parts
Step 4. Check the shrimp smell
Although seafood smells a little fishy, shrimp should not have a strong smell. If the fishy smell is sharp, it means the prawns have started to rot. Choose prawns that smell fresh and clean with a slight aroma of sea fish.
