If you have a thing for seafood, we are certain that you are a big fan of shrimp. Shrimps have a deliciously mild, sweet flavor and they are quick and easy to cook.
They’re also highly nutritious, being low in calories and having good amounts of protein and antioxidants. However, cooking shrimps can be challenging because overcooking them leads to hard, rubbery, dry flesh. Some people also find them a little hard to peel at times.
We’re going to look at the reasons for that as well as a few tips for making the peeling process easier. Shrimp may be peeled before or after cooking but we suggest after if you’re going to boil them because it’s easier.
Also, cooking them with the shells on locks in the flavor. However, if you intend to saute or grill the shrimp on skewers, it’s best to shell them before cooking. Once cooked, drain the shrimp immediately and pour ice over them.
Next, to peel the shrimp, grab the legs and pull them off, Now, open the shell along the inside curve of the body and remove it. (You can keep the shells for making delicious shrimp stock for sauces and bisques.) It is easier to devein the shrimp after peeling.
Use a sharp paring knife and cut into the center outside curve of the shrimp. You should see a dark-colored “vein”. This is the creature’s digestive tract.
Use your fingers or the tip of the knife to lift it out of the flesh. It should be discarded. This can also be done before or after cooking.
What Makes Shrimp Hard To Peel?
Too Fresh
You may be wondering how something can be “too fresh”, especially seafood. We’re not suggesting that you eat old shrimp but shrimp that is cooked right off the boat can be a little difficult to peel.
If you’re lucky enough to get them this fresh, store them in the fridge for a day before cooking them. This should solve your peeling issue.
Boiling Too Long
Another thing that can cause shrimp to be difficult to peel is overcooking. When boiled for too long, the proteins begin to adhere to the shell, making the flesh stick. Shrimps need an extremely short cooking time.
Simply bring a big pot of lightly salted water to a rapid boil, put in the shrimp, and allow it to come back to the boil. Allow the shrimp to cook for no more than two minutes then drain the water off through a colander immediately.
You’ll know when they’re done because they turn pink and rise to the top of the water. It is extremely difficult to undercook shrimp, so be sure to take them out after three minutes or less.
Five minutes is too long – if overcooked, the meat becomes mushy and this makes them hard to peel.
Thin-shelled Variety
There’s not too much you can do about this one. Some shrimp varieties just naturally have thinner shells, making them more difficult to peel.
How to Make Shrimp Easier to Peel
Cold Water
When it comes to peeling your shrimps, submerging them in cold water prior to cooking is said to help. It separates the shell and meat which makes them easier to peel.
For this purpose, you need to fill up a bowl with ice-cold water and put all the shrimps in it. Leave the shrimps for about thirty minutes and then peel and devein them.
Colander Method
This is the best method to use for defrosting frozen shrimps. It will keep them fresh while defrosting and make them easier to peel when the time comes. Never put frozen shrimps in hot water or in the microwave to defrost.
This will overcook them, making the flesh tough and the shells difficult to peel off. Take a large colander and put the frozen shrimps in it.
Place a suitable-sized bowl under it, cover the shrimps loosely, and put everything into the fridge overnight to defrost. The next day, you can go ahead and peel and cook your shrimps.
Vinegar
Some people believe that adding a touch of vinegar to the water for boiling shrimp enhances their flavor and makes them easier to peel.
If you’d like to try this method, simply add a tablespoon of vinegar to the boiling water before adding the shrimp. New Orleans people swear by apple cider vinegar but any white vinegar will do.
To End
We hope our article has enlightened you as to why you may have been difficulties with peeling your shrimps. Do try our tips for easier peeling and let us know how they work for you.