Shrimp is a favorite choice of food especially for those who like seafood. This is because shrimp has the perfect texture, and when cleaned and cooked well, they melt in your mouth.
However, shopping for shrimp can be pretty challenging as you have to be careful about the texture and overall appearance of the fish to make sure it’s fresh and safe to consume. The most common problem people face is finding white stuff on some of the pieces of shrimp.
Is it healthy? Or can this white addition to your seafood cause food poisoning? If you’re wondering what the white substance is on your shrimp then you’ll find valuable information in this post. Let’s see what it means!
Why Does Shrimp Have White Stuff on It?
There is some unusual white stuff or white spots on the edges of your shrimp while they are stored in the freezer. In this case, there is a high chance that the shrimp is freezer-burned.
The freezer burns are caused by constantly fluctuating temperature, over-freezing, and improper sealing. However, the white spots also mean that shrimp is still raw. In either case, the shrimp is safe to eat (yes, even if they are freezer burned).
Secondly, the shrimp is often coated with a white glaze to keep them moist and fresh after thawing, which doesn’t impact the flavor. So, if you are seeing white spots on the shrimp, there are chances the glaze is melting off.
As far as the freezer burn is concerned, it can leave the shrimp discolored and dehydrated, but these aren’t valid reasons to simply discard the shrimp because there are no compromises on edibility.
Keep in mind that shrimp will lose flavor, but you can add desired spices and herbs to enhance their delicious taste. For those who don’t know, the loss of flavor is caused when the shrimp is exposed to the dry air of the freezer.
This is because the dry air can result in evaporation of moisture, leading to tasteless and dehydrated shrimp. While there are no compromises on the safety of the shrimp, you can always add some herbs to build up the right flavors.
In fact, when you add shrimp to gravy, they will be rehydrated, which covers the freezer burn taste.
The Signs Of Freezer Burnt Shrimps
The white spots on the shrimps’ edges are a clear sign of freezer burn, but there are some other signs as well. For instance, raw shrimp will have:
- White spots
- The texture will be dry and tough
- The odor will be unpleasant
- The flavor will be lost.
In addition, dehydration can result in a chewy texture which isn’t appetizing when it comes to eating shrimp.
How To Use Freezer Burned Shrimps?
Given the evident dehydration and loss of flavor, it can be challenging to enjoy shrimp with traditional cooking methods. For this reason, you need to select the recipes that can rehydrate the shrimp and enhance their flavor. Here are some ideas for you.
- Marinate Shrimps Over Night
You can marinate the shrimp overnight in a refrigerator as it helps soak in the flavor. To make the marinade you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 3 tablespoons of lemon juice
- Some lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon of Honey
- 2 cloves of garlic crushed
- Half teaspoon of thyme
- Half teaspoon of Origanum
- A pinch of salt
Pour all your ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk everything together until well combined. Then throw your shrimp into the marinade and mix the shrimp in the sauce until each shrimp is well coated.
lace a lid on your bowl and put it in the fridge. Leave the bowl in the fridge for at least 18 hours before cooking and severing the shrimp.
- Make Fish Soup
In addition to this, you can make fish soup by creating a combination of stock, veggies, and shrimps that are simmered together at medium-low heat. Fish soup contains other types of sea food such as muscles. For an easy fish stew you’ll need the following:
- Bag of shrimp
- 6 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons of tomato paste
- 2/3 cups of fresh parsley chopped
- 14 ounce can of tomato
- 1 bottle of clam juice
- ½ of dry white wine
- 1 ½ pound of white fish such as cod or red snapper
- Pinch of dry oregano
- Pinch of dry thyme
- 1/8 tabasco sauce
- 1 teaspoon of sault
- 1 teaspoon of black pepper
The first step is to sauté the herbs, onions and garlic in olive oil. Then add your canned tomatoes and tomato paste and cook for 10 minutes. Add clam juice, white wine and fish to the pan.
Simmer until the fish is well cooked. Add your seasonings such as salt, pepper and oregano. When the soup is done you can serve with bread.
- Make Shrimp Pasta
The second way of using freezer burned shrimps is to make shrimp pasta, which is a simple meal that’s made by stir-frying the shrimps and boiled pasta in a creamy sauce. Follow these easy steps:
- Put a pot of water to boil on the stove and add salt and a splash of olive oil.
- Once the water starts to boil add in any pasta of your choice.
- Then put your frozen shrimp in a bowl with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and Italian herbs. Leave the shrimp to marinade while you make your white sauce.
- In a pan, melt butter. Then pour in two cups of heavy fresh cream.
- Let the cream simmer on a low heat.
- Add a cup of grated parmesan cheese and stir the cream until the cheese melts.
- Add in a teaspoon of salt.
- In a separate pan fry your shrimp in olive oil and herbs until they’re cooked well.
- Throw your shrimp into your white sauce.
- Drain your paste once its cooked al dente.
- Pour the white sauce and shrimp over the pasta.
You can garnish your dish with some cilantro and serve hot with a glass of white wine.
- Shrimp Curry
Last but not least, you can always make shrimp curry by cooking the shrimps in coconut cream and aromatic herbs and spices. This method takes about 40 minutes to cook. You’ll need the following ingredients:
- ½ sweet onion, minced
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground turmeric
- 2 tablespoons peanut oil
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 can chopped tomatoes
- 1 can coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pound cooked and peeled shrimp
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Heat your peanut oil in a large pan and start cooking your onions for about 5 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and allow to cool. Then add your spices such as ginger, chili, paprika and turmeric with garlic and cook over a low heat.
Add tomatoes, salt and can of coconut milk to the mixture and simmer. Stir your ingredients every 1 minute. Add your shrimp and cilantro and cook until the shrimp is done. Add your shrimp curry on a bed of rice or serve with roti.
Preventing Freezer Burn
Your store bought shrimp needs proper storage to make sure there are no compromises on flavor and texture. So, in this section below, we’ve shared some tips to help you prevent freezer burns.
You need to sort the shrimp as soon as you purchase them to store them in a freezer or refrigerator because bacteria can grow quickly at room temperature. The shrimps must be sealed properly to prevent airflow because this can result in bacterial development on the fish.
If your shrimp came in a bag, you can place them in an airtight container. You need to store shrimp in the coldest part of the refrigerator to protect the shrimp from fluctuating in temperature. This is especially true if you open the freezer door frequently.
The frozen shrimp must be used within three to six months when opening the bag. Always ensure 0 degrees Fahrenheit temperature for storing shrimp inside your deepfreeze.
What Happens if You Eat Shrimp With White Stuff on It?
Freezer burned shrimp won’t cause any health problems if you eat the fish. However, you can get food poisoning if the shrimp is old.
That’s why it’s important to consume your shrimp within three to six months of purchasing your bag. However, you should discard the shrimp if they feel slimy, mushy, or have an ammonia smell.
The Bottom Line
The white spots on shrimp is pretty common, and it’s usually from freezer burn. Such shrimp are safe to consume as long as you cook them correctly. Use the tips in this article for proper storage and how to use freezer burned shrimp.