Table of Contents
De-Veining – Is It Necessary?
A lot of people say that it is important that the shrimp will be de-veined but this is not true. The important thing is that the shrimp will be cooked properly so it will not cause any health issues. Yet, if you want your shrimp to look perfect, that is the time when you can de-vein your shrimp. This is the process you have to follow to make this possible:
- Use a small paring knife in order to split the back portion of the shrimp.
- You can pick out the vein from there.
- The more that you do this, the easier it is going to be for you but expect that it will be complicated in the beginning.
- Once you have completely removed the vein from the shrimp, you can start applying the flavors that you want on the same portion.
- The shell of the shrimp will make it hard for flavors to reach the shrimp. Through the back portion, you can add the proper flavors to the shrimp so that the flavors will sink in.
Take Note of the Smell
Remember that the shrimp will have a certain smell. If it is your first time to handle the shrimp, you may become surprised with its smell but do not worry because this does not indicate the freshness of the shrimp. A lot of the shrimp that you can get will be frozen. If in case you have gotten shrimp that is not frozen, you should not freeze it. You are recommended to cook it immediately. The smell is actually iodine from the plankton that the shrimp eats.
If you would like to get rid of the smell of iodine, this is the process that you should do:
- Soak the shrimp for 10 minutes in a cup of water with baking soda.
- Rinse in cold water.
- This can be effective in getting rid of all the smells that the shrimp may have.
Skewering the Shrimp
If you would like to grill the shrimp properly, it is best that you will place the shrimp on skewers. Take note that this is required no matter how big or small the shrimp is. You have the option to skewer lengthwise. This is the best option if you would like to eat your shrimp straight. If you would like to have a curved shrimp, you would need two skewers for that on either side of the shrimp. The important thing is that the cooking will be even.
One tip to remember: do not put too much shrimp on one skewer as you will risk not cooking the shrimp properly that way.
Preparation Before You Start Grilling
Take note that shrimp is usually sold for every pound. You need to be aware of how much shrimp you are going to serve per guest so you can decide how many pounds you are going to get. You can opt to skewer shrimp when they still have their shells on or you may also opt to skewer them with their shells off. The decision will be up to you.
A lot of people who love shrimp say that it will be weird to cook shrimp without their heads and their shells. Expect that shrimp with their heads still intact will normally taste better as compared to those that are cooked without their heads. Take note though that there are some people who dislike having to remove the shell and the head of the shrimp once they already have it on their plates.
Grilling the Shrimp
Now that you have finally decided that you are going to grill the shrimp, this is the process that you have to follow:
- The heat should be near medium.
- Remember that you will know if the shrimp is cooked once it changes its color. A lot of shrimp usually start out a bit blue or gray but they will turn pink once cooked.
- Remove the shrimp immediately from the heat once it shows that it is done.
- You will know if the shrimp is overcooked if it is rubbery and it does not taste anything like shrimp anymore.
Do not forget to put your desired flavor on the shrimp so that it will be more enjoyable but the shrimp’s natural taste is already well-liked by many.