The Chef Reveals 4 Simple Ways to Clean Shrimp 0 86

Chef and food stylist Julian Hensarling told Serious Eats how to quickly deal with shells and veins.

Why You Should Clean Shrimp

The dark line running along the back of the shrimp is its digestive tract. It is safe but can give a bitter taste and spoil the appearance of the product. It is always recommended to remove the "vein."

How to Clean Shrimp with Scissors

If you need to clean a large number of shrimp, for example for pasta, it is worth using kitchen scissors. Cut the back of the shrimp with scissors from head to tail and remove the shell as you go. The vein will come out on its own.

The main "disadvantage" of this method is that the shrimp lose their aesthetic appearance.

How to Clean Shrimp with a Knife

The knife technique is used most often by chefs. Cut the shrimp along the back with a sharp knife (insert the blade about a quarter of the way into the flesh), expose the vein, and carefully extract it with the tip of the blade.

How to Remove the "Vein" with Tweezers and a Toothpick

If you need whole shrimp, use kitchen tweezers. Insert them from the head side and pull out the vein.

You can also replace tweezers with a simple toothpick. Count three segments from the tail, slightly bend the shrimp, and insert the toothpick into the back. Lift the vein and pull it out in one motion. It may not work on the first try.