How to clean shrimp: clarify your doubts to master the preparation

How many times have you eaten shrimp without even worrying if it had been cleaned? Know that you are not alone, as many people do not even know how to clean shrimp or even forget that it needs to be sanitized before consumption. Therefore, regardless of the preparation, this deep-sea delight needs to have its intestines removed and this is done very easily. So to better understand how this cleaning is done, check out this full article on how to clean shrimp.

how to clean shrimp

So here we go: to clean the shrimp you don’t need to be a master of cooking techniques, since the processes are actually very simple, get to know them below.

Step by step

1. To start, you must remove the head of the shrimp, holding the body and pulling it out;
2. Once that’s done, place your fingertips under the shell in the opening where the head was and run your finger to the end, removing all the shell and with it the shrimp’s legs;
3. Thus, only the shrimp meat and the tail will be left, if you prefer to remove the tail, hold on to its tip and pull, similar to the process of removing the head;
4. With a sharp knife, make an opening in the “back” of the shrimp from outside to outside, very lightly so as not to cut too much;
5. Still with the knife, give a slight separation between the two sides of this opening to facilitate cleaning;
6. Finally, you will see in this cut a thin dark line, this is the intestine that you must remove and for this use the tip of the knife to pull it out and remove the remaining traces with your fingers.

Nothing too complicated, right? All it takes is a little patience and delicacy and you can taste delicious shrimp without worrying about annoying dirt.

Other ways to clean shrimp

And although this previous cleaning method is the most traditional, there are some doubts about cleaning with shrimp of different sizes or using different techniques. To better understand the other ways to clean shrimp, watch the videos below.

1. Hygienisation of medium shrimp with tail

And if you’re looking to clean the medium-sized shrimp and keep the tail for a more elegant presentation, this video is for you. In it, Nina quickly shows how to remove the head, shells and legs of the shrimp, keeping the tail. Once this is done, she makes a cut on the animal’s back to remove the viscera and water the shrimp to clean them completely so they can be eaten without worries.

2. Cleaning shrimp with a toothpick

Leaving the shrimp almost intact, this unusual technique presented in the video is ideal for those who want to keep the shrimp’s shape straight. For her, a toothpick is used, which works by piercing the animal’s back and pulling the intestines out. This cleaning method can be used for those who value the presentation of the dish, since with it the shrimp cuts are minimal.

3. How to clean giant shrimp

It may seem challenging to clean larger versions like the pink shrimp or pistol, but it’s no secret. In this step-by-step, Fellipe starts by cutting the head of the giant shrimp, and then pulls the paws and removes the shell along with them. He then makes a shallow cut in the top of the shrimp, which separates the meat into two parts and allows access to the intestine, which is what must be removed. Pretty easy right?

4. Cleaning and Peeling Small Shrimp

And for small shrimp, the way to clean is the same. You will have to rip off the head and use your fingers to peel it, also removing its paws and tail. The difference is that it is worth having a little more delicacy not to exaggerate the cuts of the shrimp, since because it is smaller it can be very damaged.

5. How to make cleaning with vinegar easier

A very cool tip that speeds up the cleaning of shrimp is to use vinegar to remove the shell. The trick is simple: just let the shrimp marinate for a few minutes in vinegar until the shell comes off more easily. So, just follow the usual processes: remove the head, shell and legs, remove the animal’s viscera, and the shrimp will be ready to use.

6. Clean shrimp with shell

There are also those who like to prepare shrimp with the shell, as it can bring flavor to some dishes, especially in preparations that involve frying. And to keep it, you must remove the head and notice a dark dot on the top of the shrimp meat. This dot is the cavity where the intestine is, so just use the tip of the knife to pull it out, keeping the shell, legs and tail intact. Watch the video to understand and even get to know a recipe for fried shrimp.

Now it’s easy to prepare this seafood like a real chef, right? You could see how cleaning shrimp is super simple, so don’t skip this step when creating a beautiful dish with this delight!