How to quickly and easily peel and devein shrimp

• Shrimp can be cooked with the shell on, but the vein should be removed before cooking.
• Simply slice along the curved back of the shrimp and pull out the vein with the tip of the knife.
• Shrimp shells can be saved and used to make stock.

Shrimp can be a healthy and delicious meal or appetizer. However, some people are put off by the "ick" factor of buying shrimp with the shell on, and then having to devein and peel them. But rest assured: it's easy, according to Michael Garrett, chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education.

While there are numerous ways to cook shrimp - and you can typically do so with their shells on to inject more flavor into your dish - you'll always want to remove the dark, vein-like line that runs down the back of the shrimp before you cook them. This "vein" is actually the shrimp's digestive tract.

"It is removed more because it is unpleasant, rather than because it is not safe to eat," Garrett says. Eating the vein won't cause harm, but it can add a grittiness in some cases.

Once you've removed the tract, you can continue to peel the shrimp or cook it with the shell on and peel it before eating.

How to peel and devein shrimp

In general, boiled or steamed shrimp can be cooked with the shell on, although the digestive tract should be removed before cooking, says chef Yasmeen Al Sawwaf. Once the shrimp is cooked, peel away the shell.

1. Pull off the head, if it's attached. Twist and pull where the head meets the body.
2. Cut the shell down the back of the shrimp. Use a knife or kitchen scissors to make a shallow cut to expose the vein.
3. Remove the digestive tract using the knife edge. You can also use a toothpick to gently pull it out. Once you've removed it, throw out the tract. If you're cooking the shrimp with the shell on, stop here.
4. Peel the shell away from the meat. Make sure to include the small legs on the underbelly.
5. Peel the tail. You can do this by gripping the shell and twisting the shrimp while squeezing the meat upward.
6. Discard the shell. You can also save it for stock if the shrimp hasn't already been cooked.
7. Rinse the shrimp. Remove any remaining piece of the tract. Pat dry before cooking.

Quick tip: If the shrimp are frozen, thaw them by placing the entire bag in a bowl of cold water. Keeping the bag sealed prevents the shrimp from absorbing water, while cold water keeps them from cooking prematurely. If you're not cooking the entire bag, transfer a portion to a zip-top baggy and submerge that.

Insider's takeaway

Buying shrimp with the shell on means you'll have additional prep while cooking, including deveining shrimp, or removing the digestive tract. Despite the prep working, buying shrimp with the shell on has rewards.

"Peeling and deveining shrimp is not always the fastest, but if you peel your own shrimp you can create byproducts," like shrimp stock says Garrett.

"Shrimp that have been cooked shell-on are usually more moist and tender," Al Sawwaf says.

Just remember - even if you're preparing the shrimp with the shell on, you need to move the digestive tract before cooking.

How to grill salmon to flaky, tender perfection - plus tips to prevent stickingWhere to buy the best-tasting, highest-quality seafood online in 2021How to make crispy, mess-free chicken wings in the air fryerHow to ripen avocados quickly without compromising taste or texture