Shrimp are a staple of the American diet, but they can be difficult to cook properly. Luckily, there are some simple tips that can help you avoid the common mistakes people make when keeping and cooking shrimp.
For example, you should never thaw shrimp in the microwave or over hot water, as these can make them tough and dry (via Great British Chefs). Instead, you should defrost them overnight in the refrigerator.
1. Not Cleaning the Shrimp
When it comes to preparing shrimp, there are many different ways to prepare them. This includes grilling them on skewers, serving them in a cocktail sauce, or using them in a stir fry. However, it’s important to clean your shrimp properly before consuming them. This is because unclean shrimp can contain bacteria that could make you sick.
Before you eat a shrimp, make sure to wash it under cold running water. This will remove any dirt or grime that may have accumulated on its surface. It’s also a good idea to devein the shrimp before cooking it. This is because the black vein that runs down the center of a shrimp is actually its digestive tract, and it can contain debris such as sand. If you don’t want to do this yourself, ask your local seafood counter if they devein shrimp for their customers.
It’s also a good idea to cook the shrimp thoroughly before eating it. This is because the intestines of the shrimp can contain bacteria that could make you sick, but this will be killed when it’s cooked. To avoid this, steam or bake the shrimp until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Lastly, it’s also important to store the shrimp properly. This means keeping it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it, and making sure that it doesn’t come into contact with any other foods while it’s sitting out. If you’re buying shrimp at the grocery store, try to keep it in a cooler bag filled with ice until you’re ready to prepare it. This will prevent it from spoiling while it’s in transit to your home.
2. Overfeeding
If you’re going to add shrimp to a recipe, make sure you don’t overfeed them. Overfeeding can lead to ammonia buildup and cause stress for the shrimp. It can also pollute the water in your tank, which will result in a toxic environment for the shrimp to live in.
Shrimp are a great addition to any meal, and they take well to marinades and seasonings. However, if you’re not careful, you can end up overcooking your shrimp and ruining the dish. Luckily, there are a few easy ways to avoid this mistake. First, always pre-heat your grill before adding the shrimp. This will help the shrimp cook evenly and prevent them from being overcooked.
Another tip is to watch the color of the shrimp while cooking them. Once they start to turn pink and curl up, it’s time to stop cooking them. This is because the protein strands in shrimp contract when they’re cooked. When the shrimp is fully cooked, they will be bright pink and won’t curl up anymore.
Finally, remember to only feed your shrimp small amounts of food each day. Overfeeding can pollute the water in your tank, causing toxic ammonia to build up and even cause the shrimp to die.
Another mistake is not testing the water regularly. While there are inexpensive test strips available, it’s best to invest in a liquid test kit. This will allow you to test the water for important parameters such as pH, GH, KH, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. These kits are particularly useful when you’re acclimating shrimp to a new tank or water conditions. Using one of these kits will prevent any rapid changes in water conditions from stressing your shrimp and causing them to jump or die.
3. Overcooking
Overcooking shrimp can make them tough, dry and unpleasant. If the shrimp is overcooked, it also becomes prone to bacteria growth, which can cause food poisoning. It is essential to cook the shrimp properly to avoid this problem. Luckily, it is relatively easy to tell when the shrimp is cooked enough. It is important to pay attention to the color, and also to watch how the shrimp curls up when it is done cooking.
Shrimp cook in a flash, and it is easy to overcook them if you are not careful. For example, many people thaw their shrimp in warm or hot water and then start cooking them before they are completely defrosted. This can cause the shrimp to overcook in a matter of minutes. In addition, if the shrimp is not fully defrosted before it is cooked, it can also cause the shrimp to become overcooked and tough.
To avoid overcooking your shrimp, there are a few key things to keep in mind. For one, the shrimp should be pink and opaque when it is finished cooking. In order to check this, it is helpful to use a cooking timer and to flip the shrimp when the color on the thickest part of the body opposite the tail turns pink and opaque.
Another way to ensure that your shrimp is perfectly cooked is to pay attention to how they curl. When the shrimp is done cooking, they will curl into a tight “C” shape. If the shrimp curls up into a tight “O” shape, it is overcooked and will be rubbery when it is served. Keeping these tips in mind, you can be sure that your shrimp is always perfectly cooked and ready to serve.
4. Discarding the Veins
Shrimp are notorious for carrying bacteria and other things that can make you sick if eaten, so it’s important to practice proper cleaning and cooking techniques. This includes removing the dark vein that runs along the shrimp’s back, which is their digestive tract, or “poop chute” as Ranard calls it. While it’s technically safe to eat, it adds a gritty texture and muddies the flavor of the shrimp so many chefs choose to remove it before serving.
There are actually two veins in a shrimp, a lighter one on the underside that’s a blood vessel and another dark one running along its back. Unless you’re planning on eating the shrimp raw, it’s best to remove both of them for optimal shrimp flavor and health.
Thankfully, removing the vein is easy and quick. Just place the shrimp on a piece of paper towel that’s been slightly dampened, and use your fingers to lift both sides of the vein. Then, pull it off and discard.
If you’re not confident in your shrimp-deveining skills, you can always buy pre-deveined ones from a fishmonger or grocery store. But learning how to devein shrimp is a handy kitchen skill to have and will help you cook better-tasting, more beautiful shrimp.
To devein a shrimp or prawn, hold it so the back is facing you and find the dark vein running down its back. Then, using a paring knife, cut a small incision, or “v” into the back of the shrimp just below the head. Then, working from the top of the shrimp down to the tail, use your fingers or the tip of your knife to peel and pull out the vein.
5. Not Using the Exoskeleton
Shrimp are one of the most popular seafoods on the market, but they can also be difficult to keep. Not only are they notoriously finicky when it comes to water parameters, but they can also be prone to disease. So, to make your shrimp keeping experience as positive as possible, here are five of the most common mistakes that you should avoid making.
The biggest mistake that many shrimp-keepers make is feeding their animals too much. This creates excess waste, fouls the water and raises ammonia levels. Instead, feed your shrimp sparingly so they can digest their food and build up a healthy layer of biofilm and algae in the tank.
Whenever you do a water change, always check the jug of freshwater that you use to fill up the tank for any trapped shrimp. These creatures can be hiding under the substrate or floating around the surface of the tank. The last thing you want is for them to be accidentally sucked into the new water.
A shrimp’s exoskeleton is a protective cuticle made of chitin, calcium salts and protein that limits their growth. When a shrimp reaches the limit of their exoskeleton, they moult to shed it and start anew with a new, larger shell. However, if they’re not given the proper conditions for this process, they may die while trying to molt.
It’s best to choose locally-bred or online-sourced shrimp so you can ask them about their water parameters and what they have been fed. This way, they will go through less stress during shipping and acclimation, leading to healthier shrimp and a better chance of them surviving to maturity. Also, choose a reputable seller to ensure the quality of your shrimp, and don’t purchase rare shrimps such as Crystal Red.
