How to choose shrimp: features, recommendations and methods

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

A he althy and tasty dietary product that you definitely need to include in your menu at least sometimes - shrimp. How to choose and cook them correctly? At first glance, this may seem like a daunting task. But really, it's not hard at all!

First you need to decide what exactly you want to cook. And then go to the store to choose the product that suits your needs.

What are shrimp?

You, of course, pay attention to the fact that shrimp differ significantly from each other in price. What affects the cost? As is the case with any other product - packaging, packaging, manufacturer and some other factors.

How to choose shrimp? First, let's remember what kind of shrimp are sold in stores?

1. Weighed or packaged in bags or boxes of half a kilo, kilogram or more.
2. Frozen or chilled.
3. Raw or cooked.
4. Whole or peeled.

Sizes

How to choose shrimp? To get started, pay attentiontheir size is the main difference and the main factor affecting the price. It is indicated on the packaging or price tag of the product in the form of a special abbreviation, for example, "70/90". This is the so-called caliber of shrimp, showing the approximate number of pieces per kilogram of product. Accordingly, the larger the number on the package, the smaller the size. If it says "100/200", then in this package you will find very small shrimp, because in a kilogram there are from 100 to 200 pieces of tiny arthropods. And, on the contrary, if you see the inscription "8/15", then be prepared for the fact that there are huge shrimp inside, about the size of a human palm.

The most popular packages are labeled: "70/90" and "90/120". Their popularity is due to the fact that these sizes are the most common, and therefore have a lower price.

Smaller shrimp are considered more delicious, but their processing is much more difficult and longer. Larger shrimp are more satisfying and easier to cook, but they are inferior in taste.

How to choose shrimp?

• Pay attention to the water in which the shrimp are caught: sea or freshwater. They will differ from each other both in taste and in appearance. Freshwater shrimp have a uniform color, while their marine counterparts have striped shells. Freshwater shrimp are more satisfying, but s altwater shrimp have a richer flavor.
• Connoisseurs say that the most delicious shrimp are caught in northern sea waters, so when choosingideal product, it is worth paying attention to the geographical indicators of the place of their capture. The habitat of shrimp also affects their size. The further north, the colder the water, and the smaller the shrimp. Popular large "Tiger" and "King" shrimps are brought to us from southern countries.
• If you ask any experienced buyer about which fresh frozen shrimp to choose, you will get the answer: shake the bag or box to make sure that they are not frozen by a whole block. The fact is that when freezing seafood, glazed freezing is used, in which each shrimp freezes separately. If you felt a lump of ice and snow in the bag, then the shrimp were thawed and re-frozen, which negatively affects their taste and benefits.
• If you buy bulk shrimp, which you can consider before buying, pay attention to their smell. It shouldn't be there, or it should be a slight smell of the sea.
• Also pay attention to the color. There should not be any spots on the shell and legs or extraneous shades of color. Raw shrimp are grey. Boiled - bright pink. White spots indicate that the product has been frozen, dark ones indicate that the shrimp is not fresh.
• The tail of the shrimp should be tucked in. Direct refers to the death of the shrimp before freezing.
• How to choose a fresh, not frozen product? Exactly the same - in smell and appearance.

Which shrimp to choose?

Which shrimp to choose:fresh or frozen, raw or cooked, whole or peeled? It's up to you to decide. It is worth considering that proper professional freezing immediately after catching seafood does not affect the reduction of the above qualities, but only contributes to competent transportation, preservation of freshness and an increase in shelf life.

After cleaning the shrimp, only about 30% of their original weight remains. That is, having bought 1 kg, you will get only about 300 grams at the output. Should I choose peeled shrimp in this regard? Here you have to make a choice between economy and quality. After all, the shell protects from damage, retains taste and nutrients during freezing, heat treatment and transportation.

How to store shrimp?

Now you know everything about how to choose frozen shrimp. And how to store them? Like any fish and other seafood! Frozen should be stored in the freezer for about two months, or as directed on the package.

After defrosting, they will keep their freshness for a day in the refrigerator if they are put in a container with ice. To preserve the freshness of an unfrozen product for several days, you can use the following storage method: put a layer of ice in a plastic container, spread the seafood with the next layer and cover with another layer of ice, loosely cover with another plastic container.

How to clean shrimp?

This process is not complicated at all, everything works out intuitively, even if you did not peel the shrimpnever before.

1. Tear your head off.
2. Separate the shell in the abdomen from the side of the head with your fingers and bend it along the entire length of the shrimp.
3. Remove the shell. At this stage, you can leave the tail if you need it for decorating the dish.
4. Using a knife, carefully cut the back of the already soft part of the shrimp, starting from the head to the tail.
5. Using the sharp tip of a knife, remove the bowel from the incision, which is often black but may be colorless (empty).
6. Wash the shrimp thoroughly.

How to cook shrimp for salad?

Recipe for boiling raw shrimp:

1. Thaw the shrimp in the air beforehand.
2. Boil water. Its amount should be enough to cover the shrimp completely. If you need to get s alted shrimp, then they usually take s alt at the rate of 1-1.5 tablespoons per liter of water.
3. Dip the shrimp in s alted boiling water. Bring to a boil and cook for a few minutes until the shrimp float to the surface and turn a bright orange color. Usually about 3 minutes.

For the processing of boiled-frozen shrimp, you can use the same recipe. Boiling times can be shortened to avoid overcooking. Just bring the shrimp to a boil, turn off the heat and leave them covered in water for another 15-20 minutes - this will make them more juicy and soft.

Using the basic recipe for cooking shrimp, you can prepare a blank for a variety ofcomplex recipes such as salads with boiled shrimp, pilaf or pasta, as well as prepare independent dishes by roasting or sautéing shrimp.

Now we know everything about shrimp, how to choose and cook these seafood deliciously.

What are the benefits of shrimp?

Shrimp, like all seafood, is an ideal dietary product. They are high in protein, protein and calcium, while being very low in carbohydrates. Because of this, they are often included in the menu of people who are losing weight or following any other diets. The calorie content of boiled shrimp is only 95 kcal per 100 g. In addition, seafood contains a huge amount of iodine, which affects the endocrine system, which is of great importance for the functioning of the body as a whole.