Keto Means
Photo by Klaus Nielsen Pexels Logo Photo: Klaus Nielsen

Is it better to cook shrimp in the shell or out?

Cook in the shell whenever possible, especially when you grill. The shells add a lot of flavor to the meat, and they protect it from quickly overcooking. Besides, sitting around a table peeling and eating shrimp is a party right there.

What doctors say about keto?
What doctors say about keto?

This means that the keto diet can be useful for both controlling your weight and managing pre-diabetes. Because the diet helps to control the...

Read More »
How does fat leave the body poop?
How does fat leave the body poop?

The idea that it is somehow possible to simply poop out excess body fat is intriguing, but that's not the way your body works. If it did, no one...

Read More »

1. What to Buy: Fresh or Frozen Shrimp

You'll save money and have more flexibility when you buy frozen shrimp in the shell and thaw them yourself when you're ready. Most raw shrimp in the fresh fish section of your market have been previously frozen and thawed, and their shelf life is pretty short. Convenient if you're cooking them immediately, but you'll pay more per pound. And when you're choosing frozen, shrimp in the shell always give you better flavor and texture than peeled and deveined.

2. What Size Shrimp to Buy

Although shrimp come labeled as small, medium, large, extra-large, jumbo, and colossal, no one actually regulates those terms in shrimp world. Here's a better way of knowing what you're getting: Find the count numbers (such as 21/25) on the bag. It tells you the average number of shrimp in a one-pound bag. 21/25 means you'll get 21 to 25 shrimp. The smaller the number, the larger the shrimp. Between 16 to 30 shrimp per pound is an ideal range for most recipes. For grilling, always go for larger shrimp (smaller count), such U/15. The "U" means there are under 15 shrimp per pound. Figure on buying about 1/2 pound of shrimp per person for a main-course serving.

3. How to Defrost Shrimp

There are two ways to thaw shrimp safely: 1) Slowly in the fridge for about 24 hours per pound. 2) Quickly in a colander in the sink under cold running water. Never at room temperature. Never in warm water.

4. How to Peel and Clean Shrimp

You can cook shrimp with the shell on or off. If you want to peel off the shell, start by pulling off the legs and the shell can easily slip off. You can leave the shell on the tail or remove it, depending on your recipe. Shrimp have a dark threadlike digestive tract (aka vein) running along their curved backs. You need to remove this after thawing and before cooking shrimp, otherwise you could get a bit of sandy grit in your meal. Here's how to remove that vein with or without taking off the flavorful shell: If you're going to cook the shrimp in the shell, use kitchen scissors or a small sharp knife to cut through the shell along the back of the shrimp, from the head to the tail, then use the scissors or knife to lift out the vein. If you've removed the shell, just cut a slit along the back and remove the vein. If some sandy residue remains, you can easily rinse it away in cold running water.

5. What to Do With Shrimp Shells

What is the rule of thumb for keto diet?
What is the rule of thumb for keto diet?

A ketogenic diet should consist of about 60–80% fat, 10–30% protein, and no more than 5–10% — or 20–50 grams — of carbs per day. Focus on high fat,...

Read More »
Is chicken breast OK on keto?
Is chicken breast OK on keto?

Yes, chicken breasts are a great source of protein for a Keto diet, but chicken breasts alone are not enough for keto. By itself, it's much lower...

Read More »

Cook in the shell whenever possible, especially when you grill. The shells add a lot of flavor to the meat, and they protect it from quickly overcooking. Besides, sitting around a table peeling and eating shrimp is a party right there. But if you do choose to peel the shrimp before cooking, save the shells and freeze them to make seafood stock for chowders and stews. Leave the shell on the tail to make a handle if you're serving shrimp with a dip.

6. How Long to Marinate Shrimp

Depends on the marinade. If it's acidic (lemon, lime, orange, etc.), 30 minutes or less should be fine. Any more than that and the acid will start to break down the delicate shrimp meat and make it mushy. If your marinade is non-acidic (olive oil, garlic, herbs) you could marinate for an hour or more. In either case, marinate in the fridge until you're ready to get cooking.

7. How Long to Cook Shrimp

Don't walk away! Shrimp cook so quickly that you can't turn your attention to anything else while they're on the heat. It only takes a few minutes for even the largest shrimp to start turning pinkish and curling up into a C shape. And when that happens, they're about done. If you're grilling skewered shrimp, you'll have to pay close attention to the color more than the curl. Keep a couple of test shrimp on a separate skewer to cut into.

How to Cook Shrimp 10 Ways

Here's just a taste of the many different ways you can prepare versatile shrimp:

Dianne

More

Dive into our complete collection of shrimp recipes.

What would happen if you only ate eggs for a month?
What would happen if you only ate eggs for a month?

Although eggs are nutritious, the egg diet doesn't have enough variety or calories to be considered a healthy or sustainable way of eating. With...

Read More »
Can I eat 50 carbs and stay in ketosis?
Can I eat 50 carbs and stay in ketosis?

Carb targets to stay in ketosis According to a 2018 review of the different types of ketogenic diet, a person should consume up to 50 grams (g) of...

Read More »
How long does it take for your body to start burning stored fat on keto?
How long does it take for your body to start burning stored fat on keto?

In general, it should take you 2–4 days to enter ketosis. However, some people may find they need a week or longer. The time it takes depends on...

Read More »
How long should you be on keto diet for?
How long should you be on keto diet for?

Following the keto diet for an extended period of time can be difficult, and even some of its top proponents warn against sticking to its strict...

Read More »