How to Peel and Devein Shrimp

We handpicked the products and tools linked in this post. If you buy from one of these affiliate links, we may earn a small commission.

Have you ever wanted to buy fresh shrimp but didn’t because you thought it would be tricky to clean them?  Put your fears at ease, because it’s really simple to do.  Keep reading to find out how it’s done.

Since we live in Brunswick, Georgia, we have the privilege of buying locally caught fresh sweet Georgia white.  There is a local wholesale seafood place called Poteet Seafood Company.  You can check out their website here if you are interested in ordering some fresh.  This isn’t a sponsored post; I just love their product.

Questions

How do you peel this seafood?

First rinse it under cold water, then using your hands, pull off the legs.  Slide your finger under the shell and pull it off, then pinch off the tails if desired.

Can I use the shells?

Yes, you can use them to make seafood stock.  Just rinse them, let them drain, and place in a freezer bag for later use or use right away.

Is it necessary to devein?

In larger ones, the digestive tract is more pronounced than smaller, so most chefs prefer to remove it because it is unsightly and it adds some grittiness.  When the vein is removed, it will look better and have a cleaner taste.

How to do you devein?

• Hold the inside facing you.
• Run the tip of a knife along the vein.
• Pull the vein out with the tip of the knife.
• Note: Many times the vein is on the back.  In that case, you would have the back facing you.

 What are three benefits of peeling and deveining?

1. Enjoy the incredible taste of fresh seafood.
2. Save some money.
3. Increase your kitchen confidence.

How to Make

Gather your ingredients.

Start by removing the legs then crack the underside of the shell.  To remove the tail, pinch the shell in the middle and gently pull it off.

Rinse, drain and place them in a freezer bag to make seafood stock for gumbo, clam chowder, or crab soup.

Run the blade along the underside to remove the vein.  Wipe the vein unto a piece of paper towel.  Repeat this process with the other ones.

Rinse under cold water.  Pat dry with paper towels and place on ice until ready to use.

See, the process of peeling and deveining is quick, simple, and painless. 

The best part is when you sit down to enjoy your labor by savoring the best seafood you’ve ever had.  If you’ve never had it fresh cooked at home, I encourage you to try it tonight.

Pro Tips

• You can also use kitchen shears to remove the shell.  Make a small cut at one end and remove the shell.  This keeps your hands a bit cleaner.
• You can also use a toothpick to remove the vein.  Insert the wooden skewer closer to the tail section to make a small slit and pull out the vein.
• To make it extra clean after peeling and deveining, place it in a bowl, sprinkle on potato starch, rub it in, then rinse it off.

Recipes Using This Seafood

• Shrimp and Grits
• Creole Jambalaya
• Chicken, Sausage, and Shrimp Gumbo

The pleasure of a 5 star review would be greatly appreciated.

How to Peel and Devein Shrimp

---

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

• Author: Brooke
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 33 large shrimp 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

How to peel and devein shrimp is an easy kitchen skill to master.  Enjoy using freshly cleaned shrimp for all your favorite shrimp recipes.  Impress your dinner guests with fresh shrimp that looks and tastes amazing.

---

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh shrimp, roughly 33 large shrimp
• Ice, for keeping the shrimp cold

---

Instructions

Peeling by Hand

1. Remove the legs.
2. Using your thumb, crack the underside of the shell.  It is softer here, so it’s easier to insert your thumb to remove the shell.  Peel around the base of the tail, and remove the shell.
3. If you want to keep the tail on for presentation, then you can skip the next step.
4. If you want to remove the tail for ease when eating, pinch the tail in the middle and pull it off.
5. Rinse and drain the shells, and place in a freezer bag to freeze for later use.

Cleaning

1. Using a sharp pairing knife, run the blade along the underside.  You will see a dark grey vein.  Use the tip of the knife to pull the string-like vein out, then wipe off the vein onto a paper towel, or rinse it off.  Repeat with the remaining shrimp.
2. Rinse the peeled and deveined shrimp under cold water and pat dry using a paper towel.
3. Keep cool on ice and/or refrigerate until ready to cook.

---

Notes

• Want to keep your hands a bit cleaner?  Use kitchen shears to remove the shell.
• Insert the wooden toothpick closer to the tail section to make a small slit and pull out the vein.
• Sprinkle on potato starch, rub it in then rinse it off to make shrimp extra clean after peeling and deveining.

• Category: Dinner
• Method: Hand Peeling
• Cuisine: Seafood

Keywords: peel and devein shrimp, cleaning shrimp, removing shells

Recipe Card powered by