HOW TO CLEAN SHRIMP
Cleaning shrimp is a matter of peeling off the shells
and removing the digestive tract that runs down
their backs (often euphemistically referred to as the
“vein”). If you want to save yourself some time, pick
up EZ-peel shrimp, which have already had their
shells cut and digestive tracts removed by machine,
leaving you with the simple task of popping off their
shells and feet. The shrimp will be a little more split
open than they’d be if you did it by hand, but for
some folks, that’s a reasonable trade-off. If you want
to go old school, here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Slit the Shell
If you are using fresh head-on shrimp, tear off the
heads and reserve them for stock. Next, hold each
shrimp flat against your cutting board and, using a
very sharp paring knife, cut a shallow slit through its
shell all the way down the center of its back.
Step 2: Remove the Digestive
Tract
Use the tip of your knife or a wooden skewer to