How To Peel And Devein Shrimp

One of the biggest barriers to cooking with shrimp is knowing how to clean it. But cleaning shrimp is easy — you just need to know how to remove the shell and veins. Here's an easy way to do it using just your hands and a small paring knife.
 

Start by rinsing the shrimp and patting them dry with a clean paper towel. Then, simply reach your fingers into the opening on the underside of the shell and peel it off. It should be relatively easy to remove. Then, unless your recipe calls for tail-on shrimp, gently pull the tail off the shrimp.

Next, run a knife gently along the back of the shrimp until vein is exposed.

Using the tip of your knife, gently pull the vein out of the shrimp and discard it.

Then, run a knife gently along the inside of the shrimp until the second vein is exposed.

Again, use the tip of your knife to gently lift and remove the vein from the shrimp. Discard the vein.

Julie Ruggirello is The Daily Meal's Recipe Editor. Follow her on Twitter @TDMRecipeEditor.

Kristie Collado is The Daily Meal's Cook Editor. Follow her on Twitter @KColladoCook.