How to Peel and Devein Shrimp (the easy, beginner-friendly way)
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Peeling and deveining shrimp is one of those kitchen skills that looks tricky but is actually quick and easy once you know how. I’ll teach you how to easily prep shrimp with only a sharp pair of scissors and a few simple steps.
Peeling and deveining shrimp might seem intimidating if you’ve never done it before, but it’s actually quick, simple, and so worth learning. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll save money, get better texture and flavor, and never be stuck buying pre-prepped shrimp again.
I’ve peeled a lot of shrimp over the years — every summer we pull shrimp traps from our boat, and I process them myself, one batch at a time. In this post, I break down the whole process step by step so you can do it with confidence, even if it’s your very first time. Keep reading, and you’ll be peeling and deveining shrimp like a pro in no time.
Step-by-step instructions
Let me show you how to peel and devein shrimp in 5 easy steps. Follow along, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments!
Step 1: Remove the head
Step 2: Cut the shrimp shell
Steps 3 and 4: Peel and devein the shrimp
The toothpick method
The toothpick method is really simple: grab a toothpick or skewer, and use it to hook and lift the vein out of the shrimp. This step is totally optional. Personally, I find it easy and a bit faster to just use my hands, but this may come in handy if the vein is particularly stubborn.
About the vein: The ‘vein’ in a shrimp isn’t actually a vein; it’s the shrimp’s digestive tract. It usually contains whatever the shrimp may have eaten, such as sand, so it can have a gritty texture. Sometimes, it’s more prominent and obvious than other times—it depends on what the shrimp ate before it was caught. Even if it’s less visible, it can still contain grit, so it’s best to remove it.
Step 5: Remove the tail
Shrimp cleaner tool
If you’re going to be eating shrimp often, you might be looking for how to peel shrimp in the easiest way possible. While I find the kitchen scissors work a treat, if you like your gadgets, you may wish to get a specific shrimp cleaner tool.
Frequently asked questions
If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for here, you can ask it in the comments below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
Can I use this method with frozen shrimp?
This is a good method to peel and devein frozen shrimp, too – you just have to thaw them out first.
Can I devein shrimp without peeling it?
You can – this is useful if you’re making a recipe that requires shell-on shrimp. To devein shrimp without removing the shell, follow the steps above, using scissors to cut along the back of the shrimp, then use a toothpick to fetch out the vein without peeling it.
How to Peel and Devein Shrimp (the easy, beginner-friendly way)
Ingredients
- 2 lb full shrimp
Instructions
- To remove the head, hold the head with one hand and the body with the other and twist the two apart. See notes.2 lb full shrimp
- With a pair of scissors, cut the shell from the opening (where you removed the head) along the top of the shrimp, stopping at the tail.
- Now, peel off the shell.
- The vein is a thin black line located on the top of the shrimp. Once you've removed the shell, simply pull it out.
- If you'd like to remove the tail, hold the peeled shrimp in one hand, squeeze the tail just below where it attaches to the body, and gently pull. This will ensure that you get the bit of meat that is in the tail.
Video
Notes
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
