Defrosting Tips

for “Fresh Off The Boat” Shrimp

Here is a simple method to defrost and prep your shrimp for cooking.

Place the frozen one pound package of shrimp in a sink and cover with lukewarm water. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes. There should still be ice on the shrimp. Drain the sink water and open the zip lock bag. Dump the entire package of shrimp back into the sink. Some of your shrimp may have roe on the underside of the belly. At certain times of the year this is normal. The shrimp roe will appear to be a brownish color.  They are totally edible and do not effect the taste of the shrimp in any way. If you do not wish to eat the roe, here is an easy method for removing them from the shrimp. As long as there is some ice remaining on the shrimp the roe will be easy to remove. Once all of the shrimp have been cleaned and de-iced, rinse with cold water to remove any remaining sea water. Drain on paper towel and cover and refrigerate until ready to cook.

 It is easy to peel the shrimp at the same time as you are removing the roe. If you wish to keep the shell on (my preference) simply take a small pair of scissors and cut down the back of the shrimp to allow for an easy peel and eat.