How to Devein Shrimp (and Peel) Quickly!

This method will revolutionize the way you devein shrimp. They can be left with the tails on, shells on, both or neither.

Whether your recipe calls for shrimp with the tails on, shells on, or completely shelled and deveined, this hack works great. In fact, you’ll probably ask yourself why you didn’t think of it.

The best tool to devein shrimp and peel them

Are you ready for this? It’s not some fancy utensil designed just for this one application. In fact, it’s a simple item you probably already have in the drawer or knife block in your kitchen.

But, no, it’s also not just a paring knife. We’ve tried over the years cleaning our shrimp with a small knife and didn’t find it particularly easy or even safe. One slip and you’ve got a badly cut finger instead of a clean shrimp.

Okay, we’ve kept you in suspense long enough. The very best tool is a good quality pair of kitchen shears or scissors.

Why you should devein shrimp

The dark vein down the back of the shrimp is not actually a vein at all. It’s the intestinal tract and the dark line is the waste. Okay, we’ll say it. It’s shrimp poop.

It won’t actually hurt you if the shrimp has been cooked, but it can be gritty and let’s get real, y’all. Nobody wants to eat intestinal waste.

The bottom “vein”

This one is lighter and is actually a blood vessel. Once cooked you most likely won’t be able to even see it. There is absolutely no harm in leaving this one.

The steps for cleaning shrimp

You’ll start with raw, fresh shrimp that already has the heads off like these.

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The kitchen shears

A pair of good kitchen shears (or kitchen scissors) is essential to this shrimp cleaning hack. If you don’t have some in your kitchen you can order here from Amazon. These have all been rated 4 stars or above.

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When would I want shrimp that is deveined and still has the shells on?

• Anytime you serve “peel and eat” or boiled shrimp. For example, if you’re offering an alternative to oysters when you plan an oyster roast.
• Most any recipe where the shrimp is baked in the oven will benefit from the shells being left on. It keeps the shrimp moist, flavorful and makes them easier to not overcook. Fiery Cajun Shrimp is a perfect example.

Using shrimp that is deveined and peeled but with tails on

The first benefit of using shrimp this way is that they have a little “handle”. You can use the tail to pick the shrimp up and eat with your fingers.

Examples of recipes:

• Buffalo Shrimp
• Air Fryer Breaded Shrimp
• Southern Style Fried Shrimp
• Grilled Shrimp Skewers
• Shrimp with Sofrito Sauce

Recipes for shrimp that are deveined, peeled and tails off

Most shrimp recipes will fall in this category. In some cases the shrimp are cooked first, like in the case of salads or tacos.

In some cases you will clean the shrimp and then cook them along with the rest of the recipe. Examples follow:

• Shrimp and Grits
• Easy Shrimp Etouffee
• The Ultimately Perfect Jambalaya Recipe
• Shrimp and Cucumber Salad
• Barbecue Shrimp Salad with Vidalia Onions
• Gumbo (Family Recipe)