How do you devein shrimp?

Shrimp are very popular seafood and can be adapted to many recipes. However, it is important to clean shrimp properly before cooking with them. The best tool for this task is a small, sharp paring knife.

Finding the Shrimp Veins

There are 2 veins that we need to remove from the shrimp, a larger one that runs along the top and a smaller one on the underside.

De-veining the Shrimp

Begin by removing the entire shell. We are going to butterfly the shrimp by making an incision along the length of the top.

This cut will expose the vein and then we can use the tip of the paring to get it out. The vein underneath is usually exposed. Simply put the tip of the knife underneath it and it should come right out.

Washing the Shrimp

After you have removed the veins it is a good idea to rinse your shrimp quickly under cold water. This way you can be sure they are completely clean before cooking.