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Prawns have a huge fan following among seafood lovers. Be it the classic tempura prawns or the rich and flavourful prawn curry, there is something incredibly delightful about each of them. The ones we enjoy in restaurants always somehow manage to nail the taste buds to perfection. However, when it comes to making the same dishes at home, we may face many challenges. Sometimes, prawns are overcooked or do not have the restaurant-like taste that we all love. Even after carefully following all the steps of a recipe, we are often not completely satisfied with the end results. What is it that we are doing wrong? Below we’ve compiled a list of mistakes to avoid when cooking shrimp. Read on to find out.
Also read: Are your prawns fresh? 5 Easy Tips to Assess Their Quality
These 5 mistakes should be avoided when cooking shrimp:
1. Not cleaning them properly:
Cleaning shrimp is essential to prevent foodborne illnesses. If you buy them fresh from a local seafood store, they often contain leftover particles of sand. It is important to wash them thoroughly before starting the cooking process. Whether you buy them from a local store or a grocery store, it’s important to clean your shrimp if you want to avoid getting sick after eating them. Not cleaning them properly can have a huge impact on the taste of your dish. This is one of the common mistakes when cooking shrimp.
2. Not deworming:
After thoroughly cleaning the prawns comes the most unpleasant task: separating them! Now it is not necessary to consume them every time and thus eating them will not cause any harm to you. But it won’t go well with the delicate flavor of shrimp. So, make sure not to miss this step. You don’t need any special equipment to do this; Just a regular, sharp knife will do.
3. Improper Thawing:
Do you use the microwave to thaw your shrimp, or do you put them in hot water? Either way, using any of these methods is not such a good idea and should be avoided as a common mistake when cooking shrimp. Prawns have a delicate texture and thawing them in this manner may spoil their texture. The best way to thaw them is to place them in the refrigerator overnight, as this helps provide the ideal temperature and will cook the prawns completely.
Also read: Like shrimp? Must try this Amritsari Prawn Fry Recipe
4. Overcooking Them:
Another mistake we make when cooking shrimp is overcooking them. Since they cook within a few minutes, it is quite common for us to do so. But how is one supposed to know when their work is done? One clue you can keep an eye on is when the prawns form a “C” shape. Another indicator is when the shrimp tail becomes pink and opaque in color. As soon as they change their color, it is a sign that they are ripe.
5. Throwing Shells:
Did you know that you can also cook prawns with the skin on? Yes it’s possible! You can leave the shells on for recipes that call for frying the prawns. The hard shell helps protect the soft interior, ensuring it remains juicy and tender. Grilling them without the skin may cause them to burn or cook too quickly. So, the next time you are cooking shrimp that involves grilling, don’t throw away the shells.
Cooking shrimp is not as difficult as it seems. Just keep the above tips in mind, and you’ll be able to make them perfectly every time.
