How to cook Shrimp

Learning how to cook shrimp is one of the easiest things to do.  If you can boil water, you can likely cook shrimp without difficulty.

Utensils needed

• Colanders
• Tongs
• Large Cooking Pots

Ingredients required

• Salt
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice (optional)
• 1 to 2 pounds raw shrimp

1. For each pound of shrimp, bring two quarts of water to a boil.
    
2. Add a small amount of Salt to the water.
    
3. If you wish add some lemon juice.
    
4. Turn off the heat and add all the shrimp to the water at one time.
    
5. Allow the shrimp to steep for 3 to 5 minutes, or until done. Shrimp turn out best if they are cooked gently.
    
6. Check shrimp by cutting one in half. If it is done the flesh will be completely opaque.
    
7. Remove shrimp immediately from the cooking water and drain.
    
8. Shell and devein when cooled if cooked shell-on.

Additional Tips and Precautions on how to cook shrimp

• Boiling or poaching is the most common way to cook shrimp, but they may be cooked almost any way: in a skillet with butter or oil, in a fryer, on a barbecue grill, in a steamer, or in a hot oven.
   
• Shrimp cook quickly and become tough if over done. Medium shrimp (2 or 3 inches long) only take about 2 minutes to cook; larger shrimp take 3 to 5 minutes.
   
• Do not shell and devein shrimp before cooking, if possible. The meat will be protected as it cooks and flavor added. Shell and devein them after cooking.
   
• When adding cooked shrimp to hot dishes wait til the end of the cooking time so the shrimp  won't be over cooked.
   
• Avoid overcooking shrimp, they become tough and lose flavor.
   
• Try adding about a cup of vinegar to the cooking water to take away any fishiness.
   
• Use liberal amounts of Old Bay Seafood Seasoning while shelling shrimp. The seasoning transfers from your fingers to the meat and adds flavor.
   
• You might want to put some hot pepper flakes in the water before adding the shrimp. This adds spicy flavor to the cooked shrimp.

Also see Shrimp Tips.

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