Is It Really Necessary to Devein Shrimp?

Most needs are actually deep wants. I don’t need Maldon salt, but my scrambled eggs aren’t the same without the crunchy flakes. I don’t need to remove every germ from every garlic clove, but doing so can reduce bitterness. I don’t need an inflatable hot tub, but I bought one anyway. Do I really need to take the veins out of every shrimp I cook and eat? I feel like I do, but I don’t.

Shrimp is a delicious and versatile ingredient that can be used in appetizers, main courses, salads and more. However, when preparing shrimp many home cooks wonder – is it really necessary to devein them?

What is Deveining?

Deveining shrimp refers to the process of removing the digestive tract that runs along the back of the shrimp. This thin black line that you often see on raw shrimp is not actually a vein, but rather the intestine or digestive tract of the shrimp which contains gritty particles and waste. The purpose of removing this is for aesthetics and to remove any grittiness from the shrimp.

However, the question is – is this really a necessary step when cooking shrimp? Let’s take a closer look.

Is it Safe to Eat Shrimp Without Deveining?

The first concern when it comes to deveining is often whether it’s safe to eat shrimp without doing so. The answer is yes – it is perfectly safe to consume shrimp without removing the digestive tract.

Shrimp contain naturally occurring bacteria in their digestive tracts, just like other animals. However, thorough cooking kills any potentially harmful bacteria present in the veins. So as long as you cook the shrimp properly, it is not a food safety issue to skip deveining. The grittiness may be unpleasant, but it won’t make you sick.

When is Deveining Recommended?

While leaving the veins in is safe, there are some instances where deveining shrimp is recommended:

If the vein looks very dark or dirty. Shrimp that have a lot of grit and waste in the digestive tract will benefit from deveining.
When serving shrimp cold or raw. Uncooked shrimp may harbor more bacteria so deveining is wise.
For aesthetic reasons. The veins don’t look very appealing, so removing them improves the presentation.
If serving extra large shrimp. Large shrimp have thicker, grittier veins that are more noticeable when eating.
When breading or stuffing shrimp. The vein can interfere with even cooking or mixing of ingredients.

So while not strictly necessary, there are good reasons to devein shrimp in many cases.

How to Devein Shrimp

Deveining shrimp is a relatively simple process:

Use a paring knife to make a shallow cut along the back of the shrimp.
Use the tip of the knife to lift out and remove the digestive tract.
For butterflied shrimp, continue cutting through the shrimp to open it up fully.
Rinse the shrimp under cold water to remove any remaining bits.
Pat dry with paper towels.

It takes just a minute or two per shrimp. For very small shrimp, it may not be worth the effort, while larger shrimp are easier to devein effectively.

You can also purchase shrimp that are already peeled and deveined to save time. Just be sure they are fresh and of good quality. Frozen pre-peeled shrimp often works very well.

Shrimp Deveining Tips

Here are some useful tips for getting the best results when you devein shrimp:

Leave the shell on for grilling or recipes where you want flavor and moisture protection. Just slit the back and remove vein.
For sautéing, steaming, etc remove the shell fully after deveining for easy eating.
Devein just before cooking to avoid premature spoilage. Shrimp desenes fast once deveined.
Chill the shrimp before deveining for easier maneuvering. Use a sharp paring or boning knife.
Check for any remaining vein bits and rinse away under cold water after deveining.
Dry thoroughly before cooking so the shrimp sautés instead of steaming from excess moisture.
Buy deveined frozen shrimp to skip this step altogether in a time crunch.

Is Deveining Shrimp Worth the Time and Effort?

At the end of the day, whether you should devein shrimp comes down to personal preference. It does take extra time and work, so it may not be worth it if you are cooking lots of smaller shrimp. But for larger shrimp being served cold or raw, removing the gritty digestive tract does improve the texture and appearance.

If you want to skip deveining, just be sure to cook the shrimp thoroughly. And don’t be afraid to eat the veins if your shrimp wasn’t deveined – just be aware of the occasional gritty bite. For many simple shrimp dishes, deveining is optional. Do it if you prefer, but it won’t make or break the dish if you opt to leave the veins intact.

So consider the recipe, time constraints, shrimp size, and your own tolerance for veins when deciding whether deveining your shrimp is really necessary or not! Both approaches work fine, so choose what makes the most sense for your needs.

is it really necessary to devein shrimp

So why remove it?

The ick factor is quite high here. Shrimp waste is one of the less gross types of animal waste, but it’s still poop, and I will never tell anyone to eat poop. (It’s just not in my nature!).

Besides that, and overall aesthetics, the waste can feel gritty in between your teeth. This is mostly a problem with the big guys, but big and jumbo shrimp are pretty simple to devein. (Whether you want to spend your time deveining small and medium shrimp is up to you. ).

The easiest way around this whole situation is to buy deveined shrimp. It costs a little more because someone else is doing the work, and it can be hard to find shrimp that have been peeled but still have their shells on. (The shells contribute flavor, and can also help prevent the shrimp from overcooking. ).

But there are two ways to devein shrimp: before or after cooking. If you want to try it or bought a bag of veiny shrimp by accident, you can do it either way.

What is that vein anyway?

The “vein” that runs down the back of a shrimp is not part of its circulatory system. (Shrimp have an open circulatory system—their blood does not flow through veins like yours and mine. That little tube is their digestive tract, and those dark spots are, I’m sorry to say, waste. If you were to eat it raw, the bacteria in said waste could make you a little sick. Cook it, however, and the shrimp is safe to eat, vein and all.

If you’ve ever ordered “peel ‘n eat” shrimp, you may have eaten some shrimp waste and not paid much attention to it. From the outside, the vein isn’t always visible, and unless the shrimp is very big and its digestive tract is full of grit, it’s usually not even there.

Is it really necessary to devein shrimp?

Do you need to devein shrimp?

Bottom line, seafood-industry associations including The Texas Shrimp Marketing Program agree that deveining isn’t a mandatory step when preparing the shellfish: “Whether or not to devein shrimp is a matter of personal preference. In general, small and medium shrimp do not need deveining except for cosmetic purposes.”

Is shrimp healthy to eat?

Shrimp is very healthy to eat, unless you have an allergy to shellfish. Shrimp is great because it is a low calorie, high protein food that is relatively inexpensive. Shrimp is also very versatile, so there are many recipes out there, meaning that you can eat shrimp multiple times a week each time in a different way. Don’t make shrimp your only protein source, because a healthy diet is also a varied diet.

Do you need a deveining tool to cook shrimp?

These are especially handy if you tend to cook with a lot of shrimp, as they are an all-in-one tool that can peel, devein, and butterfly the shrimp. It’s not necessary to use a special tool to do so, but deveining your shrimp is definitely an important step in the cooking process.

Can You devein frozen shrimp?

So if deveining is not for you, try to find pre-packed frozen deveined shrimp. Whether you devein or not, it’s a good idea to wash your hands—and any utensils that came into contact with the shrimp—in hot, soapy water. Shrimp harbor bacteria that could, if spread, cause food poisoning.