If you want to treat yourself, try shrimp. They taste great in seafood curry or a classic shrimp cocktail. Before serving, shrimp’s shell is usually taken off to make it easier to eat and make the dish look better. However, you may be missing out on some great flavors and crunch if you skip on the tail.
Not only can you eat shrimp tails, but when cooked the right way, they give any dish a fuller, deeper seafood flavor and a crispy texture. If you’re cooking with a sauce or other ingredients, leave the tails on the shrimp whole. This will bring out the seafood flavors in the whole dish.
If you want to cook shrimp with tails, use high heat (like grilling, sautéing, or roasting) and a lot of fats and spices. Heat, fat, and salt ensure the tails cook to a crispy texture and are easy to chew. Avoid water-based or low-heat cooking techniques as these leave your shrimp tails chewy and bland.
For a crispy deep-fried option, try to make shrimp tempura at home. Dip the whole shrimp, tail and all, in batter and fry until golden. The contrasting textures of the crispy tail and tender meat make this a must-try.
Keep an eye on the shrimp to make sure they don’t get too done. They cook quickly—in about two to three minutes over high heat. When the shrimp form a tasty “C” shape and the tail turns crispy and dark, you’ll know they’re done.
Shrimp cocktail, shrimp scampi, shrimp tempura – no matter how you like your shrimp cooked the big question is – can you eat them tail and all? This has become a surprisingly controversial topic in recent years. Some swear the tails add extra crunch and flavor. Others find chewing through the tough tails unappetizing. So who’s right in this great shrimp tail debate? Let’s take a closer look at the pros cons and etiquette of eating shrimp tails.
Why Are Shrimp Served with Tails On?
First, it’s helpful to understand why shrimp tails are left on in the first place. Here are some of the main reasons
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Presentation – Leaving the tails on gives dishes a more polished, appetizing look. Tail-on shrimp cocktail just looks prettier than a pile of shrimp bodies.
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Holding sauce – The tails provide a built-in handle for dipping shrimp in cocktail sauce or other condiments.
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Texture – The tails add an extra crunch factor when fried or tempura style.
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Flavor – Some cuisines believe the tails enhance the shrimp’s inherent sweetness.
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No waste – Removing tails creates extra unused waste, so some chefs leave them on.
So in many dishes, the tails are left on purpose for practical and aesthetic reasons.
The Case For Eating Shrimp Tails
Supporters of eating shrimp tails wholeheartedly believe that the tails only add to the experience. Here are some of their main arguments:
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More flavor – The tail meat absorbs seasonings and sauce giving an extra burst of flavor. The shell also seals in juices keeping shrimp moist.
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Added crunch – When fried or tempura style, the crisp tail provides a nice textural contrast.
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Nutrition – Eating the whole shrimp gives you all its nutritional benefits including protein, vitamins and minerals.
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Less waste – It cuts down on unused discarded tails adding to landfill waste.
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Tradition – Consuming tails is customary in certain Asian and Latin cuisines.
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Time saver – You avoid the hassle of painstakingly removing tiny tails from shrimp.
For tail-on proponents, the positives of eating the tails far outweigh any negatives.
Reasons For Removing and Not Eating Shrimp Tails
Of course, the anti-tail camp feels equally strong that shrimp tails have no place on their plates. Their stance against eating tails includes:
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Unappetizing – The texture of tails is off-putting to some who don’t like crunching through shell and vein.
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Work – It takes effort to extract meat from the tail. Many don’t think it’s worth the minimal amount of extra shrimp meat.
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Messy – Eating tails can generate a mess on plates, hands, and faces causing many to steer clear.
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Choking hazard – The tails can pose a choking risk for young children and elderly adults.
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Unpleasant mouthfeel – Some find chewing through fibrous tails unpleasant and off-putting.
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Etiquette – Proper table manners dictate removing tails with fork and knife which is ignored when eating the tails.
At the end of the day, those opposed to eating shrimp tails find their distaste outweighs any benefits.
So Should You Eat Shrimp Tails?
With compelling arguments on both sides, what’s the final verdict on the proper shrimp tail protocol? Here are a few guidelines to help decide:
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Personal preference rules – If you enjoy tails, eat up! If you dislike them, don’t force it. Go with your own tastes.
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When in Rome – Consider the cuisine or setting. Consuming tails may be expected at some Asian or Latin restaurants.
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Remove for kids – Take tails off shrimp served to young children to avoid choking concerns.
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Peel tiny tails – It may make sense to remove tails on smaller shrimp.
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Go tail-on for flavor – Cooking shrimp with tails on helps seal in moisture and flavor.
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Compromise with scissors – Try just snipping off the very end of tails if you want some crunch without the full shell.
The bottom line – the choice is yours when it comes to shrimp tails. Whether you gobble them up or discard them, just enjoy your shrimp!
Handy Ways To Remove Shrimp Tails
For those who decide eating tails is not for them, here are easy methods for removing those pesky shrimp tails:
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Fork pinch – Secure tail end with fork tines, pinch tail with fingers and slide out meat.
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Knife sweep – Place tail under edge of knife blade and sweep shrimp meat forward out of shell.
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Scissor snip – Snip off tail end with kitchen shears for quick, clean removal.
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Towel twist – Grasp tail end in paper towel and twist slightly to pull off tail.
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Peel away – Grab underside of shells with fingers and peel slowly off tail.
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Let them do it – Buy pre-cooked, peeled and deveined shrimp to avoid all tail hassles.
Get Creative With Removed Tails
Don’t let all those discarded shrimp tails go to waste. Give them new life by:
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Simmering in seafood stock for concentrated flavor.
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Adding to tuna or salmon salad for extra crunch.
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Coating with olive oil, salt and baking for shrimp chip croutons.
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Drying and grinding into a shrimp powder seasoning.
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Saving shells for homemade stock.
So go forth and enjoy shrimp however you prefer—with or without the tails! Hopefully this clears up the great shrimp tail debate once and for all.
Leave your shrimp tails intact for these health benefits
Not only do shrimp tails pack a flavorful punch, but eating them also comes with a long list of benefits from their main components, namely chitin, antioxidants, and minerals. Chitin, the main structural component of shrimp tails, isnt just a texture enhancer. Its also rich in fiber, which supports healthy digestion and gastrointestinal health (per Healthline).
Moreover, shrimp tails come with a bonus of essential trace minerals like calcium, which promotes sturdy bones and healthy teeth (via Harvard School of Public Health). Shrimp tails are also high in magnesium, a mineral that plays an important role in producing energy, transporting calcium and potassium, and synthesizing DNA and antioxidants (per the National Institutes of Health).
Adding to the health perks of shrimp tails is their astaxanthin content. This antioxidant contributes to heart health, supports the immune system, and even shows anti-aging properties, based on a 2017 study by Frontiers in Marine Science. That same study indicates that high values of astaxanthin have also been linked to a decrease in the risk of developing cardiovascular and degenerative diseases.
How to Eat Shrimp Tails : Seafood & Fish
What are the benefits of eating shrimp tails?
Including shrimp tails in your diet will benefit your body. They contain nutrients and minerals that will boost your immune system, Vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids will help you maintain a healthy heart and flawless skin and promote your brain functioning. It’s not hard to select quality shrimps.
Are there any risks associated with eating shrimp tails?
Shrimp tails can be a choking hazard, especially for young children. They can also be a potential source of food poisoning, as they may contain bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness. Finally, shrimp tails can be difficult to digest and may cause abdominal pain or diarrhea.
How do you prepare shrimp tails for eating?
Here’s how to prepare them. Coat them in flour, then cornstarch, and deep-fry. Once they are finished, sprinkle with a few red pepper flakes. Voila! You have deep-fried shrimp tails! If that doesn’t sound appealing to you, you can still use shrimp tails in your cooking by making a quick stock.
What is the nutritional value of shrimp tails?
What is the Nutritional Value of Shrimp Tails? Shrimp tails are low in calories and rich in proteins. They also contain nutrients and minerals that help to play different roles in your body. They are rich in selenium, chorine, zinc, and vitamin B12 that make them good food to add to your diet.