I really enjoy Peel and Eat Shrimp. It’s one of my favorite starters by the beach. And it’s one of the easiest appetizers I make at home for friends and family.
There’s something magical about shrimp, and when you say “shrimp for dinner,” everyone gets excited. And Peel and Eat Shrimp is a great way to impress your family and friends.
They will be a hit whether you serve them hot or cold, and they’ll probably be better than the ones you get at your favorite bar or restaurant.
Shrimp are a delicious, versatile seafood that can be prepared in endless ways From shrimp cocktails and shrimp scampi to boiled shrimp, grilled shrimp, and more, shrimp make for an easy, crowd-pleasing meal. One popular way to prepare shrimp is to cook them with the shells on in an “ez peel” style This cooking method yields tender, flavorful shrimp that are easy to peel and eat.
In this detailed guide, we will cover everything you need to know to cook perfect ez peel shrimp at home.
What is Ez Peel Shrimp?
Ez peel shrimp refers to shrimp that are boiled or steamed with the shell on The shell helps keep moisture and flavor locked into the shrimp When cooked properly, the shell becomes easy to remove or “ez peel.” This leaves you with juicy, flavor-packed shrimp ready to be dipped in sauce and enjoyed.
This cooking method is popular in shrimp boils and is sometimes called “shell on” shrimp It allows the shrimp to soak up seasoning from the boiling liquid. The shell also protects the delicate shrimp meat from overcooking
Benefits of Ez Peel Shrimp
There are a few advantages to cooking shrimp with the shells on in an ez peel style:
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More flavorful shrimp: The shells help seal in juices and seasoning, resulting in very flavored shrimp.
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Prevents overcooking: The shells insulate the shrimp, so you don’t have to worry about over or undercooking as much.
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Fun peeling experience: Kids especially enjoy peeling and eating the shrimp. It’s an interactive experience.
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Less messy: Shrimp tend to splatter more when boiled after being peeled. The shells help contain juices.
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Time saving: You don’t have to spend time peeling raw shrimp before cooking. Just cook and peel as you eat!
How to Cook Ez Peel Shrimp
Cooking ez peel shrimp is simple and only requires a few steps. Here is an easy shrimp boil recipe to try:
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds fresh shrimp in the shell with tails on
- 6 cups water
- 1⁄4 cup seafood seasoning (like Old Bay)
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 bay leaves
- Melted butter, lemon wedges, and cocktail sauce for serving
Directions:
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Rinse the shrimp under cold water and pat dry. Devein the shrimp by slicing along the back and removing the digestive tract using a paring knife if desired. Leave shells on.
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In a large pot, combine the water, seafood seasoning, lemon juice, and bay leaves. Bring to a rolling boil.
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Once boiling, carefully add in the shrimp. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the shrimp turn pink and opaque.
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Drain immediately and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
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Serve shrimp warm with melted butter, lemon wedges, and cocktail sauce for dipping. Provide small plates for discarding shells.
That’s all it takes for deliciously seasoned ez peel shrimp! The key is not overcooking them, so watch the time carefully.
Ez Peel Shrimp Tips
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Buy fresh shrimp: It’s worth buying fresh shrimp from the seafood counter instead of frozen. Fresh shrimp will peel more easily.
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Use extra-large or jumbo shrimp: Large shrimp over 20 count per pound work best since you get bigger pieces of shrimp meat after peeling. Smaller shrimp can be tricky to peel.
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Chill the shrimp: After cooking and rinsing, you can refrigerate the shrimp to chill before serving. This firms them up which makes peeling easier.
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Season the boiling liquid: Add lots of seasoning like Old Bay, lemon, garlic, cayenne pepper, etc. to the water so the flavor infuses into the shrimp as they cook.
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Cook in broth: Substitute seafood broth or beer for part or all of the water to add even more flavor.
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Shock in ice bath: Plunging the cooked shrimp in an ice bath stops the cooking and sets the flavor/color.
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Re-season after cooking: After peeling, you can toss the shrimp with a bit more seafood seasoning if desired.
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Serve with sauces: Melted butter, cocktail sauce, and lemon wedges are perfect for dunking the ez peel shrimp. Ranch dressing and remoulade sauce also pair nicely.
Common Ez Peel Shrimp Mistakes
It’s easy to mess up perfectly good shrimp. Avoid these common mishaps:
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Overcooking: It takes just 2-3 minutes to cook shrimp. Any longer and they become rubbery.
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Crowding the pot: Cook shrimp in a single layer so they cook evenly. Cook in batches if needed.
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Not shocking: Shocking in an ice bath stops carryover cooking for tender shrimp.
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Using old shrimp: Fresh shrimp peel more easily. Frozen or old shrimp get really hard to peel.
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Underseasoning: The boiling liquid should be very flavorful to infuse the shrimp as they cook.
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Serving without shells: Provide small plates for people to discard their shells as they peel and eat.
Ez Peel Shrimp FAQs
Should you devein shrimp before boiling?
You can devein the shrimp beforehand if desired, but it’s not necessary. Since the shell is on, flavors will still permeate the shrimp.
Do you remove the tails before boiling?
No, leave the tails on too so you have something to grab onto when peeling the shrimp after cooking. The tails often come off on their own once peeled.
What size shrimp work best?
Large shrimp over 20 count per pound or bigger are ideal. Very small shrimp can be difficult and frustrating to peel after cooking.
How do you peel ez peel shrimp?
Starting at the top by the head, gently pull the shell off one section at a time. Grab the tail end if needed to slide the meat out. Discard shells.
How do you eat boiled shrimp?
Ez peel shrimp are perfect for dipping in melted butter or sauce. Just peel, dunk and enjoy! Provide small plates for discarding shells.
More Delicious Shrimp Recipes to Try
Once you get the basic ez peel shrimp technique down, try out some of these flavor variations:
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Cajun Boil – Swap the Old Bay for Cajun seasoning and add Worcestershire sauce, garlic, lemon, and hot sauce to the broth.
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Beer Boil – Use beer or a combo of beer and broth for the cooking liquid.
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Lobster Boil – Add halved small red potatoes, corn on the cob, and smoked sausage.
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Low Country Boil – Fold in diced andouille sausage, corn, and potatoes in the last 5 minutes of cooking.
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Coconut Curry Shrimp Boil – Use coconut milk, curry powder, lime juice, ginger, garlic, and crushed red pepper.
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Fajita Shrimp Boil – Add fajita seasoning, lime juice, and sliced onions and peppers to the pot.
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Margarita Shrimp Boil – Use lime juice, tequila, and orange juice in the cooking liquid.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to infusing flavor into ez peel shrimp. Play around with different seasonings and ingredients to make each shrimp boil unique.
Ez Peel Shrimp Tips
Cooking up tender, juicy ez peel shrimp is easy once you know the secrets. Be sure to start with fresh shrimp, cook them just until pink, shock in an ice bath, and serve with fun dipping sauces. Adjust the flavors to suit your tastes. Done right, these flavor-packed boiled shrimp will be a major hit at your next seafood feast or party!
How Do I make Peel and Eat Shrimp?
Peel and Eat Shrimp, also known as U-Peel Shrimp, is very simple to make and only needs a few ingredients to make shrimp taste amazing.
Making the liquid you’ll cook the shrimp in is the first thing you need to do to make restaurant-style peel-and-eat shrimp. When it comes to making perfectly tasty peel-and-eat shrimp, the cooking liquid makes all the difference.
- Add the seasonings, lemon and beer to the water.
- Bring the liquid to a boil and add the shrimp.
- It will take between 2 and 4 minutes, depending on the size and number of shrimp you cook, for the shrimp to turn a bright pink color.
- Drain the shrimp in a colander, discard the lemons.
But if you’d rather have just okay shrimp by all means, just use plain water.
Adding a little more Old Bay seasoning to the shrimp is the last thing that needs to be done before served.
WHAT KIND OF SHRIMP SHOULD I USE TO MAKE SHRIMP COCKTAIL?
When making peel-and-eat shrimp at home or in a restaurant, the type of shrimp used is the most important thing to keep in mind.
Wild-caught shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast, or the Pacific Coast of the United States are the best for peeling and eating. Great shrimp can be found in the waters around Australia and some parts of the European Union, but they’re not easy to find in the US.
I don’t like shrimp that are raised in farms, and I stay away from shrimp that come from Asian or Indian waters.
I like to use shrimp that are 21 to 25 count (per pound) or 26 to 30 count (per pound) for Peel and Eat Shrimp. Any smaller and it’s really not worth the effort.