Shrimp are a delicious and versatile seafood ingredient used in everything from pasta and salads to skewers and stir fries But those tails can be tricky when eating shrimp or using them in recipes Learning proper techniques for removing shrimp tails makes prep fast and efficient.
Read on for tips on taking tails off of shrimp. We’ll cover when it’s best to remove tails, easy methods for tail removal, using kitchen tools, saving shrimp shells, and how to buy pre-tailed shrimp to skip this step entirely.
When Should You Take the Tails Off Shrimp?
For most recipes, it’s best to remove the tails from shrimp before cooking Shrimp tails are tough and inedible, so taking them off makes the shrimp easier to eat Exceptions are dishes where you want to keep the tails on for presentation, like shrimp cocktail platters or shrimp skewers.
In general, remove tails for recipes where shrimp are chopped or mixed into sauce-based dishes. Leave tails on when shrimp are grilled, broiled, or served whole for aesthetics. Use your recipe as a guide.
Prep shrimp right before using by taking tails off just before cooking, Removed tails are perishable so discard any you won’t use for stock immediately
How to Remove Shrimp Tails by Hand
Taking off shrimp tails manually is fast and easy. Here are two methods:
Twist Method
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Grasp the body of the shrimp firmly in one hand.
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Hold the tail between thumb and forefinger of other hand.
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Give the tail a quick twist and pull motion. It should release cleanly.
Pinch Method
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Hold shrimp body in one hand.
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Pinch tail between thumb and index finger of other hand.
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Pull the tail away from the body in a quick motion.
Both techniques take just seconds per shrimp. Simply discard the tails when done.
Using Kitchen Shears to Remove Tails
Kitchen shears offer a convenient hands-free option for taking off shrimp tails:
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Place shrimp on a cutting board or plate, lined up side by side.
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Hold shears at an angle, blades facing down towards the board.
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Position blades right where the tail meets the body.
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Snip off the tails in one quick, firm motion.
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Discard tails and continue snipping off remaining shrimp tails.
Shears give you leverage for a smooth, quick cut. This method also leaves no excess tail attached.
Can You Use a Knife to Remove Shrimp Tails?
A sharp chef’s knife can remove shrimp tails but takes more precision. Here’s how:
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Place each shrimp on cutting board with tail facing you.
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Angle knife downwards, lining blade edge right at the tail’s base.
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In one firm motion, slice down through the tail to remove it.
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Discard tails when finished prepping all shrimp.
Go slowly to avoid cutting into the shrimp itself. Knife skills take practice so shears may be easier if you’re a beginner.
Should You Save Shrimp Shells and Tails?
The shells and tails removed from shrimp make excellent stock. Save them in a bag in the freezer until you have enough for a full batch. To make shrimp shell stock:
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Place shells and tails in a pot and cover with water.
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Add aromatics like onion, celery, garlic, peppercorns.
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Simmer 30 mins to extract flavors.
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Strain out solids and use stock for seafood risottos, chowders, etc.
The stock lends sweet shrimp essence to any dish. Just freeze and use within 3 months.
Buying Pre-Tailed Shrimp
You can skip the step of removing tails entirely by buying pre-tailed, peeled shrimp. These are deveined, tail-off shrimp sold fresh or frozen. Benefits are:
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Saves prep time with no need to remove tails
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Convenient for recipes where chopped shrimp is needed
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Good option if you don’t like touching raw seafood
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Lets you skip saving shells and cleaning up tails
Check your grocery store seafood department or freezer section for pre-tailed shrimp options.
How to Store Shrimp with Tails Removed
Once tails are removed, store shrimp properly to maintain freshness:
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Keep shrimp chilled at all times, either refrigerated or in a bowl of ice water.
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Cook within 1-2 days for best flavor and texture.
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For longer storage, freeze peeled, deveined shrimp in a single layer on a sheet pan.
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Transfer to freezer bags once frozen. Use within 3-6 months.
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Defrost frozen shrimp overnight in the fridge before cooking.
Proper storage keeps shrimp in optimal condition once prepped and tails are removed.
Cooking Shrimp After Removing the Tails
Tail-off shrimp cooks up tender and delicious in many quick recipes:
- Sautéed shrimp scampi over pasta
- Coconut shrimp with mango dipping sauce
- Blackened shrimp tacos or quesadillas
- Shrimp fried rice or stir fry
- Simple grilled lemon pepper shrimp
- Shrimp ceviche or shrimp cocktail
- Shrimp salad stuffed in avocado halves
Remove those tails and enjoy shrimp in your favorite dishes hassle-free.
Say goodbye to nibbling around tough shrimp tails. Prepping shrimp by removing the tails ahead of time makes for a better eating experience. Try these easy methods and transform shrimp into a tasty tail-free ingredient.
Expert Q&ASearch
- Question: How do you cook shrimp so that it doesn’t get smaller? Abyssinia Campbell Executive Chef: Abyssinia Campbell is an Executive Chef and the owner of Chef Abyssinia, PC and Catering. She has been working in the food business for over ten years and is an expert in catering, event planning, menu development, meal planning, and meal planning. Chef Abyssinia likes to use fruits, vegetables, healthy food alternatives, and farm-fresh ingredients from her area when she cooks. The university that she went to gave her a BASc in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management. Abyssinia Campbell, Executive Chef Expert Answer: You can’t stop them from getting smaller. They will shrink less, though, and taste better, if you don’t cook them too long. You can get bigger shrimp, and if you want them to look even bigger, you can leave the tail on.
- Question Boiled shrimp are very hard to peel. What do I do? Community Answer Use the “fork trick. “Put a fork tine in the shrimp from the front end all the way down its back, and “unzip” it by pulling it up. The shrimp will come out of the shell after this.
- Question Can you boil shrimp? Community Answer Yes. Put them in boiling water for eight minutes, let them cool in the fridge, and then peel them.
Grab the legs and pull them off.
- Since the shell under the legs is softer, they should be easy to take off. Grip them with your fingers and pull. If the shell stays on the legs, keep going until you can pull it off all at once. [6] .
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shelling SHRIMP “hack” (getting the entire tail peeled)
How do you remove the tail from a shrimp?
To remove the shrimp from the tail, cut along the top of the shrimp with shears and insert the tip of the shears between the shrimp and the top of its shell. Stop when you get to the tail. Then, peel back the shell from either side of the cut and discard.
Should you leave a shrimp tail on?
When you leave the tail on, the shrimp is easier to pick up. When I am serving shrimp as finger food (such as the Coconut Shrimp pictured on the left), I leave the tail on—it’s like a built-in handle! The tail also gives shrimp a pretty and more dramatic look, so if I want to highlight them in the dish, I will leave the tail on.
How do you remove the shell from a fried shrimp?
To remove the shell from a fried shrimp, first peel back the shell from either side of the shrimp and discard it. If desired, you can also pinch off the tail where it meets the body and gently pull it to remove the rest of the shrimp.
Can you deep fry shrimp tails?
Yes, you can deep fry shrimp tails! However, if you don’t prefer deep-fried shrimp tails, you can still use them in your cooking by making a quick stock. Take about a pound of shrimp tails and shells in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes until the liquid is orange in color.