Peel and Eat Shrimp is a great shrimp appetizer, especially if you use fresh Key West pink shrimp. Everyone loves boiled shrimp, and this dish is so easy to make ahead of time that it will become your new favorite.
Is Peel and Eat Shrimp Already Cooked? A Detailed Look at This Popular Appetizer
Peel and eat shrimp, also known as cocktail shrimp, is a beloved appetizer found on menus across America. These succulent shrimp are served in the shell and meant to be peeled by the diner before eating. But one question I often get asked is – are peel and eat shrimp already cooked when you buy or make them? Let’s take a detailed look at how peel and eat shrimp is prepared so you know exactly what to expect with this crowd-pleasing starter.
As a seafood lover and home cook who has ordered peel and eat shrimp at countless restaurants over the years, I was curious to learn more about how it goes from raw shrimp to an appetizing finished dish. Through research and testing recipes, I’ve gathered the key facts around how peel and eat shrimp is cooked so readers can understand what’s involved in preparing this flavorful finger food.
In this article, I’ll cover:
- The basics of what peel and eat shrimp is
- Whether peel and eat shrimp is served cooked or raw
- How restaurants and home cooks prepare and cook the shrimp
- Serving suggestions for chilled or hot peel and eat shrimp
- Helpful tips when buying, cooking, and eating peeled shrimp
Let’s peel back the layers on peel and eat shrimp!
What Exactly is Peel and Eat Shrimp?
Peel and eat shrimp is made up of shrimp with the shell left on that are meant to be eaten by peeling off the shell. It’s usually cooked in seasoned liquid then cooled and served with cocktail sauce for dipping
Other names for this popular appetizer include cocktail shrimp, U-peel shrimp, or shell-on shrimp. No matter what you call them, the concept is the same – juicy, flavorsome shrimp in the shell that you peel as you eat them.
The whole shrimp, including the head, is left intact except for removing the vein that runs along the back The shells help keep flavor and moisture in during cooking The shrimp are easy to peel and dive into once cooked.
Is Peel and Eat Shrimp Served Raw or Cooked?
This is one of the most common questions around this appetizer – and the answer is clear. Peel and eat shrimp is always cooked before serving. There are no scenarios where peeled shrimp served in restaurants or prepared properly at home would ever be raw.
Shrimp need to be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F to be considered safe to eat. Raw shrimp pose health risks such as food poisoning. No reputable restaurant would serve raw peel and eat shrimp.
In some cases, peeled shrimp are boiled, steamed or sautéed. But most often, they are boiled in seasoned liquid to add flavor. Then they are cooled in ice water or refrigerated until chilled for serving.
How is Peel and Eat Shrimp Prepared?
Let’s go through the typical steps professional cooks and home chefs take to transform raw shrimp into cooked and delicious peel and eat shrimp:
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Select the Size: Medium to large size shrimp, such as 16/20 count to 26/30 count per pound, work best for easy peeling. Smaller shrimp can be too tricky to peel. Go too big and they lose some appeal.
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Prep the Shrimp: Rinse, peel, and devein shrimp while leaving shell on. The vein is removed for presentation but shell keeps flavor in.
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Make the Cooking Liquid: Water, beer, broth and seasoning like Old Bay or crab boil create the flavorful poaching liquid.
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Cook the Shrimp: Boil or steam shrimp for 2-3 minutes until opaque and cooked through.
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Cool the Shrimp: Shock in an ice bath to stop cooking then drain and refrigerate until chilled.
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Season and Serve: Toss cooked and chilled shrimp with more seasoning if desired. Provide cocktail sauce, lemon wedges, and wet naps or hand wipes.
The beauty of peel and eat shrimp is that most of the work is done upfront. The diner gets the fun, tasty part – peeling and eating the shrimp!
How Should You Serve Peel and Eat Shrimp?
One of the great things about boiled, peeled shrimp is they taste amazing both hot and cold. Here are serving suggestions:
Hot: For a hot appetizer, cook the shrimp then immediately drain, season, and serve warm. Provide plenty of napkins.
Cold: For chilled peel and eat shrimp, cool the cooked shrimp as noted above. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or up to a day ahead then serve icy cold.
Either way, lemon wedges and zesty cocktail or seafood sauce for dipping is key. You can also offer warm drawn butter for dipping. Melted butter and shrimp = match made in heaven.
Tips for Buying, Cooking, and Eating Peel and Eat Shrimp
Over the years, I’ve learned some helpful tips for maximizing enjoyment around peel and eat shrimp:
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Buy fresh or defrosted shrimp, avoid pre-cooked. Pre-cooked shrimp tend to be lower quality.
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Choose wild-caught U.S. shrimp when possible for premium flavor and texture.
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Figure 5-8 shrimp per person for a starter appetizer portion size.
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Don’t overcook the shrimp – 2 minutes in boiling seasoned water is often sufficient.
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Provide shell discard containers, lemon wedges, and napkins on the table.
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Offer hand wipes, wet naps or a finger bowl for easy clean-up.
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Keep a cold beer or cocktail on hand to enjoy with the shrimp!
The Takeaway on Peel and Eat Shrimp
How To Devein the Shrimp
The dark vein you see running along the back of the shrimp is the shrimps digestive tract. You might not see the vein on smaller shrimp and its harmless to consume, according to the American Shrimp Processors Association.
For Large, XL, or Jumbo shrimp, cut the shrimp’s shell halfway down the back with scissors to get rid of the vein. Then, use the tip of a paring knife to make a shallow cut and pull out the vein.
Leave the rest of the shell intact so theres something to peel.
What is Peel ‘n Eat Shrimp?
Peel n Eat Shrimp is a plate of medium-sized shrimp that are often boiled in beer and Old Bay seasoning. It is a popular Happy Hour appetizer in Florida and all over the USA. The finger-food is served chilled with a side of cocktail sauce.
This recipe is for Peel and Eat Shrimp with No Beer. I put a little optional apple cider vinegar in the water. It adds a little flavor and you cannot taste it–I promise!.
This is one of my familys favorite warm-weather seafood recipes. We’re lucky enough to be able to pick up the best shrimp every day here in the Florida Keys.
There are a lot of different ways to cook this dish, and its simple to make.
My special ingredient is Key West Spice Companys Southernmost Blend, made by Tony Lazarus in Key West.
The blend is an all-purpose seasoning, like Old Bay. It has paprika, garlic, onion, salt, and pepper, among other spices. It has a little kick to it if used in large amounts.
I use it on fish and shrimp. There are no carbs, fats, or sugar in it, and it tastes great. It’s all natural and gluten-free.
You can get Key West Spice Company Southernmost Blend in Florida at Publix, Winn Dixie, and many Florida Keys gift shops. If youre not in The Keys, you can pick it up at the company website.
This is an easy recipe to make. Large or medium-sized shrimp can be used because they are served in their shells. They should be cooked for two minutes and then put in the fridge for an hour. Everyone at the table will peel their own, which means the cook won’t have to do much. One pound makes 3 or 4 appetizer servings.
- 1 pound medium or large shrimp, defrosted
- Spices for seafood, like Southernmost Blend from Key West Spice Company or Old Bay Original Flavor
- Apple cider vinegar
- Garlic
- Lemons
- Cocktail sauce (optional)
See the recipe card below for quantities.
Peel & Eat Shrimp – Michy’s Munchies
How do you peel and eat shrimp?
The right cooking liquid makes all the difference when it comes to creating perfectly delicious peel and eat shrimp. Add the seasonings, lemon and beer to the water. Bring the liquid to a boil and add the shrimp. 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.
Can you eat Peel and eat shrimp before cooking?
A cooked shrimp should feel firm, not soft. When the shrimp have finished cooking, drain them into a colander and discard the lemon. If you enjoy eating peel and eat shrimp hot you can serve them before they cool. Peel and eat shrimp can also be served cool which will allow you to prepare them ahead of time.
Where can I buy Peel & eat shrimp?
Because we’re making peel-and-eat shrimp, you’ll definitely want to buy shrimp with the shell on. You can often find these sold by the pound in the freezer (typically near the seafood counter) or for sale at the counter itself. Peeled shrimp are better used for shrimp cocktail or other recipes.
Can you eat shrimp that are peeled and boiled?
Yes, you can eat peel-and-eat boiled shrimp. They are easy to make and fun to eat. One of my family’s favorite summer pastimes is eating at ramshackle seafood shacks, where we sit around brown paper-covered picnic tables and feast on peeled and boiled shrimp.