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Why do shells sometimes stick to shrimp, making them hard to peel?

Posted on 3/15/12 at 12:23 pm
Posted by Degas
2187645493 posts
Member since Jul 2010
11383 posts
Posted on 3/15/12 at 12:23 pm
I googled this question and bumped into a couple of other forums where it was asked, and although there was a lot of speculation as to what makes shells hard to peel at times, it seemed that no one had a definitive answer, so...

The question is now posed to you, my sage friends. What factors contribute to this?
Posted by HeadyMurphey
Los Santos
Member since Jan 2008
17181 posts
Posted on 3/15/12 at 12:25 pm to
Overcooked
Posted by Politiceaux
Member since Feb 2009
17654 posts
Posted on 3/15/12 at 12:26 pm to
Overcooked. It's quite a challenge to undercook shrimp.
Posted by Littleman
Cleveland, MS
Member since Jan 2012
612 posts
Posted on 3/15/12 at 12:31 pm to
I bought some fresh shrimp once that were pretty small and I was gonna peel em raw to saute and put over pasta but I liked to never peeled em. The shells were almost impossible to peel off while they were fresh.
Posted by TheRoarRestoredInBR
Member since Dec 2004
30275 posts
Posted on 3/15/12 at 12:31 pm to
As soon as I get them pink for a few minutes, it's straight into the colander ice bath.
Posted by EWE TIGER
Houma
Member since Sep 2009
924 posts
Posted on 3/15/12 at 12:32 pm to
IQF
Posted by pooponsaban
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2008
13494 posts
Posted on 3/15/12 at 12:37 pm to
Besides overcooking, NEVER try to boil shrimp right off the boat. If they are "too fresh" the shells will stick. Give them at least a few hours on ice before boiling.
Posted by Count Chocula
Tier 5 and proud
Member since Feb 2009
63908 posts
Posted on 3/15/12 at 12:40 pm to
quote:

Besides overcooking, NEVER try to boil shrimp right off the boat. If they are "too fresh" the shells will stick. Give them at least a few hours on ice before boiling.
Made this mistake once. Cooked them my normal way but they came out like they were overcooked by 5 minutes.
Posted by Degas
2187645493 posts
Member since Jul 2010
11383 posts
Posted on 3/15/12 at 12:48 pm to
quote:

If they are "too fresh" the shells will stick. Give them at least a few hours on ice before boiling.
Sorry to sound like Harold McGee, but what is the physical cause of this phenomenon?

Thanks for the tip.

Posted by pooponsaban
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2008
13494 posts
Posted on 3/15/12 at 12:56 pm to
When fishing with live shrimp or handling very fresh shrimp you'll notice that there is no give between the shell and the body. After putting them on ice for a few hours you'll notice some give or separation. I'm guessing that the extreme cold causes the meat to pull way from the shell.

That's just my experience. Very scientific...I know.
This post was edited on 3/15/12 at 1:01 pm
Posted by Count Chocula
Tier 5 and proud
Member since Feb 2009
63908 posts
Posted on 3/15/12 at 1:00 pm to
quote:

That's just my experience. Very scientific...I know.


You mean like this (enzyme, membrame and protien seperation)

Posted by Degas
2187645493 posts
Member since Jul 2010
11383 posts
Posted on 3/15/12 at 1:03 pm to
Posted by Walt OReilly
Poplarville, MS
Member since Oct 2005
124170 posts
Posted on 3/15/12 at 1:05 pm to
quote:

Overcooked

Posted by Degas
2187645493 posts
Member since Jul 2010
11383 posts
Posted on 3/15/12 at 1:10 pm to
quote:

Overcooked
...which is why I've never had a problem with this at home because nothing is overcooked under my watch.

I've noticed it's usually at some of the buffets, and I've never had easy to peel shrimp from LA Seafood for instance. I'm not inferring that they overcook theirs, but I don't buy them there anymore because of this.
Posted by OTIS2
NoLA
Member since Jul 2008
50082 posts
Posted on 3/15/12 at 1:11 pm to
quote:

Overcooked
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