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Boiled shrimp - shells sticking

Posted on 11/7/23 at 8:37 am
Posted by StickD
Houston
Member since Apr 2010
10535 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 8:37 am
How do I get the shells not to stick?


Posted by CrazyTigerFan
Osaka
Member since Nov 2003
3275 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 8:41 am to
Don't add salt or a seasoning mixture with salt until the shrimp are done cooking. Only add it when soaking after the temperature comes down.
Posted by LSU Wayne
Walker
Member since Apr 2005
4365 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 8:44 am to
For boiling shrimp I find I have to really over season the water to allow the shrimp to soak it up. You can’t let the shrimp soak in even moderately hot water for too long or the shells will stick. So I make the water extra spicy.

Another method is to have a room temperature seasoned pot of water to dump the cooked shrimp in to soak so they don’t overcook. Or find another way to cool the water immediately. I also find using bigger shrimp for a shrimp boil helps reduce the chances of shell sticking
Posted by SmokedBrisket2018
Member since Jun 2018
1517 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 8:44 am to
quote:

Don't add salt or a seasoning mixture with salt until the shrimp are done cooking. Only add it when soaking after the temperature comes down.


This is what I do and never have an issue.

OP could be cooking too long too. As soon as I see a fart bubble I cut the fire off.
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
15084 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 8:44 am to
quote:

Don't add salt or a seasoning mixture with salt until the shrimp are done cooking.


This is exactly how an older guy did it who boiled for a business I frequented many years ago. His pot was big enough to boil at least 1000 lbs. of shrimp and his first boil for the day was always the shrimp.

Then once he added the salt at the end of the boil, his pot just needed tweaking when he next did crabs or crawfish.


Edited to add this:

He did season the water prior to the shrimp boil, but he added all the powdered seasonings he used to his water but not the salt. He never used a commercial seafood seasoning and made his own concoction from various powders he got wholesale.
This post was edited on 11/7/23 at 9:50 am
Posted by StickD
Houston
Member since Apr 2010
10535 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 8:53 am to
I guess that's why mine always stick.

The shrimp are nice size and I cooled the pot.

I never knew you have to cook them without the crab boil. I mean every crab boil says add and boil LoL.

Eta, do yall use liquid boil?
This post was edited on 11/7/23 at 8:57 am
Posted by CHEDBALLZ
South Central LA
Member since Dec 2009
21916 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 8:54 am to
Method has little to do with shells shells sticking and more to do with species.

Boil some white shrimp and you won't have a problem with them sticking. Boil some brown shrimp and the shells will stick.
This post was edited on 11/7/23 at 8:56 am
Posted by MobileJosh
On the go
Member since May 2018
1063 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 8:57 am to
quote:

ever knew you have to cook them without the crab boil.



Dont listen to that stupid shite. Overseason your water. Squeeze in your lemons, and slug in some vinegar (the key). Bring water to boil. Add shrimp. Cut the fire and add ice to the pot. Perfect peeling shrimp.
Posted by BigDropper
Member since Jul 2009
7625 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 9:22 am to
2 tablespoons of vinegar per gallon of water.

I do this with crab legs & shrimp and they pretty much fall out of the shells. It also enhances the flavor.

The reason to use vinegar is that it aids in protein coagulation so the flesh sets before it can bond with the shell.

You could also add a 1/4 tsp of calcium chloride or any other food grade acidic salt if you have that laying around. The purpose is to lower the pH of the cooking liquid to aid in protein coagulation.
Posted by Dubaitiger
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Member since Nov 2005
4933 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 9:46 am to
Don't overcook them!

Cool down your water if you like to soak

If no soaking, season the crap out of the water

Put some oil or vinegar in the water
Posted by BigDropper
Member since Jul 2009
7625 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 12:02 pm to
quote:

Don't add salt or a seasoning mixture with salt until the shrimp are done cooking.
This seems like good advice if only from a pH perspective.

Salt is pH neutral and has a tendency to neutralize acidic solutions so I can see where this might be helpful however, I have never had a problem with shells sticking and I always season and salt my water prior to adding the shrimp.

Of course, I'm landlocked so I only have experience with frozen shrimp.
Posted by bayoudude
Member since Dec 2007
24954 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 1:04 pm to
Boiled them too long. I cut the fire almost instantly when doing shrimp. They will cook during the soak. Shrimp take maybe 2-4 min
Posted by speckledawg
Somewhere Salty
Member since Nov 2016
3917 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 1:07 pm to
quote:

Don't add salt or a seasoning mixture with salt until the shrimp are done cooking. Only add it when soaking after the temperature comes down.


This is not what is making the shells stick...

OP, assuming these are fresh, not previously frozen shrimp, you're just overcooking them.

Get water seasoned & boiling, drop in shrimp and then you can pretty much cut the heat immediately, depending on how crowded the pot may be. Once they're pink, drop in a frozen water jug or two (or water bottle if small pot on stove, but not really necessary for small pot). This will cool the water quicker and allow you to soak without overcooking as easy.

Just don't put sticks of butter in there, thinking it will make them peel easier. See that all the time.
Posted by TPK 8
South Coast
Member since Apr 2023
57 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 1:16 pm to
Buy fresh never frozen shrimp from a boat dock.
Posted by CrazyTigerFan
Osaka
Member since Nov 2003
3275 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 10:55 pm to
Don't Add Salt
For the many downvoters, Louisiana Direct Seafood probably also doesn't know anything about how to cook Louisiana seafood. Good call.

You also don't want to overcook the shrimp, just like most foods. But that doesn't mean you also shouldn't wait to add the salt until you're done cooking.

And I didn't say not to add any seasoning, I said not to add a seasoning mixture that contains salt until after the shrimp are finished cooking.
Posted by TCO
Member since Jul 2022
2460 posts
Posted on 11/8/23 at 12:10 am to
quote:

Method has little to do with shells shells sticking and more to do with species.


This is the correct answer.
Posted by oldcharlie8
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2012
7806 posts
Posted on 11/8/23 at 7:20 am to
ice
Posted by speckledawg
Somewhere Salty
Member since Nov 2016
3917 posts
Posted on 11/8/23 at 10:19 am to
quote:

Louisiana Direct Seafood probably also doesn't know anything about how to cook Louisiana seafood. Good call.


Well, looks like they only sell frozen shrimp, so...
Posted by SlickRick55
Member since May 2016
1884 posts
Posted on 11/8/23 at 10:47 am to
You can add salt or seasoning whenever you want. I put it all in at the beginning every time. Two things that cause the shells to stick - Overboiling (and you don't even need to bring to a boil), and buying shrimp from somewhere that's not fresh or has been previously frozen.
Posted by speckledawg
Somewhere Salty
Member since Nov 2016
3917 posts
Posted on 11/8/23 at 10:55 am to
quote:

Two things that cause the shells to stick - Overboiling (and you don't even need to bring to a boil), and buying shrimp from somewhere that's not fresh or has been previously frozen.


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