Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Anne Lloyd and by How.com.vn staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Chef Anne Lloyd is a Professional Chef and the Owner of Nolavore in New Orleans, Louisiana. Chef Anne has had a career in the restaurant and food service industries for over 30 years and has traveled and cooked on both coasts of the United States as well as in Europe and Southeast Asia. She specializes in utilizing local and regional foods to create dishes featuring international flavors. She also provides full-service catering, prepared foods, gourmet packaged goods, pantry items, and kids' cooking camps and classes for all ages. She received a BA in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and her Associate of Arts, Culinary Arts degree from the California Culinary Academy. Anne is an alumna of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Summit.
There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Often confused with shrimp, prawns are a delicious and healthy addition to your diet. When served with a head, tail, and shell still attached, it can be difficult to know which part of the prawn is okay to eat. Thankfully, it only takes a few minutes to learn how to eat this shellfish.
Steps
Use the knife to remove the prawn’s head. First, you will want to examine the prawn to see if the head, shell, and tail are there. If the head is still attached, spear the prawn with your fork to keep it in place on your dish. Using a back and forth motion, slice off the prawn’s head with your knife.
Insert the knife under the prawn’s shell and pull upwards. Skewer the prawn with your fork on one end to anchor it in place, and stick your knife beneath the shell. If you pull your knife up quickly, the shell should be freed from the rest of the prawn. Continue this process down the prawn’s body until you remove the entire shell.[3]- Keep separating the removed pieces of prawn so that they do not get mixed in with the rest of your meal.[4]
- If you can’t find the shell at first, turn the prawn on its back. Start by inserting your knife near the head and slicing downwards to get better traction while separating the shell from the body. [5]
Advertisement- Separate the tail from the rest of the prawn with a knife. Stick your fork into the prawn to hold it steady. This should be easier now that you have removed the shell. A quick slice should remove the prawn’s tail.[6]
Devein the prawn’s entire body. Look for the prawn’s intestinal tract, which will appear as a dark line running down its back. Stick your fork into the bulk of the prawn to hold it steady before using your knife to make a shallow cut around the length of the tract. Use the tip of your knife to coax the tract away from the rest of the prawn. At this point, you can eat the prawn.[7]- While the intestinal tract is not dangerous to eat, it will change the texture of a cooked prawn.[8]
- Be sure to place the prawn’s vein among the other inedible parts.[9]
- On their own, prawns can be paired with a variety of dishes (i.e, pasta, pizza, curry, burgers).[10]
- If you want to serve full prawns with the shells on, you need not devein them.
- Using a microwave to defrost prawns may make them soggy or overcooked like other things.
- Pull the prawn’s tail quickly to remove it from the body. Check for a hard, shell-like piece at the end of the prawn to see if the tail is still attached.[17] Hold the prawn securely in one hand while using the other to grip the prawn’s tail. Use a quick, forceful movement to remove the tail.[18]
- Once the shell has been removed, the remaining tail section will be significantly harder than the rest of the prawn. This should make it easier for you to identify and remove.[19]
Use your fingers to devein the prawn. Look for a long, dark line going along the back of the prawn.[20] This is the intestinal tract of the prawn.[21] Glide a fingernail down the back of the prawn to cut into the meat of the prawn. Once you have located the intestinal tract, use two fingertips or fingernails to pinch and remove the tract from the rest of the body.
Community Q&A
- QuestionDo you remove the black vein before or after boiling the shrimp? What about the black vein I see on the belly side? Do you remove that also?
Community AnswerYou can remove the black veins before or after boiling the prawn. (Your choice!). The vein on the belly does not need to be removed and it is harmless. - QuestionIs prawn skin good for you?
ArrowCommunity AnswerPrawn skin is a choking hazard and can break your teeth easily. It's not very good for you. - QuestionHow do you know when to eat a prawn?ArrowCommunity AnswerIf it smells off, do not eat the prawn. A cooked prawn tastes better than a raw prawn.
Video
Things You'll Need
- Fork
- Knife
Tips
Warnings
- If you are pregnant, check with your doctor to see if you should be eating prawns.[22]Thanks
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about cooking, check out our in-depth interview with Anne Lloyd.
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/an78zA2doDo?t=7
- ↑ https://youtu.be/an78zA2doDo?t=1
- ↑ https://youtu.be/an78zA2doDo?t=4
- ↑ https://youtu.be/an78zA2doDo?t=7
- ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/prawn
- ↑ https://youtu.be/an78zA2doDo?t=22
- ↑ https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/an-ultimate-guide-to-cook-and-eat-prawns-the-right-way-1840202
- ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/prawn
- ↑ https://youtu.be/an78zA2doDo?t=7
- ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/prawn
- ↑ https://youtu.be/uNtpqxAd3eU?t=11
- ↑ https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/an-ultimate-guide-to-cook-and-eat-prawns-the-right-way-1840202
- ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/prawn
- ↑ https://youtu.be/uNtpqxAd3eU?t=18
- ↑ https://youtu.be/wGojY6vtEsg?t=251
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/eating-shrimp-shells-recipes-tips-article
- ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/prawn
- ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/entertain/how-eat-messy-seafood-without-making-fool-yourself
- ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/entertain/how-eat-messy-seafood-without-making-fool-yourself
- ↑ https://youtu.be/uNtpqxAd3eU?t=43
- ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/prawn
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy-nutrition/art-20043844
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