Preparing fresh shrimp and prawns

STEP ONE: Remove the vein, or intestine that runs down the back of the shrimp, and then remove the shell if desired.

Prawn step one

STEP TWO: Make a cut through the shell beginning just behind the head and proceed all the way along the back to the tail. The cut should go about half way through the depth of the shrimp.

Prawn step two

STEP THREE: Pull the cut apart and at the bottom to expose the intestine, which is full of digestive material. Get hold of the vein at one end and pull until you have removed the entire length. The shrimp is now “deveined”.

Prawn step three

STEP FOUR: If the recipe calls for peeled and deveined Shrimp twist off the head first, then slit the shell and remove the vein in the same way, then peel off the shell and legs down to the last section from the tail. The Shrimp is now ready to cook.

Prawn step 4