If you are as scared as I was of buying and cleaning prawns this blog might just help. Well it is a tough task- always- especially if you have to clean small sized shrimps. I would label this task as annoying, disgusting and tiring but what has to be done has to be done. For the love of eating prawns, you have to learn this art! Soon enough you will develop an obsessive-compulsive disorder, as you will check each prawn if its de-veined or not before you put it in your mouth!

I learnt this method from a pro- Erika.

This is what you will need

• Prawns
• Knife- a good sharp knife  (parring knife)
• Corn starch (Potato Starch)

If the prawns are not de-shelled- get ready for a messy business. Buy fresh prawns if you can, the wiggly ones are the freshest!If picking them from a market, just make sure you pick the ones that were nicely covered in ice.

 

Prawn has three body parts -head, body and tail. (you gotta know the biology!)

Step 1: Beheading the prawn

You can just tear off the head of the prawn by bending it off like you break a stick. Just make sure you don’t break the body. You will be able to tell where the head ends. Look closely!

Step 2: Taking off the tail and the outer shell

Once beheaded, you can easily remove the shell.First remove the center body shell  backwards i.e. from legs to top.  For the tail I find it best to pull it off- this way the meat stays good. For some recipes you can keep the tail- to some people that looks pretty when cooked!

Step 3: De-veining

Now to de-vein take a knife in one hand and hold the prawn in the other hand.

Hold the prawn so as the back of the prawn (the fat side) is facing you. You might also see a black vein on that side. If not , don’t worry you will find it!

Now from the very top to the bottom of the prawn slit through with knife. Make sure the cut is not too deep or it will turn out very ugly when you cook it!

With the help of the tip of the knife, take out the black vein (can be partially white to!) running all the way through the body. You can also use your fingers. You will figure out what is the best way out!

There is a chance especially in small shrimps that you might not find the vein- just might! So please don’t throw that poor shrimp away. It saved you a minute and a half!

Step 4: Washing

Prawns can be very dirty- so washing them with just water will not help. Sprinkle  the prawns with potato starch or corn starch, quote them and then wash it twice!

Step 5: Storing the prawns

If you don’t want to use the prawns right away you have two options

1: you can half boil them and refrigerate. Take them out as soon as they turn white.  Thats the best option of the two.

2: you can keep raw cleaned prawns in a bowl of water and place it in refrigerator-so they don’t dehydrate!