How many of us love shrimps? Many people do. Shrimps are high in nutrients – proteins, zinc, and usually low in fats and calories. They belong to the class known as Malacostraca. Shrimp’s meat is delicate and soft, smooth to digest, and is an excellent food for the weak body and the person who needs nursing after an illness. There is no other better way than a steam shrimp. Follow the steps below to prepare and cook your shrimp.
Shrimp preparation may appear a bit intimidating and quite a task, but trust me, they are speedy and straightforward to cook. Did you know there are correct size names to call your shrimp? There is a long list – tiny, extra small, small, medium, medium-large, large, extra-large, jumbo, extra jumbo, colossal, and extra colossal. Now in most supermarkets, in the seafood section, the most common is the jumbo shrimps. Their commercial count is 31-35 (number of shrimp per pound).
Preparations of Your Shrimp before Steaming
When buying shrimps in the fish market, it is best they are unpeeled and not deveined. The next thing you would do is to peel and devein them – though it may not be necessary. Deveining is removing the main central vein for the shrimp. It is because some of the shrimps often have these large veins, which may be very unpleasant to consume without doing so. You can always use a hand or a machine – kitchen shears.
1. Grab each body of the shrimps such that the legs point outward from your hand, and the head extends beyond your thumb, pulling off its legs. Afterward, get rid of the shell by use of your thumbs, at the same time removing the tail. (Though optional).
2. Make a small cut on the shrimp’s back then remove the vein with a small knife or toothpick.
3. Rinse the shrimps clean. From there, your shrimps are ready to be cooked.
Something to note, some steps are not necessary; since some consume their shrimps with the veins and also tails.
How to Steam Shrimp in an Electric Steamer
1. Add a few inches of water into the bottom of the steamer. Place a drip tray in a fixed position and then the steamer bowl.
2. Rinse your shrimps thoroughly and pat dry with a paper towel and put them in the steamer bowl in a single layer.
3. Sprinkle some pepper to season over the shrimps and mix for that perfect coating.
4. Cover with a lid and steam for six to15 minutes or until the shrimps turn to orange-pink color. Ensure you don’t overcook them as they will get tough.
5. Serve with some cocktail sauce and some lemon slices garnishes if desired. With this method, it is rather easy and straightforward. You only require a small portion of water in the steamer, and then place your shrimps in it, cover with a lid and boil the water; the steam produced will cook your shrimps. How easy could that be?
How to Steam Shrimp in Microwave
1. Wash the shrimps, pat dry and put your shrimps in a microwave-proof dish in a single layer arranged form.
2. Add additional ingredients, such as seasonings, if necessary.
3. Cover loosely with a plastic wrap, allowing some small space on one side.
4. Microwave over high heat for 3 to 5 minutes, until the shrimp turns pink. If not yet ready, microwave for another 30 seconds.
5. Serve the shrimps and add extra seasonings to your preference.
Arrangement of the shrimps matters a lot in enhancing even cooking. Just like the steamer gives you the perfect steamed shrimps, so does the microwave.
Furthermore, the microwave fastens the cooking. It all depends, though, with the sizes of the shrimps. For instance, medium shrimps take 3 to 5 minutes, jumbo shrimps take 6 to 8 minutes, and so on – they vary like that.
Besides, since a microwave takes a shorter time to cook, essential nutrients of the shrimps are hence preserved.
Is It Better To Boil Or Steam Shrimp?
The discussion about which shrimp tastes nicer, boiled, or steamed one, is quite a hot one. Everyone has a different opinion – that one is better than the other.
Well, the truth is, boiling increases the chances of nutrients leaching into the water since it involves cooking food directly into the liquid. Furthermore, color, text, and flavor may even be affected in the long run. The bright colors got from cooking methods such as grilling or roasting are not the same when it comes to steaming. The flavor too gets drained into the water; thus, the shrimps may lose their flavor.
When it comes to steaming, there is the use of less water. Chances of nutrients getting leached into the water are very minimal. Change of color, texture, and flavor get also minimized considerably. You can steam shrimps over some lemon or beer, and they will turn out to be super juicy as opposed to using water.
In conclusion
Having the procedures for steaming shrimps, it is not that hard cooking them after all. Eating shrimp is healthy, especially for your body. However, do not consume it excessively as it may increase the level of cholesterol in your body.
Follow the proper guidelines for a delicious and tasteful shrimp. Before you begin cooking, have your shrimp very clean and remove the veins (intestines), tails, heads, but all these steps depend upon you. It’s just that some parts like the veins could be annoying and hard after done cooking. Devein and peel them before steaming them. It is not always that you have to do this; you may buy shrimps that already have undergone all those processes, remaining for you only to cook. Some eat with or without their shells. The shells enhance the flavor of the shrimps better.
Remember when they cook thoroughly, they have to change their color to pink and the flesh is relatively opaque.
