Make sure you use cold water because warm water will harden the texture of your shrimp. Prepare another part of your meal while the shrimp thaw to save time in the kitchen.

Add salt to the water if your shrimp were frozen to refresh the flavor. Just add 1 to 2 teaspoons (6 to 12 grams) of salt per 1 quart (0. 95 L) of water. [3] X Research source

All of your shrimp should be either raw or cooked, so they can be in the same bowl.

What if the recipe says “head-on”? Just skip this step. The heads add a unique flavor that’s sweet and buttery, and they help keep the shrimp moist.

Alternative: Try the fork method! Push the bottom tine of a fork under the top of the shell where the vein is. Then, pull up to break the shell. Use your fingers to pull the shell off the rest of the way. Save the shells to make shrimp stock, seafood soup, or bisque. [8] X Research source Just rinse them and freeze them. They’ll stay fresh in your freezer for up to 3 months.

Can you leave the tail on? Leave the tail on raw shrimp if your recipe calls for tail-on shrimp. Similarly, you might leave the tail on cooked shrimp if you like the look. For instance, a shrimp cocktail looks great with tail-on shrimp. To peel the shrimp faster, just leave the tails on.

Only make a shallow cut because the vein is right under the skin. You could also use a deveining tool, if you have one. [11] X Research source You don’t need to devein small or medium shrimp unless the vein bothers you. [12] X Research source

The vein is the shrimp’s digestive system. Eating it won’t hurt you, but it typically tastes bitter and might add grit. Some shrimp have a second vein on their belly. You don’t need to remove this vein unless it really bothers you. If it does, simply cut along the belly with your paring knife, then pull out the vein. [14] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source

You might want to rinse them again if there’s any stuck-on debris left from the veins. However, this usually isn’t necessary.