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Step 1
Prepare the shrimp to be boiled. There are 2 ways to do this. The first way is to leave the shell on the shrimp. Pull the heads off and wash the shrimp in cold water. The second way is to remove the heads, peel the shrimp and de-vein the shrimp. Leave the tails on.
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Step 2
Fill your pot with water. You can add a shrimp-boil spice to the water. Shrimp-boil spices can be found at most any grocery store. Some people prefer to prepare boiled shrimp without any added spices. Added spices are optional, but you must add salt to your water. Add enough salt to the water so that it tastes like sea water. Plenty of salt does 2 things: It maintains the flavor of the shrimp and makes them easier to peel.
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Step 3
Bring the water to a rolling boil. Add the shrimp all at once. Stir the shrimp frequently as they boil. Let the shrimp boil until they turn pink. When they turn pink, this means they have cooked through. Cooking time will usually be 3 to 4 minutes. Overcooking makes the shrimp tough.
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Step 4
Drain the boiled shrimp in a colander. Chill the boiled shrimp in 1 of 2 ways: Put them into a bowl of ice or put them into a bowl and refrigerate. Let the shrimp chill for at least 1 hour.
