How to Prepare Fresh Shimp for Freezing

Shrimp are among the highest priced meat products on the market today. For those who raise or catch their own shrimp it is important that they are preserved right. When preserved right shrimp they maintain flavor and texture on thawing.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Salt
• Corn Syrup
• fresh shrimp
• Water
• Freezer

1. Cold conditions slow down bacterial growth Shrimp should be processed fast before any bacteria have time to spoil them usually within 1/2 hour after the catch or kept in ice until processed
2. wash them well Remove the heads of shrimp and devein them. It is up to you if you either want to keep shells and tails on or take them off.
3. Brine Wash shrimp well with some salt sprinkled on them and remove any debris attached to them after the deveining.
4. Corn syrup Make Brine solution as follows
   2.53 LB /gallon salt
   0.12 gallons /gallon corn syrup
5. Salt The salt acts as preservative and stops bacterial growth. Also prevents icicles from forming in the shrimp tissues so when shrimp is thawed it loses juiciness and flavor.
   The corn syrup forms a glaze that keeps shrimp from dehydrating during extended time in the freezer. Dehydration slowly removes weight from the
   frozen shrimp which reduces the quantity that is packed out. Second, the sugar glaze prevents the shell from becoming rough and pitted.
6. Freeze em in a freezer Put the shrimp in brine and freeze them. Brine causes the shrimp to freeze faster than in normal water and preserves flavor.
7. Once frozen drain the brine off and put them in plastic bags and keep them frozen till they are ready to thaw and use.

Tips & Warnings

• Notice that the shrimp will not taste salty because of the brine as this is how commercial companies freeze shrimp too, except that they add another ingredient to preserve the fresh appearance of shrimp(sodium metabisulfite)
• While cleaning shrimp wear gloves