How to Prepare Fresh Shimp for Freezing

Learn how to preserve the flavor and texture of fresh shrimp when you freeze them.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Fresh shrimp
• salt
• cold water
• knife
• several paper towels
• freezer bags

1. Rinse the shrimp well to ensure there is no grit on them.
2. Peel the shrimp. It makes for a better presentation to keep the tails on the shrimp. Some people will want to devein them. If so, run a sharp knife all the way down the outside of the shrimp (just under the flesh), from top to bottom and scrape out anything that is black. Rinse the shrimp again.
3. Rinse one final time and drain the water off the shrimp. Pat them dry with paper towels.
4. Place the shrimp in the bag and make sure they are not so wet that they will freeze together with water/ice in between them. Press all the air out of the bag to make it air tight. Place in freezer. Cook the shrimp within two months for best results.

Tips & Warnings

• Pour a light layer of salt over the shrimp. When they begin to thaw out it will assist in the process and add flavor to the shrimp.
• If possible, an hour after you put the shrimp in the freezer, shake the bag then place back into the refrigerator. This will ensure they are freezing individually more than in one huge cluster.
• Do not over salt the shrimp
• Make sure you seal the freezer bag air tight.