Below are useful tips for selecting fresh, quality shrimp, very helpful for consumers to choose safe and nutritious food for family meals or parties with friends and relatives.
Observing the shrimp tail
Checking the shrimp tail will help determine their freshness. To check the freshness of the shrimp, the shrimp need to be brought under light, the shrimp body should be extended and the width between the joints on the shell and the meat should be examined. If the joint is wide, it indicates that the shrimp has been stored for a long time or in the refrigerator. The narrower the joint, the fresher the shrimp.
Also, if you feel sand under your finger or the shrimp is slimy and sticks together, you should not buy it.
Shape of the shrimp
Unlike frozen or chemically treated shrimp or shrimp that have been left out for a long time, fresh shrimp have a slightly curved body and firm flesh. However, small and thick flesh shrimp are unusual.
Also, pay attention to choosing shrimp with flexible and intact shells, the head must be firmly attached to the shrimp body, ensuring that the shrimp is always fresh.
Shrimp legs
Observe whether the legs of the shrimp are still tightly attached to the body and the shrimp meat is firm. Also, do not choose shrimp with legs that have turned black as this is a sign that they are no longer fresh.
Avoid buying slimy shrimp
Do not buy shrimp that are slimy. Most of these shrimp often bend their bodies into a circle instead of lying flat as usual.
To check this issue, use your finger to press on the shell and move your finger back and forth a few times, then reverse it, from back to front. If you feel sand under your fingers or notice that the shrimp is slimy and sticking together, you should not buy them.
How to choose shrimp by each type
Whiteleg shrimp: This is a farmed shrimp with a fairly large size. Firstly, the shrimp must be alive, with a shiny, smooth shell. The head and legs are still firmly attached to the shrimp body. The shrimp should have a straight or slightly curved shape. The flesh between the shrimp body should be bright and transparent. This way, the shrimp is fresh and the flesh is firm.
Tiger shrimp: This type is smaller than others, but the shrimp meat has a delicious aroma and a stronger sweet taste. When buying tiger shrimp, you should choose fresh shrimp with a pink-white color. If the shell turns dark pink, it means the shrimp has been left out for a long time.
Sea shrimp: Sea shrimp looks similar to whiteleg shrimp but smaller and with a thinner shell. Fresh sea shrimp are firm, with a pink-white color, and have green eyes.
Rock shrimp: The inside of the shrimp’s tail is green, and the shell is shiny. It is best to buy shrimp that are still swimming vigorously. The outer shell of the shrimp is hard, shiny and beautiful. The shrimp should have intact claws, and the head and body should be tightly connected without the meat protruding.
How to preserve fresh shrimp
Many busy women do not have time to go to the market regularly, so they have the habit of storing food. In case of improperly storing shrimp, the shrimp heads will easily detach, the shrimp meat will not be fresh and turn black.
To properly store shrimp, you should remove the shrimp heads after purchase, clean them thoroughly, and let them drain. The shrimp heads and eyes often contain many types of bacteria that can affect the quality of the food and health.
To preserve whole fresh shrimp, process shrimp in a short period and frozen fresh shrimp, you should put the shrimp in the freezer compartments of the refrigerator or put them in the freezer to ensure a low temperature for the shrimp.
When frozen, the shrimp meat will not be attacked by bacteria, causing spoilage. Although this is a long-term preservation method, you should not store it for too long, preferably within 30 days to avoid losing the nutritional value of shrimp.
According to Education & Times
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