How to Choose Fresh Shrimp
The body and head of the shrimp must be intact and firm. If the shrimp is slimy, has been stored for a long time, or has been injected with chemicals, the body may be slightly limp and the meat may be firm but not thick as usual. When buying, choose shrimp with flexible shells, tightly attached heads, and preferably still jumping around.
Avoid buying melted shrimp. You can use your finger to press the shell and move your finger back and forth a few times. If you feel grit under your finger or see the shrimp being slimy, you should not buy it.
Observe the legs, if the legs are still tightly attached to the body of the shrimp and the meat is firm, the shrimp is still fresh. Do not buy shrimp with legs that have turned black.
How to Store Shrimp in Saltwater
Choose live shrimp that are still jumping around. After buying, wash them thoroughly, soak them in cold water, and then freeze.
Use filtered water, add a few grains of salt, and stir until dissolved.
Arrange the shrimp in a container and pour the diluted saltwater into the container with the shrimp. Cover tightly and put in the freezer. Remember to divide the shrimp into portions that are enough for one meal, so you only need to thaw one portion at a time. The saltwater should also be diluted, if it is too salty, the salt will seep into the shrimp meat making it taste salty.
The saltwater prevents the shrimp from contacting the air, helping to retain moisture and keep the shrimp fresh and maintain its beautiful color.
To thaw the shrimp, you should transfer the shrimp from the freezer to the refrigerator compartment to let the ice melt slowly. Or you can continuously pour water over the frozen shrimp to thaw the ice.
How to Store Shrimp in Plastic Bottles
There is another way to preserve shrimp using plastic bottles. You just need a few empty water bottles, preferably 300ml or 500ml bottles.
After buying, wash the shrimp with water and let them drain. Put the shrimp into the plastic bottles one by one, with the head first. If you want to fit more shrimp, gently shake the bottle to make the shrimp inside more compact.
Each bottle should only contain enough shrimp for one meal.
Once the bottle is filled with shrimp, pour water into the bottle and seal it. At this point, put the shrimp bottles in the freezer or the freezer compartment for storage.
When using, just take out one bottle, unscrew the cap, and pour cold water inside. The ice will quickly separate from the bottle. At this point, you just need to use a knife or scissors to cut the bottle to remove the shrimp.
Do not use hot water to thaw as it will make the shrimp overcooked, mushy, and not fresh when cooked.
According to Khoevadep