Deveining

Deveining is the removal of the gastrointestinal tract of a shrimp, a common part of preparing them for human consumption. The digestive tract is a dark band running from the head to the tail of the animal, where the spine would be if they were vertebrates. In females, the reproductive canal is also in the same area.

One must first cut a slit in the shell and the back of the animal. Special deveining tools are sometimes used but knives, skewers, and even toothpicks can be used to devein.^[1][2]

Removing the vein is not essential, as it is not poisonous and is mostly tasteless.^[3] Deveining does slightly change the flavour and makes it more consistent.^[4] Shrimp also sometimes consume small amounts of sand by accident and the vein thus might be gritty.

References

1. ^ What's Cooking America: All About Shrimp
2. ^ Recipe Tips: How to Prepare and Devein Shrimp
3. ^ H-E-B's Guide on Storing and Deveining Shrimp
4. ^ How to Devein Shrimp