CorneliusThe giant prawns are always a good choice for a delectable seafood dish. In biological terms, prawns and shrimp are two separate species; their five pairs of legs have 3 claws each, while shrimp only have claws on two. However, they are interchangeable from a gastronomic standpoint and are more frequently referred to as shrimp in some countries but as prawns elsewhere. In supermarkets that sell fresh prawns, they use both names and giant, jumbo shrimps as prawns.
Tips for Buying the Best Prawns
Prawn needs vary from one individual to another. There are different types of prawns one can get depending on their needs.
1. Fresh or frozen
You can choose between getting prawns fresh or frozen. Both will work, but defrosting frozen prawns will take some time, and once cooked, they won’t have the same flavor as fresh prawns. When possible, choose fresh prawns instead of cooked ones because they tend to get harsher after cooking. Since there is no way to tell how long the store has defrosted the prawn, it is advisable to purchase frozen prawns and defrost them at home. That way, you have greater control over the process and can ensure that your giant prawns won’t be out of the freezer for excessive time before being cooked.
2. Deveined or veined
The digestive tract location of a prawn is in the thin, black tube known as the dorsal vein that runs along its top. Although it has a sand-like feel and is somewhat offensive, eating it won’t damage you. Although eating it isn’t necessarily dangerous, it might contain sand that has an unpleasant texture, may taste harsh, and can be easily disposed of. There are various techniques for deveining prawns. Asking your fishmonger to do it is the first and most straightforward option. This technique requires no tools.
3. Shell-on or pre-peeled
Self-peeling and self-deveining shrimp may seem like a lot of labor, even daunting work, but it has several benefits. Fundamentally, pre-peeled and deveined giant prawns are frequently twisted and disgusting when they reach you. Albeit it’s nearly difficult to be specific, there’s a good likelihood the prawns were shipped to a nation and peeled there. Horrible, to put it mildly, not to mention the wasted gasoline and materials used in international goods shipping. Giant shrimp with the shell on are, therefore, of higher quality and are better for the environment, but there’s another good reason to peel your prawns, the shells make excellent stock.
4. IQF or block
The 2 commonly used ways to freeze giant prawns are individually quick frozen (IQF) and five-pound blocks. IQF prawns are known to sustain ice-related damage easily. Additionally, its simple to defrost the prawns you need for a particular meal. Check the prawns for freezer burn when purchasing from a grocery store freezer by looking through the little transparent plastic window. That means the giant shrimps were improperly handled during freezing or partially thawed before being refrozen. Both of which are negative for the texture and flavor of the prawns.
5. Size of the prawn
The standard sizing terms for prawns include super colossal, colossal, jumbo, extra-large, large, medium, and small, containing 10, 15, 16-25, 26-30, 31-40, and 41-50, and 51-70 prawns per pound respectively. Knowing the pieces, you get in different size packs allows you to choose the most ideal.
Conclusion
Because they are substantial in protein, eating fresh prawns is a great way to ensure you get enough iron, vitamin E, and zinc. Several prawns, including the king, tiger, banana, and school varieties, can be used in various food recipes.