You know that moment when you open a package of shrimp and your nose says, "Whoa!"? 😄 Don't worry—we've all been there.
Years ago, I stumbled across this trick in a Chinese cookbook, and I haven't cleaned shrimp any other way since. It takes less than five minutes, helps get rid of that fishy smell and taste, and makes shrimp so much more enjoyable.
It's one of those little kitchen tricks that's too good not to share. Sometimes the simplest tips are the ones you'll use forever. Now, anytime shrimp are on the menu, this is the very first thing I do. It's quick, it's easy, and once you try it, you'll probably never skip this step again.
Check out our tasty Spicy Garlic Shrimp and Broccoli stir fry
Key Takeaways
- To eliminate shrimp smell, clean shrimp by deveining, adding salt, stirring, and rinsing multiple times.
- Rinse under cold water after sprinkling salt, and repeat this process three times for best results.
- This method works on fish too; simply sprinkle salt, let it sit briefly, and rinse multiple times.
- Using this trick enhances flavor and removes any fishy taste, ensuring fresh tasting shrimp.
- Explore various recipes linked within the article to complement your shrimp dishes.
How to Get Rid of the Fishy Smell from Shrimp
See? We told you this was easy! 😄 It only takes a few minutes, and it's become a must-do anytime shrimp are on our menu.
- Peel the shrimp and remove the veins.
- Place the shrimp in a medium bowl.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of salt over the shrimp.
- Gently stir the shrimp for 1 minute.
- Transfer the shrimp to a colander and rinse well under cold running water.
- Return the shrimp to the bowl and sprinkle with another teaspoon of salt.
- Stir for 1 minute.
- Rinse thoroughly under cold running water.
- Repeat the process one more time with the final teaspoon of salt.
- Give the shrimp one last good rinse, and they're ready to cook!
That's it! Three quick rounds of salt, stirring, and rinsing can make a huge difference in the smell and taste of your shrimp.
A Helpful Tip
Since we live in Ohio, we know Lake Erie isn't exactly famous for its fresh shrimp! 😄 All of the shrimp we buy are frozen, and that's actually a good thing. Shrimp are often frozen shortly after they're caught, which helps lock in their freshness.
Just let the shrimp thaw completely before using this salt trick. We've used it on frozen shrimp for more than 20 years, and it has never let us down.
Now the only thing your kitchen will smell like is whatever delicious recipe you're making... and that's a whole lot better than "Eau de Shrimp!" 😂
First step is to clean the shrimp
Remove Shrimp Shells and de-vein
Place the shrimp into a bowl
Sprinkle one teaspoon of salt onto the shrimp.
Stir the shrimp for one (1) minute
Put Shrimp in a colander and rinse under cold water
Hack to cut the Shrimp Smell
- Just add a teaspoon of salt,
- Stir for one minute, and
- Give it a good rinse.
- Repeat 3 times
It Works on Fish, Too!
Yep... this little trick isn't just for shrimp! 😄
If your fish has a stronger smell than you'd like, you can use the same salt method. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of salt over the fish, let it sit for about 30 seconds, and then gently rinse it under cold running water. Repeat this process three times, being careful not to handle the fish too roughly since it can be delicate.
We usually buy our fish the same day we plan to cook it, but this simple trick has helped take away that overly "fishy" smell more times than we can count.
Who knew something as simple as salt could become one of our favorite kitchen hacks?
Your shrimp smell fresh, your kitchen smells better, and now it's time for the fun part—cooking! 😄 Here are a few of our favorite recipes to put those freshly cleaned shrimp (or fish!) to delicious use.
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