Prawn Cleaning

[rudiman]

Whats the bust way to clean prawns Do you have to remove the black seam in them

[mrs_overall]

I presume the prawns are cooked? If so, snap the head off, peel the shell off the body, remove the black seam. Voila, ready to eat.

[Clanad]

To make it really easy to remove the vein, spend a few dollars (or pounds) on a deveiner... seen here:

http://whatscookingamerica.net/ShrimpTips.htm ...

I find it easier to peel and devein before cooking, but they should be well chilled. I'm assuming your prawns are the same as shrimp here in the U.S.

Final advice... calling that black tract a vein isn't exactly true, but it's not exactly wrong, either. The black line found in most shrimp (or prawns) is its intestine. The black stuff is the contents of the intestine and not the intestine itself, since that is transparent. The suggested deveiner is the best way to assure removal of all the contents... in my opinion...

[Figi]

I never bother removing the black bit - life's too short. Just enjoy the prawns entrails and all.

[mrs_overall]

Sheesh...an instrument called a deveiner? It sounds like another gadget to gather dust in a drawer. What's wrong with using a knife...or fingers like I do.

[jump79]

Yes, remove the shell and the veins (dip in lemon juice to get rid of the smell). It might be easier to buy 'deveined, ready to cook' prawns next time.