Shrimp are a wonderful thing. They can be found in many different sizes and all of them are delicious. Yet there are so many things most people do not know about shrimp, even though they are the most popular seafood in the world. Their secrets abound. Here is the first little known fact: raw shrimp are often called “green” shrimp.
Shrimp have ten legs. Since most of us do not see shrimp before they are shelled, we do not see the legs. What we call the head of the shrimp is actually the head and the thorax. It takes up half the body size of the shrimp. They are cousins to other crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters. They also are not far from insects on the old family tree, which is the reason some chefs call them “bugs.”
A billion pounds of shrimp is consumed in the United States every year. Did you know Las Vegas, Nevada holds the record for the amount of shrimp consumed in this country? It does… 60,000 pounds of shrimp per day. This is more than the rest of the country combined. That is one big pile of shrimp! About 90% of the shrimp eaten here comes from Asia and Central America, with 40% of that being farmed shrimp. Out of those billion pounds of shrimp, 80% is eaten in restaurants. It appears that Americans like to eat shrimp; they just do not like to cook it. Cooking shrimp really is not difficult… it just takes a few times to get it just right.
To quote Forrest Gump, “Shrimp is the fruit of the sea.” Of course, he then lists 21 different methods to prepare shrimp. He’s right, too. Shrimp is a very versatile food. You can use shrimp in soups, appetizers, snacks, and main dishes. You can add them to salads and almost anything else you wish. Broil them, saute them or fry them. They are all delicious.
If the terms “prawn” and “shrimp” are confusing to you, you are not alone. Even shrimp experts can mix them up. For example, the California spot prawn is really a shrimp while the ridgeback shrimp is truly a prawn. In most fish markets, any large shrimp may be called a prawn, but in actuality, there is a physical difference between the two. Shrimp have side flaps that overlap on their first three abdominal segments, while prawns first two segments are the same size.
Shrimp are a great choice for easy appetizers at any party or diner to start your meal off just right. They are available in a wide variety of sizes so you can choose some that fit your recipes and your budget. Shrimp are sold by count. This will tell you what size the shrimp are, such as colossal, jumbo, large, medium, or small. Jumbo shrimp, for example, would be labeled 21/25 on the wrapper. This means you will find 21 to 25 shrimp per pound. Serve them up to show off their pearly pink shrimpness or add them to other recipes.
Your shrimp are going to have different textures and flavors depending on where they lived and what they ate. Wild shrimp are known for their intense flavors caused by a wide variety of food. Farmed shrimp are fed a ration, giving them a blander flavor. Wild shrimp are also firmer than farmed shrimp since they must roam to find food.
When you are making easy party appetizers, let your kids help out! They will have a lot of fun and you will get a lot of help. Appetizers are fun for them to make because they are such small servings. This way everyone gets to participate in the anticipation for your party!
