Where’s the Shrimp?

Shrimp is America’s favorite seafood. A great deal of the shrimp that we consume comes from American waters. However this percentage is rapidly declining. With the recent oil leak in the gulf, I am sure that shrimp harvests in Gulf waters are going to take a big hit. I don’t think anyone knows how bad it’s ultimately going go be.  The big question is will gulf shrimp be healthy to eat. Some of the authorities say there is not going to be a problem with gulf seafood..If you believe that then I have some beach front property that I would like to sell you in Wyoming. Bottom line smell you purchases before you buy. My number one rule is to never buy shrimp or seafood that is packaged under plastic!  Never, Ever, Ever! This is the old stuff! Don’t let anyone tell you differently. Raw shrimp should smell of the sea with no hint of ammonia. We are going to be seeing more and more fresh water shrimp at our grocery stores and seafood markets….Fresh water shrimp do not have the same succulent flavor of wild shrimp..  Also fresh water shrimp are fed a questionable diet to say the least.The best way to know what you are buying is to ask you seafood monger where you shrimp came from.

Fresh or Frozen
It is very difficult to get fresh shrimp these days unless you live near coastal waters where shrimp are fished. This is not necessarily bad news. Many of the wild shrimp that are available these days are caught by factory boats that have the ability to flash freeze fresh  shrimp in a matter of minutes. This process preserves the freshness of the shrimp and insures that they will arrive at the market in pristine condition. If you freeze the shrimp that you purchase, I recommend that you purchase a vacuum packaging machine and vacuum seal the shrimp. (I will be providing you with a good source for a reasonably priced commercial machine that is comparable in price to the machines that you see on television, but highly superior in results. Also I will be providing with a source for vacuum bags that are priced so you don’t have to mortgage your house. You should use this method for all food products that you freeze…Forget about plastic bags and freezer paper.they don’t work!)

Different Kinds of Shrimp
Shrimp comes in all manner of colors including reddish-to light brown, pink, deep red, grayish white etc. All shrimp shells change colors when cooked. Shrimp are marketed according to size: Colossal (10 or less per pound), Jumbo((11-15), extra large (16-20), large (21-30),medium (31-35), small (36-45)..The larger the shrimp the higher the price. But keep this in mind. A pound is a pound is a pound. Let me explain. A pound of colossal shrimp yields the same amount of meat as a pound of small shrimp!  The Colossal may cost upwards of $20 a pound whereas the small shrimp may cost around $3 to $4 dollars a pound.  You still have a pound of shrimp. So when you are buying shrimp always take into consideration what you are going to do with them. If you are making shrimp cakes go with the smaller shrimp. Buy the appropriate size for you intended preparation. Before storing fresh, uncooked shrimp, rinse under cold, running water and drain thoroughly,tightly cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days….However it is best to cook them on the day that you make your purchase.

Processed Shrimp Products
Don’t waste your money! Most of these product taste like crap, and are made with past it’s prime product and then frozen, put in a plastic bag with a pretty picture on the front…What you find in the bag has no relationship to the picture on front of the bag. Life is too short to take short cuts and eat crap! Shrimp recipes are incredibly easy to master if you follow a few short rules. I will be giving you an incredible recipe at the end of this post that will help in your shrimp cooking quest.

Preparation 
The vein runs along the back of the shrimp, from head to tail. Whether or not to devein shrimp is a matter of personal preference. In general small and medium shrimp do not need deveining except for cosmetic purposes. However because the intestinal vein of larger shrimp contain grit, it should be removed.

Ultimate Seafood Food Sources in America

Browne Trading Company (www.brownetrading.com)

This company provides some of the finest seafood in the USA and the World. They supply many of the rock star chef’s and restaurant’s in the country.. They specialize in smoked fish, caviar, fresh seafood, and shell fish. They can get most anything from around the world, and I assure you that it will arrive to you in fresh pristine condition. This is not your everyday fish monger..But when you want to get something  for  a special occasion or event this is the place to go.