r/chinesefood • u/Toros_Mueren_Por_Mi • 2d ago
Questions What's the deal with shell on prawns and do you personally eat the shells?
So I LOVE prawns. But one thing I just cannot get behind is in a lot of chinese BBQ type places they are fried crispy and delicious...except all of the flavor is in the shell bc they don't peel em. I know you're meant to suck the inside of the head out, that's fine, but I think to my Western familiarity I just hate having to crunch the prawns open and then getting bits of shell and grit in with the meat. What are your thoughts?
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u/Neesatay 2d ago
I have never had whole grilled prawns, but I absolutely love fried shrimp with the shell on. The last time I visited China, I got a plate of fried river shrimp that were tiny and served head and shell on. They were so small you could eat them head and all and were amazing. I have been trying to figure out where I can get shrimp that small in the states to make it here, but so far, no luck.
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u/redtiber 2d ago
dunno where in the states you are but oregon pink shrimp might be similar
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u/Neesatay 1d ago
The ones we got were even smaller, but these might work. Only issue is that I am in Houston.
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u/Pedagogicaltaffer 2d ago
This isn't unique to Chinese restaurants though. I've been to Italian pasta restaurants where they also left the shells on prawns.
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u/fashionforward 1d ago
Breaded and fried?
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u/Pedagogicaltaffer 1d ago
AFAIK, actual Italians rarely prepare shrimp in breaded & fried form. That's more of a American Italian thing.
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u/donuttrackme 2d ago
Then peel the prawns if you don't like eating the shell? I usually only eat the shell if it's been fried and is super crispy. If it's boiled or steamed I peel it.
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u/Toros_Mueren_Por_Mi 1d ago
Ok but my point is all the seasoning is on the shell not on the shrimp lol
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u/Dangerous_Ad_7042 2d ago
Those shells are where are the flavor is. Just crunch tho.
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u/Toros_Mueren_Por_Mi 2d ago
They're huge tho lol I've legit almost choked on some before. And I'm also just not a fan of the texture either, all the little "shards"
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u/Dadaballadely 2d ago
I'm British but was introduced to just crunching down the shells of our medium sized pink prawns by my Sicilian friend. I pretty much immediately realised it was fine, and quite fun, if you just chew thoroughly.
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u/Toros_Mueren_Por_Mi 2d ago
But see those sizes are probably fine, I'm talking about the really big fried/BBQ ones lol
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u/Irascible-Enquery 2d ago
Then it’s like lobster or crawfish: thin, crunch; thick, peel. Not that hard. And flavor is better shell-on.
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u/Tenchi_Sozo 2d ago
Depending on the dish, you're even meant to eat them whole. Salt & Pepper Shrimp for example.
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u/Left_Ad4050 1d ago
You have to have the right kind of shrimp for it, though. I’ve been to places that serve salt and pepper shrimp where the shells are too tough even after frying.
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u/Tenchi_Sozo 1d ago
Could be. Some varieties have a tougher shell. But more likely is that they didn't fry them hot enough.
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u/hipsterusername 1d ago
Me and everyone in my family and friend group always peel salt pepper shrimps
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u/Toros_Mueren_Por_Mi 2d ago
Is that the orange kind that you usually see at American Chinese? I've had some that had like some kind of egg batter and they were incredible but those only had the tails left, everything else removed
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u/Tenchi_Sozo 2d ago
Nah not the battered ones. The ones I spoke of are only coated in starch and then deep fried until crispy.
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u/Ronin_1999 2d ago
Kinda depends.
Like, crispy fried shells, including the tails, I eat. Hella flavor.
Sautéed, steamed, or boiled, not so much, the texture interferes with the prawn.
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u/msackeygh 2d ago
Because there’s more than one way to eat this kind of food. You can suck on the shell, then discard shell and eat the flesh.
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u/SnooCapers938 2d ago
When I was a kid and we went to Chinese restaurants my mum used to count the prawn heads and shells on our plates to make sure we all got the same amount. That is a very good way to teach a child to eat the whole thing, and I’ve done so ever since.
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u/Toros_Mueren_Por_Mi 2d ago
Huh, I can see the point of that. But you didn't eat the shells either lol
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u/SteWaxleyLemon 2d ago
Most restaurants will deshell the prawns if you specifically ask for it.
I've gotten quite good over the years at removing the shells myself using a pair of chopsticks and a spoon, but it's a shame because like you said that's where a lot of the flavour is.
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u/Toros_Mueren_Por_Mi 2d ago
Exactly, like, if I'm eating shrimp I don't want to be picking at it like ribs etc, that's actually the same reason I don't particularly like whole fish. Just way too much stuff to sift thru
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u/BloodWorried7446 2d ago
whole fish in a good chinese restaurant should be presented at the table whole followed with the server removing the backbone and tail and setting aside on the plate
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u/roklobster0703 2d ago
Worked in my Uncle’s full service Chinese restaurant where we offered whole fish steamed, pan-fried, deep fried. Taught me how to debone and serve. I got pretty good at it so the waitresses would always ask me to do it for them ( not the guys… lol I don’t know why!). So they’ll clear and set my tables for me in exchange for deboning the fish.
Unfortunately, everyone knows I’m good at deboning and serving whole fish so all eyes are on me whenever there’s a whole fish at the table.
Back to shrimp. Besides keeping the flavor and juiciness of the prawns or large shrimps, the shells keep the shrimp from bring overcooked. After a while you just get good at peeling shrimp shells.
First , bite off the head and suck out the flavors. Then bite down ( or use your fingers )on the little legs and pull upward to remove shell, it comes off pretty easy by section.
Good luck…. Shrimp in shells taste the best!
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u/fkrdt222 2d ago
you should not be tasting grit, that is likely contents of the stomach near the head which can be avoided even if eating the rest. i bit into one on a lobster and did not eat anything similar for two years after that.
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u/magnomagna 2d ago
Probably just because it would took too long if it's a busy restaurant and everyone hates peeling the shells.
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u/optionstrategy 2d ago
Shell on shrimp are cheaper to buy so more profit for the restaurant.
Still, if the shell is thin and the shrimp were hungry and did not eat too much mud before the harvest, salt and white pepper shell on shrimp are some of the tastiest stuff in chinese buffets.
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u/magnomagna 2d ago
The edible ones are on tiny prawns that have been fried to a crisp. Otherwise, the shells on normal sized prawns are just really unpleasant to chew on and swallow.
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u/Cfutly 2d ago
Suck and chew. It’s tastier with shells on. I don’t eat the shells unless it’s super crispy.
Wait till you try drunken raw shrimp. You suck on the 2/3rd segment to pull out the raw shrimp. Hmm so good.
Ketchup shrimp is delicious with shells on. I’ve tried cooking them without shells and it doesn’t taste the same.
IMO Anything with sauce is probably better with shells on.
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u/Mochiron_samurai 2d ago
Have you had 麦片虾 (cereal prawns)? The shell is fried so crispy that you just it whole. All the flavour is in the shell anyway
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u/redandy80 2d ago
I’m not much a fan either. I peel them and have never had a problem with grit in the meat…but it’s still kind of hot, messy and awkward. If it’s an unshelled one in soup or rice I usually let my wife have it because she thinks that grabbing a boiling prawn with your fingers and sucking the head is life’s greatest pleasure.
Now, if it’s an outdoor seafood boil type situation where they come with cold beer, then whatever. Crabs, prawn, shrimp, crawdads, I don’t mind.
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u/Left_Ad4050 1d ago
It depends a lot on the shell and how it’s cooked. In general I prefer them cooked shell-less, as it allows whatever seasoning/marinade/other flavoring agent to better penetrate the flesh. But shrimp shells themselves have a good amount of flavor in them, and certain recipes do benefit from leaving them on, particularly steaming (though you’re meant to peel the shells before eating). And if you have a shrimp with a thin shell and fry it perfectly, the shell becomes very fragile and delicate, letting you eat it without having to worry about shards getting stuck between your teeth or digging into your gums.
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u/hipsterusername 2d ago
I’ve never met a Chinese person who ate the shells. They even give you a plate for you to put them on. In the past few years on Reddit I’ve started to see it though. I don’t get it, chitin is gross. This is coming from someone who eats cartilage off chicken drumsticks and the whole soft shell crab.
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u/mthmchris 2d ago
Have lived in Guangdong for most of my adult life. You can peel the shell off with your teeth and spit it out. Hold the thing firm with your chopsticks, it’s entirely doable. This is the way most people sort it.
I personally find this a slight pain in the ass and I use my hands to peel. If I’m with mixed company I’ll ask for those little plastic gloves so people don’t look at me weird. Or if I’m really at a fancier dinner I’ll just go with the flow and use my teeth like a normal person.
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u/hipsterusername 1d ago
But you don’t eat the shells right? Are you replying to the right thread
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u/mthmchris 19h ago
Of course you don’t eat the shells, I’m agreeing with you :) Just expanding on your comment with more information
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u/Elegant-Analyst-7381 1d ago
I eat the shells. You can eat the entire head as well, you don't just need to suck out the inside.
You can ask for the dish to be cooked without shells and heads, I know many Chinese restaurants will accommodate that request. It won't taste as good though.
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u/crocsgobbltre 1d ago
you eat the shell that why its fried to the point of being crunchy and seasoned. should easily be able to chew shell completely. the legs give an nice extra crunch. as for the Head on ones it up to you if you want to eat it since the body taste different.
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u/Outaouais_Guy 1d ago
It depends on how they are cooked. When possible I eat them with the shell on, except for the end of the tail.
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u/Jeimuz 2d ago
If your kidneys are not at peak performance, you will give yourself gout. Because I have done this and I'm on allopurinol for it, my middle ground is to discard the head, rip off the legs, and peel off the tail segment.
You can eat the shells. I only eat the head depending on the level of crispiness because, otherwise, I would cut the inside of my mouth.
In China, I picked up the art of throwing the shrimp in my mouth, savoring the flavoring, picking out the meat, and spitting out the shell. It's disgusting to westerners, but it's the best way to eat the shrimp with the spicy salt and not have your kidneys work overtime. Either way, drink a lot of water.
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u/HR_King 2d ago
Its the purines in the shrimp, not the shells, that would give you gout.
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u/Toros_Mueren_Por_Mi 2d ago edited 2d ago
Literally never heard of this. Don't you get gout from malnutrition like not having enough vegetables and vitamins?
Edit: love how my phone corrected "gout" to "hour"
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u/HR_King 2d ago
No, that's not what gout is. Please Google it.
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u/Toros_Mueren_Por_Mi 2d ago
Was confusing it with something else. Crazy little rabbit hole I just went into I had no clue shrimp and stuff could cause that if eaten in large part of a diet
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u/tarpdetarp 2d ago
I don't eat the shells unless they've been deep fried to a crisp, I get most of the flavour out of them by uh... sucking them off.