How to Eat Prawns

Co-authored by Anne Lloyd and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: June 9, 2023 References

Often confused with shrimp, prawns are a delicious and healthy addition to your diet. When served with a head, tail, and shell still attached, it can be difficult to know which part of the prawn is okay to eat. Thankfully, it only takes a few minutes to learn how to eat this shellfish.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a Fork and Knife

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1
Use the knife to remove the prawn’s head. First, you will want to examine the prawn to see if the head, shell, and tail are there. If the head is still attached, spear the prawn with your fork to keep it in place on your dish. Using a back and forth motion, slice off the prawn’s head with your knife.
- Begin setting aside the parts of the prawn that you don’t plan on eating. You can do this on the edge of the dish or on a napkin.^{[1]
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- The prawn’s head is a shell segment that is separate from the rest of the body.^{[2]
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2
Insert the knife under the prawn’s shell and pull upwards. Skewer the prawn with your fork on one end to anchor it in place, and stick your knife beneath the shell. If you pull your knife up quickly, the shell should be freed from the rest of the prawn. Continue this process down the prawn’s body until you remove the entire shell.^{[3]
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- Keep separating the removed pieces of prawn so that they do not get mixed in with the rest of your meal.^{[4]
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- If you can’t find the shell at first, turn the prawn on its back. Start by inserting your knife near the head and slicing downwards to get better traction while separating the shell from the body. ^{[5]
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Stick your fork into the prawn to hold it steady. This should be easier now that you have removed the shell. A quick slice should remove the prawn’s tail.^{[6]
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4
Devein the prawn’s entire body. Look for the prawn’s intestinal tract, which will appear as a dark line running down its back. Stick your fork into the bulk of the prawn to hold it steady before using your knife to make a shallow cut around the length of the tract. Use the tip of your knife to coax the tract away from the rest of the prawn. At this point, you can eat the prawn.^{[7]
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- While the intestinal tract is not dangerous to eat, it will change the texture of a cooked prawn.^{[8]
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- Be sure to place the prawn’s vein among the other inedible parts.^{[9]
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- On their own, prawns can be paired with a variety of dishes (i.e, pasta, pizza, curry, burgers).^{[10]
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- If you want to serve full prawns with the shells on, you need not devein them.
- Using a microwave to defrost prawns may make them soggy or overcooked like other things.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Eating with Your Hands

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If your prawn has eyes, then it still has a head. Hold the prawn in one hand to keep it secure.^{[11]
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Research source} Grab just beneath the prawn’s eyes to get a firm grip on its head. Quickly twist to separate the head from the rest of the meat.^{[12]
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2
Insert the tip of your finger beneath the prawn’s shell and pull. If you touch the meat of the prawn and feel a hard surface, then the shell probably hasn’t been removed.^{[13]
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Research source} Don’t be discouraged if you can’t pry off the whole shell in one try.^{[14]
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- When cooked properly, prawn shells can be eaten.^{[15]
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- Prawn shells contain chitosan, a substance believed to help in lowering cholesterol. Still, most people enjoy shrimp shells for their texture alone.^{[16]
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3
Pull the prawn’s tail quickly to remove it from the body. Check for a hard, shell-like piece at the end of the prawn to see if the tail is still attached.^{[17]
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Research source} Hold the prawn securely in one hand while using the other to grip the prawn’s tail. Use a quick, forceful movement to remove the tail.^{[18]
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- Once the shell has been removed, the remaining tail section will be significantly harder than the rest of the prawn. This should make it easier for you to identify and remove.^{[19]
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Look for a long, dark line going along the back of the prawn.^{[20]
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Research source} This is the intestinal tract of the prawn.^{[21]
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Research source} Glide a fingernail down the back of the prawn to cut into the meat of the prawn. Once you have located the intestinal tract, use two fingertips or fingernails to pinch and remove the tract from the rest of the body.

Community Q&A

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Question

Do you remove the black vein before or after boiling the shrimp? What about the black vein I see on the belly side? Do you remove that also?

Community Answer

You can remove the black veins before or after boiling the prawn. (Your choice!). The vein on the belly does not need to be removed and it is harmless.

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Is prawn skin good for you?

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Community Answer

Prawn skin is a choking hazard and can break your teeth easily. It's not very good for you.

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How do you know when to eat a prawn?

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If it smells off, do not eat the prawn. A cooked prawn tastes better than a raw prawn.

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Warnings

If you are pregnant, check with your doctor to see if you should be eating prawns.^{[22]
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Mayo Clinic
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