prawns... eat them whole or de-shell them?

[Dupont666]

Now for prawns i always de-shell them before eating.... I know someone who takes the head off and eats the body, shell and all.... and I know someone who is just so lazy they just eat it whole.

Which do you do and why?

Is eating the shell and head ok?

Part of the fun to me is to de-shell the little buggers....

[dougc]

Head meat is fine. Intestinal tract is not. Fully shell and de-vein if needed.

Can't imagine that the shell is particularly pleasant to eat? You can't really chew it can you?

[grumbledoak]

Dupont666 said:

Is eating the shell and head ok?

No, not normal. Your mate is

Head off, shell off, poo tube removed, thanks. And cooked, in case that too is a matter of debate among your mates.

[prand]

you can eat teh black vein along the back. it's not poisonous.

[Wadeski]

All depends on how they are cooked. Deep fried in hot enough oil, for example, as is common in some Chinese dishes and the shell becomes crispy and brittle, and very edible.

Personally, I tear off the head, suck out the nice head meat and brains, then de-shell and scoff the tail.

[Dupont666]

prand said:

you can eat teh black vein along the back. it's not poisonous.

but if you dont... the larger prawns can taste gritting or sandy

[Dupont666]

on a side note, does anyone know any good online shops that i can get some from that are not extortionate?

[Watch-Collector]

Find a good Asian Supermarket wholesaler, normally have the best deals for frozen stuff.

[whitechief]

If they have been barbequed I sometimes can't be arsed to peel them and will eat the shells too, but if they are just boiled I peel them. Shrimps I pull the head off and eat with the shell - brown shrimp

[Pferdestarke]

De-veining is necessary but a pain. I did 60 crevettes recently and it took me an hour.

If you're deep-frying them I would eat some shell as it's really crisp. Bbut not all of them.

Edited by Pferdestarke on Thursday 12th March 17:40

[Shaw Tarse]

Wadeski said:

All depends on how they are cooked. Deep fried in hot enough oil, for example, as is common in some Chinese dishes and the shell becomes crispy and brittle, and very edible.

Personally, I tear off the head, suck out the nice head meat and brains, then de-shell and scoff the tail.

&