"Xiao Zhang, look at these shrimps, why are they so cheap?" Aunt Liu asked the young man beside her suspiciously.
Xiao Zhang picked up a shrimp, looked at it carefully, put it down, and said to Aunt Liu: "Auntie, these shrimp look quite big, but they may have been treated by pumping." After buying it back, the taste and nutritional value will be greatly reduced. ”
Aunt Liu was stunned when she heard this, recalling the shrimp she bought before because she was greedy for cheapness, and after cooking, she always felt that the meat was loose and the taste was not fresh. It turns out that herein lies the problem!
Once, Aunt Liu always thought that it was a skill to be able to buy high-quality and inexpensive prawns in the seafood market. That day, she was wandering around the market as usual when she suddenly saw shrimp in front of a stall that was particularly large and surprisingly cheap. Without thinking about it, she bought a pound and went home. However, the cooked shrimp disappointed her, not only because the meat was loose and tasteless, but also had an indescribable strange taste.
Since then, Aunt Liu has become extra cautious when buying prawns. She began to learn to observe the appearance of shrimp, smell them, and even ask her friends and neighbors for tips on how to pick them. She gradually understood that when buying prawns, you should not only look at the price and size, but also pay attention to the quality and freshness of the prawns.
This conversation with Xiao Zhang made Aunt Liu more convinced of her judgment. She decided that she must pay more attention when buying prawns in the future to avoid being deceived again. At the same time, she also hopes that her experience can remind more people not to be greedy for cheap when buying prawns, but to pay attention to quality and taste to ensure the health of themselves and their families.
01
Don't buy these shrimp no matter how cheap they are:
Shrimp motionless in the water:
It is likely that these shrimp have died. Live shrimp should be active swimming, and being motionless may mean that their freshness has been greatly reduced. Dead shrimp microorganisms will quickly begin to decompose, which will not only cause the shrimp meat to rot quickly, but may also produce harmful substances. Eating such shrimp will not only greatly reduce the taste, but more importantly, it may cause food poisoning, which will have a serious impact on health.
Shrimp with incomplete shape or separated flesh:
These shrimp may be not fresh or have gone bad. Fresh prawns, whether raised in water or frozen, should maintain their intact appearance, with the head and tail tightly connected, and the body of the shrimp having a certain curvature and remaining soft. If the shape of the shrimp is incomplete, or if the flesh is separated from the shell, it usually means that the shrimp may have been frozen after death or damaged during transportation or storage. The flesh of such shrimp may become loose, lose its original tenderness and texture, and may even produce a fishy or peculiar smell. What's more, stale shrimp can contain harmful bacteria that pose health risks when consumed.
Shrimp with black hair or fluffy flesh:
These are all telltale signs that the shrimp are not fresh or have gone bad. The black color of the shrimp may be due to the decrease in the freshness of the shrimp body due to too long, and the oxidation process causes the shrimp head to change color. The soft and inelastic meat indicates that the meat of the shrimp has begun to decompose, losing its original firmness and tender taste. Eating such shrimp may be a food safety hazard, which can easily cause gastrointestinal discomfort and even food poisoning.
Smelly prawns:
Fresh prawns should have only a light seafood flavor or be almost tasteless, while if the shrimp emit a foul smell, sourness, or other pungent odor, it means that the shrimp may have grown bacteria or mold, causing the flesh to rot. Eating such shrimp is highly likely to cause abdominal pain, diarrhea and even food poisoning, posing a serious threat to health.
Over-pumped shrimp:
These shrimp are flooded or illegally added with water-retaining agents to increase their volume and weight. This practice not only changes the natural state of the shrimp, but also causes the flesh of the shrimp to become loose and poor, and it is often watery after cooking, lacking the delicious taste of fresh shrimp. What's more, due to the large amount of water pumped in and possible additives, the actual protein and other nutrients in the shrimp meat are diluted and well below normal levels, which may cause adverse health effects when consumed for a long time.
Shrimp with abnormal skin color:
Fresh shrimp skin is usually bright in color, if the skin becomes dull, red, or has other unnatural color, it may be because the shrimp has begun to rot, or has been contaminated with bacteria or mold. Spoiled shrimp may produce harmful substances and, if consumed, may cause food poisoning or other health problems.
02
There are several ways to preserve prawns, and here are some common and effective methods:
Refrigerated Storage:
Once the fresh prawns are cleaned, place them in a sealed bag, squeeze out the air and seal.
Put the sealed bag in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator and it can be stored for a few days to a week or so.
It is important to note that refrigerated storage can still be affected by temperature and humidity, so consume it as soon as possible.
Cryopreservation:
After washing fresh prawns, there are a few different freezing methods that you can choose from.
Add sugar to freeze: Put the prawns in a sealed crisper, sprinkle with a layer of sugar, seal, and then put them in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. White sugar locks in the moisture of the prawns and keeps them fresh.
Mineral water bottle freezing: Put the prawns into a 500ml mineral water bottle one by one, don't fill it too full, then add water and add an appropriate amount of salt, cover it tightly and put it in the freezer layer, which can be stored for more than half a year.
Freeze in a plastic bag: Put the prawns in a plastic bag, squeeze out the air and seal them, then put them in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator and can be stored for months to more than a year.
Frozen shrimp can only be thawed cold, not repeatedly.
Salted preservation:
After washing the fresh prawns, marinate them with salt for about 15 minutes to 30 minutes.
Remove the water to dry, put it in a sealed bag, and put it in the refrigerator freezer, where it can be stored for days to weeks.
The salted prawns will have a slightly salty taste and need to be properly processed before eating.
Sun-dried storage:
After washing the fresh prawns, let them dry in the sun.
This method of preservation is ancient and environmentally friendly, but it requires attention to the environmental and hygienic conditions of sun drying.
Note: The health and wellness suggestions in the article are for reference only (part of the picture is from the Internet, and the infringement contact is deleted)