Should you eat shrimp heads and shells?

Cooks should consider keeping the shells and heads of shrimp as they add flavor to the shrimp dish and have some health benefits.

Shrimp is a nutritious food. Shrimp contains more than 9 different vitamins and minerals.

According to the health website Healthline (USA), 85g of shrimp contains 20.4g of protein, 0.433mg of iron, 201mg of phosphorus, 220mg of potassium, 1.39mg of zinc, 33.2mg of magnesium, 94.4mg of sodium. Shrimp is also one of the food sources of iodine - a mineral essential for thyroid function and brain health.

Cooks should consider keeping the shrimp shells and heads.

Pexels

When preparing shrimp, many people choose to remove the shell and head to make the dish look more beautiful and easier to eat. However, according to the news site Tasting Table , cooks should consider keeping the shell and head of the shrimp when preparing.

Accordingly, shrimp shells contain a number of ribonucleotide molecules. Cooking shrimp with the shell intact will help this substance penetrate the meat, helping to increase the delicious flavor of the dish. Moreover, when using high-temperature cooking methods to process shrimp, leaving the shell intact will create a protective barrier to keep the shrimp meat intact.

In addition, the shell and head of shrimp also contain chitin, which can stimulate healthy intestinal bacteria growth. When this bacterial system is healthy, it can support digestion and enhance the function of the body's immune system.

A scientific study also found that the heads of some shrimp species contain lipids, which can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, according to the US National Institutes of Health , shrimp heads are rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants such as astaxanthin and selenium, which help protect body cells.

Although nutritious, experts recommend that people with seafood allergies, high cholesterol, coughs, asthma, and digestive problems should limit their shrimp intake.

The soft texture of the shrimp shell is mainly due to the moisture in this part. Therefore, to make the shrimp shell crispy and easier to eat, the processor should use a high heat method to remove some of the moisture in the shrimp shell. One of these methods is frying. In addition, to eat the shrimp shell easily, users should choose shrimp of moderate size, according to americastestkitchen .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/co-nen-an-dau-va-vo-tom-185240313152754909.htm