Can someone explain the black lines in shrimp?

Question

Today I was mutilating my shrimp by trying to remove those black lines which I've heard are intestines. Some of these lines were clear or white, I guess because the shrimp hadn't eaten. And some of the bigger shrimp had two black lines, one on the top and one on the bottom. Did they have two intestines? Do I need to remove both? Do I need to remove the clear ones?

Answer 1

Deveining Shrimp

To devein: peel shrimp, use a sharp, pointed knife to cut a shallow slit down the middle of the outside curve. Pull out the dark vein, then rinse the slit under cold, running water. By running under cold water as you are trying to remove the should cut down on mutilating them.

Answer 2

They all have them on top and bottom. It's the poo, and it's really just sea grit. I personally don't take the extra time to remove it because it's not going to kill you, and I can be lazy at times. Most people just remove the top one. There is something called a devainer. It removes the shell, and the top "poo". It's essentially just a sharp peice of metal you insert into the shrimp, and push through the shrimp until the shell is removed. You can also use a kneif and just cut along the top. Good luck with your shrimp mutilation...

Answer 3

Shrimp do not have two intestines. The dark line on the outer curve of the shrimp is the intestine. This is the dark line you should remove. The dark line on the insie curve of the shrimp is a vein. You can leave this in the shrimp.

Answer 4

Yes these are poop shoots you need to run your knife down the back not cutting into the line but enought to exspose it and then take the sharp part of your knife around the top of the line crap it with the blade and your finger and remove it there is no need for you to tear oup the shrip to do it I've never heard of two poop shoots but if so take them both out if it is clear or white there is no poop in it but you can remove it if you like it just means the poop is gone lol have fun

Answer 5

The black lines on its "back" are veins that could make the shrimp tough. Remove them to improve the texture and taste

Answer 6

I was told by my mom that it's shrimp poo although I think it might be the vein. I remove it by using a sharp knife, slit along the back and scrape it off. You won't die or catch a disease if you do not remove it. It has a bitter taste but it will not affect your entire shrimp taste.

Answer 7

It is the GI tract. A lot of chefs say you only need to remove the ones in larger shrimp to avoid grittiness. I remove them all. Use a pair of scissors with small sharp blades and it's easier. It's mainly personal preference-it won't make you sick or anything,I just don't like it.

Answer 8

The vein is on top, the intestines are on the bottom. That is why when u buy deveined shrimp, the always leave the intestines in the bottom, so i remove it because i don't want to conscientiously eat poop. But to reach their own!

Answer 9

I don't know if you need to remove it, but I always have I think that someone told me you had to remove all the black and white veins or it would tasts bad but I really don't know about it!

Answer 10

Remove both of them they are the bowels of the shrimp, all creatures must get rid of waste somehow.