Should You Leave The Shell On When Grilling Shrimp?

A question that I see posed often is should you leave the shell on when grilling shrimp? This question always comes to mind when you reach into to your fresh shrimp and realize the shell is still on. Not to worry the answer is simple. Yes you should leave the shell on when grilling shrimp. Leaving on the shell prevents drying and leaves some juices in the shellfish. Keep in mind though that the shell should have a slit in it to allow the seasonings or marinades to seep into the shrimp. Most shrimp already have a slit but check anyways especially if it’s small.

Yes shrimp are a delicious, tasty meal for outdoor grilling but not if you remove the shell when you grill them. If you don’t take the shell off though, you will have the most flavorful shrimp possible without all the drying. Also be aware that shrimp cooks fast so don’t leave it on the grill for too long! Nothing is worse than dried out blackened shrimp.

You want to choose the right topping or sauce for your grilled shrimp. Marinades are an excellent choice for grilled shrimp if you choose the right delicious shrimp recipes but don’t put on too much. A classic topping for grilled shrimp is melted butter with some old bay seasoning or garlic powder and salt. Barbecue sauce is another great sauce for grilled shrimp but be sure to add it to your shrimp just before they are done cooking. You don’t want burned BBQ sauce all over your shrimp.

To recap, the next time you ask yourself if you should you leave the shell on when grilling shrimp or take it off, remember to leave it on, but give it a slit to let the juicy marinade sink in.

Tagged as: barbecue, barbecue sauce, BBQ, fresh shrimp, grilled shrimp, grilling, outdoor grill, Outdoor Grilling, shrimp

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