Marinating shrimp is an important step that you need to take before cooking it into various dishes. During the marinating process, shrimp is soaked in a mixture of some seasonings for a certain period. With the right marinating method, cooked shrimp will have a more delicious taste and aroma without any fishy smell. How do you marinate shrimp to avoid that unpleasant odor? Check out the complete tips from Frosala below!
How to Marinate Shrimp
1. Make sure shrimp is well-defrosted
If you are using frozen shrimp, make sure the shrimp is fully defrosted. This ensures that the marinade can be absorbed properly. To do this, place shrimp that is still wrapped in its plastic packaging on a colander, then place it under running water until it thaws. Also, make sure to clean the shrimp afterwards.
Read more: How to Clean Shrimp Properly
2. Use oil and acidic juice
All shrimp marinades should have 3 parts of oil and 1 part of acidic juice such as lemon or lime juice. Oil helps to keep shrimp texture juicy, while acidic juice helps get rid of the unpleasant smell. Adjust the measurement according to the portion of shrimp that you will cook.
3. Choose seasonings as needed
There are no strict rules for marinating shrimp. You just need to select seasonings that match the dish you want to prepare. Make sure the seasonings are fresh and have not been used for marinating other ingredients.
Typically, shrimp for any type of dish will pair well with salt, pepper, and a bit of garlic. If you want to cook shrimp in Indonesian style, you can add spices like ginger, galangal, lemongrass, and turmeric. For Western cuisine, you can choose olive oil, thyme, oregano, and lemon zest.
4. Marinate shrimp evenly
Make sure that the marinating process is done evenly to all the surface of the shrimp. This will ensure that each shrimp is coated with seasonings and the seasonings can absorb well, resulting in a delicious and even meal later on.
5. Let it sit for a maximum of 30 minutes
The most effective time for marinating shrimp is 30 minutes. Marinades with more acid content should only be marinated for a shorter period of time, 10-15 minutes at most, to prevent the acid from changing the shrimp’s flavor. Overly acidic conditions also cause proteins in shrimp to denature, causing shrimp texture to turn mushy. If marinated for too long, the shrimp will also have an excessively strong flavor.
Conclusion
Those are the steps to marinate shrimp and avoid them from having an unpleasant smell. Marinating is quite a simple process and can be done in just five steps, which are
- Make sure shrimp is well-defrosted
- Use oil and acidic juice
- Choose seasonings as needed
- Marinate shrimp evenly
- Let it sit for a maximum of 30 minutes
Aside from proper marination techniques, the quality of the shrimp that you choose will also determine the delectability of your dish. Choose Frosala frozen shrimp which has guaranteed quality, making it the perfect choice for any menu. Frosala shrimp are harvested from professional farms and undergo same-day freezing to ensure freshness. From whole to peeled shrimp, Frosala offers various choices to fulfill your needs. What are you waiting for? Order Frosala shrimp now!
