Leave it on for presentation. Take it off for convenience. I personally leave it on because it looks fancy and gives me something to hold. But if you’re feeding kids or a date you want to impress (for the right reasons), de-tail them first. Nobody wants to fish a tail out of their pasta.
One last thing: don’t be afraid of the freezer. Frozen shrimp are often fresher than “fresh” shrimp at the store. They’re flash-frozen right on the boat. So buy a big bag. Use what you need. The rest stays happy in the freezer waiting for your next craving.
So go ahead—raid your freezer. Cook some shrimp. You’ve got this. And if you mess up? Well, there’s always takeout. But honestly, you won’t mess up. You’re a shrimp master now. Go forth and eat tiny sea bugs like a pro.
