# shrimp tails in food **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 10, 2007, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474 "2007-06-10T16:23:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/21 "2007-06-11T03:10:05Z")
[QUOTE=Emeria] There’s a sushi restaurant in town that I eat at regularly that serves several types of rolls with a shrimp tail sticking out of the end one - it’s completely a presentation thing, but it makes for very awkward times for the poor soul who has to navigate the tail with their chopsticks. It is always the last one of its kind left behind, since no one wants to tackle it. The shrimp is in the middle of a sushi roll so it’s not easy to pinch the tail off. [/QUOTE] Sushi is meant to be eaten with one’s fingers. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/22 "2007-06-11T06:03:29Z")
I love eating the tails. Crunchy breaded fried ones are best, but depending on my mood I’ll eat 'em no matter what. I’ve always wondered if I will die young because of this. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/23 "2007-06-11T07:48:06Z")
[QUOTE=CairoCarol] I love eating the tails. Crunchy breaded fried ones are best, but depending on my mood I’ll eat 'em no matter what. I’ve always wondered if I will die young because of this. [/QUOTE] I dunno how young you are, but I’m pushing 50 and still eating the tails. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lowbrass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dc4da7/32.png) [@lowbrass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lowbrass)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/24 "2007-06-11T07:49:12Z")
Those who eat the tails - we might be talking about different varieties of shrimp. The ones I’m thinking of, eating the shell or tail is literally the consistency of eating a toenail. Also a similar flavor, i.e. none. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/25 "2007-06-11T09:49:41Z")
I´ve been living in Thailand for 5 months, and I think I average 600 kilos of shrimp a month, all tailed. The first time I said, “what the heck!”, and plopped it in tail and all, it was a very crunchy experience which I haven´t repeated. Besides I´ve never seen anyone eating the tails here anyway, so much for asian custom there. The norm being to eat with fork and spoon around here, pluking the tails can get complicated; but now I have the technique nailed down, you just pinch the water vermin at the meat/tail junction with the fork, press down on the tail with the edge of the spoon and pull away. Now, the prawns go in whole, slightly crunchy and very satisfying while surronded by pad thai. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/26 "2007-06-11T12:09:33Z")
I experienced this very problem last night, though the messy aspect seemed minor in contrast to the barbecued chicken wings at lunch. There’s no real difficulty with eating shrimp tails. Heck, clam shells are an interesting acquired taste and provide needed calcium. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/27 "2007-06-11T12:31:54Z")
[QUOTE=lowbrass] Those who eat the tails - we might be talking about different varieties of shrimp. The ones I’m thinking of, eating the shell or tail is literally the consistency of eating a toenail. Also a similar flavor, i.e. none. [/QUOTE] No I am pretty sure we are talking about the same thing :eek: I eat the tails and whole shells if they are left on and always have. It is very convienent and provides a nice texture and crunch (to me at least). ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/28 "2007-06-11T13:55:36Z")
[QUOTE=NinetyWt] I dunno how young you are, but I’m pushing 50 and still eating the tails. 😉 [/QUOTE] I eat them as well. My daughter was complaining about the tails as we dined ion a restaurant. I used my chopsticks to steal one of hers and popped it in my mouth, tail and all. As I was munching, I said in my grumpy-old-man voice, “Roughage. Great for the bowels”. Ever since then, my kids will use that line at appropriate (?) times. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/29 "2007-06-11T14:13:22Z")
You munchers are talking about those little guys right? And surely not prawns. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/30 "2007-06-11T14:17:46Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] You munchers are talking about those little guys right? And surely not prawns. Peace, mangeorge [/QUOTE] Big ol shrimps. The kind you would get in a shrimp cocktail. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/31 "2007-06-11T14:26:10Z")
[QUOTE=vetbridge] Big ol shrimps. The kind you would get in a shrimp cocktail. Seriously. [/QUOTE] But still “little ones” in some parts of the world. I had prawns in Bali (labeled “shrimp” on the menu) that were the size of small lobsters - 10 inches from stem to stern, not including the tentacley bits up top (they came as they swam, fully intact). ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/32 "2007-06-11T15:01:58Z")
[QUOTE=vetbridge] Big ol shrimps. The kind you would get in a shrimp cocktail. Seriously. [/QUOTE] Ah, shrimp cocktail. Acapulco’s (so I’ve heard) gift to the world. Yo queiro. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/33 "2007-06-11T15:19:50Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] surely not prawns. [/QUOTE] I don’t believe I’ve ever had prawns in my life. [This](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:NCI_steamed_shrimp.jpg) is the kind I’m talking about. Considering this little guy, I probably haven’t eaten any which were more than about 2 inches across, curled up like that. The tails I’ve eaten have been thin, flaky, and crunchy. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/34 "2007-06-11T16:18:52Z")
1. A lot of people, including me, eat the tails. 2. Much of the flavour of the shrimp is in the shell and tails. Unless you want to just toss this flavour out, you leave them on or you leave them wandering about the dish by themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/35 "2007-06-11T16:21:31Z")
[QUOTE=Emeria] There’s a sushi restaurant in town that I eat at regularly that serves several types of rolls with a shrimp tail sticking out of the end one - it’s completely a presentation thing, but it makes for very awkward times for the poor soul who has to navigate the tail with their chopsticks. It is always the last one of its kind left behind, since no one wants to tackle it. The shrimp is in the middle of a sushi roll so it’s not easy to pinch the tail off. [/QUOTE] I think you’re meant to eat that shrimp tail in the sushi. I always do. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/36 "2007-06-11T17:00:14Z")
Now that we have the tail question settled, how about the poop chute? Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/37 "2007-06-11T17:30:30Z")
Perhaps they give diners the feeling that the shrimp is somehow ‘fresher’ than if they were sans tail? Ahh, I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/38 "2007-06-11T17:38:02Z")
God – (looks up to check that we’re in the Pit)—#@!!! verschlugginer &\*^&& tails on shrimp in restaurants. In other words I totally agree with the OP. The point of going out to eat and spending all that money is to have a hasslefree dining experience. Having to saw off tails, or thrusting your thumb and forefinger to pick up shrimp from hot saucy dishes counts as hassle. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/39 "2007-06-11T18:31:59Z")
Sea creatures that dine on shrimp generally spit out, or don’t eat, the shell and tail. I seen it on PBS. What’s good enough for a grouper is good enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474/40 "2007-06-11T19:01:55Z")
I am perhaps a slob, but what I would do is to put the whole shrimp (or the last part, if I cut it) in mouth, suck off all the sauce and then stick the tail out of my mouth and gently pull it off. Very little muss or fuss. If there is no sauce (or I have just dipped the front in cocktail sauce, then I treat it as finger food and it is even easier. Quit all your bellyaching! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-tails-in-food/407474.md?page=3)