# Tempura shrimp question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2017, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tempura-shrimp-question/792029 "2017-07-24T13:56:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tempura-shrimp-question/792029/1 "2017-07-24T13:56:56Z")
So I’m going to make tempura for the first time sometime this week and I have a quick question. Normally if you fry shrimp, they curl up into little G shapes sorta. But every tempura shrimp order I’ve ever had, the shrimp are straight, not curly. How do they do that? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tempura-shrimp-question/792029/2 "2017-07-24T14:05:24Z")
The easy way is to run a skewer through the shrimp and cook it with the skewer in. With more effort the shrimp can be straightened before cooking by careful slicing down the center line and across in several places. You can find videos online showing the technique. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tempura-shrimp-question/792029/3 "2017-07-24T14:16:58Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > With more effort the shrimp can be straightened before cooking by careful slicing down the center line and across in several places. I don’t know about the centerline, but I make several shallow lateral cuts across the underside (inside curve) of the tail, and gently straighten them on the cutting board. Speaking of tails, Go ahead and eat the shell at the end of the tail. Crunchy, and you get some calcium. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tempura-shrimp-question/792029/4 "2017-07-24T14:22:47Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I don’t know about the centerline, but I make several shallow lateral cuts across the underside (inside curve) of the tail, and gently straighten them on the cutting board. > > Speaking of tails, Go ahead and eat the shell at the end of the tail. Crunchy, and you get some calcium. 😉 Yes, it can be done just with cross-cuts. A skewer or toothpick is used to de-vein it when you do that. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tempura-shrimp-question/792029/5 "2017-07-24T22:02:05Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Speaking of tails, Go ahead and eat the shell at the end of the tail. Crunchy, and you get some calcium. 😉 I hear that’s a good way to wreck your asshole. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tempura-shrimp-question/792029/6 "2017-07-24T22:18:07Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I hear that’s a good way to wreck your asshole. I assume you’re making a funny, but there’s even styles of shrimp where you’re supposed to eat them shell and all (like Chinese salt & pepper shrimp, for instance.) Shrimp shells are not particularly difficult to chew or eat. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tempura-shrimp-question/792029/7 "2017-07-24T22:27:57Z")
[Here’s how the professional tempura chefs do it.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy3prXiz84k) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tempura-shrimp-question/792029/8 "2017-07-24T23:05:20Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > [Here’s how the professional tempura chefs do it.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy3prXiz84k) Why would I want a chef to wreck my… Nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tempura-shrimp-question/792029/9 "2017-07-24T23:31:13Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I assume you’re making a funny, but there’s even styles of shrimp where you’re supposed to eat them shell and all (like Chinese salt & pepper shrimp, for instance.) Shrimp shells are not particularly difficult to chew or eat. Also, the heads. (But not with tempura.)