When shrimp are processed, what is done with the heads?

As a young man I worked in the seafood industry in Australia's far northern Gulf of Carpentaria. Initially in a prawn (shrimp) processing factory, then, as soon as I could escape that frozen hell-hole, as a deckhand on a prawn trawler. read more

As for the heads, they were kept on the prawns and grilled. If the grill cook was skilled enough and not in the weeds, the heads would remain on and the prawns were served as so, allowing the guest to suck out the orangey brains. Trust me, that is the best part. read more

Intact shrimp can be grilled, sauteed, steamed, or boiled. Then you can remove the heads or eat them. Every part of the head of the shrimp, aside from the shell, is edible. Shrimp heads have a wonderful, briny flavor. Your children might be put off by the shrimp heads if they are not used to them. read more

Rinse away any black matter present under the head; the long, black line that runs the length of the shrimp's body, attaching to the head, is the shrimp's digestive tract. With very fresh shrimp this often will come out of the shrimp with the head, if done properly. read more