Are there parasites in shrimp?

Shrimp is a kind of seafood that we often eat. How to wash the shrimp before cooking is also very particular. Shrimp is rich in many nutrients, such as protein, iron, iodine and many other nutrients. Shrimp can be cooked and eaten. Many people say that shrimp will have parasites if eaten raw. Some people wonder why there are still parasites in the shrimp if they are washed clean? So are there parasites in shrimp? Let’s take a look at it next.

1. Are there parasites in shrimp?

Yes, there are many parasites on shrimp, so you must choose one of the high-temperature boiling or frying procedures. Some bacteria that are harmful to the human body can survive for five minutes in high temperatures.

Shrimp is the intermediate host of liver fluke, and the metacercariae of liver fluke parasitize in the muscles of fish and shrimp. General condiments such as soy sauce and vinegar are not easy to kill the metacercariae in fish and shrimp. The laboratory proved that when a fish fillet with a thickness of 2-3mm is put into 90℃ hot water, the metacercariae will die after three seconds; when a larger fish is steamed and heated to 80℃ for one hour, the metacercariae in it are still alive. The metacercariae in drunken shrimp can also survive for a long time. People are infected with liver fluke by eating raw or undercooked freshwater fish or shrimp containing live metacercariae.

The key to preventing liver fluke disease is to not eat uncooked shrimp, raw fish, or drunken shrimp; wash your hands, knives, and cutting boards immediately after handling fish and shrimp; use separate kitchen utensils for raw and cooked food; and develop good hygiene habits, such as washing hands before and after meals.

2. Tips for washing shrimp

Step 1: Buy river shrimp and soak them first

If you buy live river shrimps from the market, you can put a small amount of salt in the water, soak the shrimps for 10-20 minutes to allow them to expel dirt, and then rinse them with water.

Step 2: Brush the shrimp belly

If you have higher requirements for the cleanliness of river shrimps, you can use a small toothbrush to scrub the belly of the river shrimps. If the river shrimps are relatively clean, this step can be omitted.

Step 3: Remove the shrimp thread

Here comes the point. The rectum of river shrimp is located on the back and is full of digestive residues. If it is not cleaned thoroughly, it can easily be eaten into the stomach. Removing the shrimp thread is a very important part of washing shrimp.