What Is the “Shrimp Vein”? A Complete Guide to Understanding, Cleaning, and Cooking Shrimp

That dark line running along the back of a shrimp is actually its digestive tract—a narrow tube filled with partially digested food and waste. Despite looking like a blood vessel, which is how it earned its misleading name, it has nothing to do with veins or the shrimp’s circulatory system.

When shrimp are properly cooked, this tract is generally safe continue reading …