Shrimp Deveiner

A kitchen utensil that serves as a tool to remove the intestinal black vein when preparing either cooked or raw shrimp. As a knife, the deveiner allows the lower portion that is ridged to strip out the vein, while the upper beveled knife edge serves to cut the shell as it moves from the head down to the tail of the shrimp. Typically, whether veins are in or out, seldom is there a flavor difference unless the vein is large and contains a higher volume of grit and digested material. It is removed more for the appearance than taste. Some cooks preparing shrimp also remove the thin line of material that runs along the belly section of the shrimp, referred to as the ventral nerve cord that controls the movement of belly muscles. However, this cord is seldom removed and is not harmful to be consumed.