The tender, slightly sweet flesh, and succulent texture of shrimp make them an easy favorite among seafood lovers. And really, even for those who aren't that big on seafood, few would turn down some grilled shrimp cocktails or shrimp fried rice . However, if you try to cook these crustaceans at home, you may find yourself put off by the natural fishy smell that wafts off the shrimp.
Here's an easy, but pretty unexpected solution to this dilemma: give the shrimp a quick milk bath before cooking. It's exactly what it sounds like. Before your shrimp are put on the heat, soak them in a bowl or pot filled with either whole or buttermilk for anywhere between 10 to 30 minutes.
After you've rinsed them in water and pat them dry, you'll find the fishy odors significantly reduced (this trick won't kill it entirely, unfortunately). Whether it's going to be grilled, roasted, sautéd, or fried, the shrimp will taste and smell much better! How milk can deodorize your shrimp What exactly happens when you soak the shrimp in a milk bath that makes it taste and smell less like a fish market? As you might've expected, the answer lies in chemistry. Shrimp and other seafood naturally contain something called trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO).
Over time after the shrimp is harvested, the TMAO breaks down into trimethylamine (TMA), which is the main culprit for that characteristic fishy smell. TMA is a volatile chemical, meaning it readily evaporates at room temperature to attack your nose. Now, anoth.