Shrimp Tails in Pasta – Delicious or Disgusting? You Decide!

Imagine biting into mouthwatering pasta carbonara only to discover a crunchy, inedible shrimp tail hidden in the creamy sauce. 

Much to the customer’s dismay, it’s a common experience, as many high-end restaurants leave shrimp tails on in pasta dishes and other offerings. 

Why do restaurants leave the shrimp tails on in these dishes, and are they safe to eat?

Customers have mixed feelings, but there are plenty of points for and against leaving shrimp tails on in a dish. 

Can You Eat Shrimp Tails?

Yes, you can eat the shrimp tail. There’s a lot of flavor in the tail, and it contains many essential nutrients, like calcium. 

But that’s not the question. Shrimp tails aren’t dangerous (unless you have a shellfish allergy), but that doesn’t mean you want to eat them. 

They’re hard, crunchy, tough, and difficult to chew. Biting down on a tail also destroys the texture of a dish. So, although you can safely eat them, many of us don’t want to. 

Why Do They Leave Shrimp Tails On?

picture of a pasta dish with shrimp tails intact
Photo Credit: alle12 via Canva.com

If most people dislike shrimp tails, why do most restaurants leave them on?

Discover the top reasons. 

It’s Normal

Most Italian restaurants leave shrimp tails intact, even in creamy pasta dishes. The recipes call for it. 

People enjoy eating the entire tail in many cultures, so it’s expected to leave them on when cooking a dish. 

That doesn’t mean we have to like it, though. 

Tails Add Flavor

Shrimp tails are flavorful, so keeping them on while cooking should enhance the dish’s flavor. When things get cooked together, their flavors seep into each other, ensuring every bit has the perfect balance. 

Does leaving the tails on shrimp make that much of a difference? I don’t think we’ll ever know, but many chefs believe it does, so they leave the tails on. 

More Efficient to Leave it

Restaurants may opt to leave the tails on because it’s easier. When you’re cooking for a crowd, every second counts. The precious minutes it takes to remove every tail from every shrimp could be better spent elsewhere. 

Keep the Tails on for Aesthetics

In high-end restaurants, the plating is nearly as crucial as the flavor. Shrimp look better with the tail on. It’s more visually appealing to the patrons. 

Lower-end restaurants may keep the tail on for a similar reason: the dish looks bigger. 

Arguments for Taking the Tails Off

shrimp pasta dish without tails
Photo Credit: Mehrab via Canva.com

Many hate shrimp tails and think restaurants should remove them. Here are the best arguments for taking the tail off, especially in creamy dishes. 

There are Other Ways to Flavor

For the sake of argument, let’s say that chefs leave the tail on to enhance the flavor. Is that the only way to get it?

Couldn’t a chef cook a dish with empty shells and remove them before serving? Could they wrap the shells in a cheesecloth?

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. 

People Shouldn’t Have to Fish Through Their Food

We understand shrimp tails in fried shrimp and finger foods. But they’re horrible in soups and creamy dishes you must eat with a fork. 

Those who don’t want to eat the tails must dig through their food to find the offending pieces, then get their fingers all messy as they fish it out and remove the tail before eating. 

And What To Do with the Tails?

If you’re at a fancy dinner, do you really want to fill the table with half-eaten shrimp tails? How do you politely bite the shrimp from the tail, remove it from your mouth, and put it back on the plate?

The Tail & Vein Are Dirty

Some people want the shrimp to be detailed and de-veined because we all know what that black line down the shrimp is. 

Poop. It’s shrimp poop. 

Of course, you could de-vein the shrimp without removing the tail, and shrimp poop isn’t dangerous to eat. 

Tails Make it Difficult to Eat

The biggest reason we hate shrimp tails in pasta is because they make the dish harder to eat. Sometimes, we just want to shove the soft, creamy noodles into our mouths without worrying about biting into a hard chunk.

Does it Really Matter?

Though the internet debate rages ever onward, we must stop and ask a crucial question:

Does it really matter?

Not really. It’s not that hard to take the tails off as you eat. Those who want to eat the tails can. If you’re cooking at home, you can do whatever you want. 

Tails On or Off?

What do you think about the great shrimp tail debate on Reddit? Would you prefer meals with intact shrimp tails, or would you rather a restaurant de-tail shrimp before tossing it in pasta?

 

Author: Melanie Allen

Title: Journalist

Expertise: Pursuing Your Passions, Travel, Wellness, Hobbies, Finance, Gaming, Happiness

Melanie Allen is an American journalist and happiness expert. She has bylines on MSN, the AP News Wire, Wealth of Geeks, Media Decision, and numerous media outlets across the nation and is a certified happiness life coach. She covers a wide range of topics centered around self-actualization and the quest for a fulfilling life.