"Very little can go wrong when you're buying frozen shrimp, or so we think. There's still a chance they could have been mishandled one way or another, and it doesn't always show in glaring signs. It's the subtle red flags we should be looking for, and the easiest one to spot is ice crystals. What appears to be a natural occurrence in frozen food might just be one of the reasons your shrimp recipes don't taste as good as they should."
"We're not just talking about the regular thin frost layer you often spot on frozen shrimp. What you should be wary of are clumpy chunks of ice crystals, usually gathering in a much larger amount than typical. Normally, this is avoided thanks to the IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) technology, in which the shrimp are flash-frozen individually to keep from sticking to each other and prevent freezer-burn."
Ice crystal clumps on frozen shrimp usually signal that the product thawed and refroze during storage or transport, often from inconsistent temperatures. Such refreezing drains moisture, leaving shrimp drier and less plump, and reduces fresh flavor. A brief thaw period also enables bacterial growth that accelerates spoilage. Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) technology flash-freezes shrimp individually to prevent sticking and freezer-burn; choosing IQF over block-frozen shrimp improves home-cooked taste and texture. Block-frozen shrimp may be cheaper but suit large-scale cooking more than high-quality home meals. Checking for excessive ice crystals helps avoid compromised shrimp.
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