Soaking shrimp in soda water before cooking is a technique used by some cooks and chefs. The main reason for doing this is that it helps clean and purge the shrimp before cooking.
Shrimp naturally contain some impurities like sand and grit from their ocean habitat. The carbonation in soda water helps loosen and lift away this grit and sand from the surface and interior flesh of the shrimp. This yields cleaner, purer tasting shrimp when cooked.
Some other potential benefits of soaking shrimp in soda water include:
- Salt removal – The soda water can help rinse away excess salt from brined or frozen shrimp
- Softening – The acidity in the soda water tenderizes the shrimp slightly
- Plumping – The shrimp can absorb some of the liquid, making them plumper
While soaking shrimp in soda water can provide benefits, it is not absolutely necessary and some cooks skip this step. Thoroughly rinsing shrimp under cold running water before cooking can also help purge them.
Does Soaking Shrimp in Soda Really Make a Difference?
Many cooks and chefs claim soaking shrimp in soda water makes the shrimp taste cleaner, sweeter and less fishy. But does it really make a noticeable difference compared to just rinsing the shrimp under running water?
There is some scientific evidence that carbonated soda water can extract impurities from shrimp:
- Carbon dioxide in the soda bonds with molecules on the surface of the shrimp, lifting away particles and organic matter
- The acidity of soda water helps breakdown the proteins holding grit and sand to the shrimp flesh
- The bubbles provide agitation to dislodge debris and impurities
However, taste test comparisons between soda-soaked and simply rinsed shrimp have produced mixed results:
| Study | Result |
|---|---|
| America’s Test Kitchen | Tasters perceived a “cleaner” and “sweeter” shrimp flavor with soda soaking |
| Cook’s Illustrated | Tasters detected no major flavor differences |
| Serious Eats | Slightly sweeter shrimp flavor when soaked 1-2 minutes in soda |
So while soaking in soda may provide a subtle taste improvement, thorough rinsing is likely sufficient for most home cooks. The shrimp quality itself has a larger impact on taste.
How Long Should You Soak Shrimp in Soda Water?
If you do want to soak shrimp in soda before cooking, how long should you soak them?
The optimal soaking time depends on:
- Size of the shrimp – larger shrimp may need more time
- Temperature of the soda water – colder soda absorbs slower
- Carbonation level – flatter soda is less effective
General guidelines based on shrimp size:
| Shrimp Size | Soak Time |
|---|---|
| Small (36-40 per lb) | 1-2 minutes |
| Medium (26-30 per lb) | 2-3 minutes |
| Large (16-20 per lb) | 3-5 minutes |
| Jumbo (10-15 per lb) | 5-10 minutes |
You don’t want to soak the shrimp too long or the acidity can start cooking them. 2-5 minutes is sufficient for most shrimp.
Visually inspect a few shrimp after soaking. They should look cleaner but still retain their firm raw texture. Adjust soak times up or down as needed.
What is the Best Soda for Soaking Shrimp?
The best soda for soaking shrimp is one that is highly carbonated. More carbon dioxide bubbles will be more effective at purging impurities.
Good soda choices include:
- Club soda or seltzer water – These contain more carbonation than typical sodas
- Ginger ale – The bubbles plus ginger flavor can complement shrimp nicely
- Lemon-lime soda – The citrus notes pair well with shrimp
- Cola – Choose a brand high in carbonation like Coke or Pepsi
Avoid using flat,expired or warm soda since it will be less effective.
While plain soda water is sufficient for soaking, some chefs recommend making a quick brine by adding salt and spices to the soda:
- Old Bay seasoning
- Lemon pepper
- Chili powder
- Bay leaves
- Coriander
This infuses extra flavor into the shrimp as they soak.
Should You Soak Shrimp in Vinegar Instead?
Some cooks advocate soaking shrimp in vinegar solutions instead of soda.
Reasons vinegar may work:
- Acidity helps breakdown grit attached to the shrimp
- Antimicrobial properties kill surface bacteria
- Adds flavor like citrus, garlic or herbs
However, vinegar does not contain the beneficial carbonation that soda does. Also, vinegar can start lightly “cooking” the shrimp if soaked too long due to its high acidity.
If using vinegar, opt for short soak times of 1-2 minutes max. Rice vinegar or white wine vinegar work well.
For most applications, bubbly soda water seems preferential to soaking shrimp. But vinegar can be used in a pinch.
What About Salt and Baking Soda Soaks?
Some recipes call for brining shrimp briefly in salt water or baking soda solutions.
The main goals of these soaks are:
- Salt water – seasons the shrimp and firms up texture
- Baking soda – raises alkalinity to further remove impurities
These can be good additions after soaking in soda first. The carbonation purges impurities, then the salt or baking soda solutions can provide secondary benefits.
If doing a multi-step soak, you’ll want to limit each to 1-2 minutes. Extended soaking can degrade the quality and flavor of the shrimp.
Do You Soak Cooked Shrimp Too?
Pre-soaking raw shrimp in soda water provides the biggest cleaning benefits. But can post-cooking soaking improve the flavor of already cooked shrimp?
Some benefits of soaking cooked shrimp in soda water:
- Rinses away broth or cooking liquid residues
- Effervescence scrubs off any coagulated proteins
- Removes clinging shell or tail bits
- Infuses a bit of soda flavor into the shrimp
Aim for quick 1 minute soaks to prevent over-saturation of the cooked shrimp. Drain well and pat dry before serving or adding to recipes.
If planning to add sauce or dressings to the shrimp later, skip this post-cook soak to allow maximal coating.
Do Other Crustaceans and Shellfish Benefit From Soda Soaks Too?
The cleaning and tenderizing effects of soda water can also benefit other types of seafood:
- Lobster – Purges grit from shells and softens meat
- Crab – Removes sand from leg joints and body cavities
- Crawfish – Cleans mud and debris from head and tail
- Squid & Octopus – Rinses and tenderizes the meat
- Clams & Mussels – Freshens and prevents gritty tastes
Use soak times comparable to shrimp based on the size of each seafood variety. Larger lobster tails or whole crabs may need 5-10 minutes.
The soda soak is especially helpful for shellfish since their enclosed shells can trap more unwanted particles. But the bubbly soak benefits all types of seafood.
Key Tips for Soaking Shrimp in Soda
Here are some key tips to follow when soaking shrimp in soda water:
– Use very cold, fresh soda – this absorbs best
– Soak less than 5 minutes – avoid over-soaking
– Swirl the shrimp – agitate to dislodge particles
– Visually inspect – soak until clean but still translucent
– Drain well and pat dry – prevents soggy coating if frying
– Adjust time as needed – based on shrimp size and soda used
– Add salt, spices, vinegar – for extra flavor and cleaning power
– Ice bath after – stops cooking and firms up texture
Conclusion
While not a strictly necessary step, soaking shrimp briefly in soda water can provide some benefits of cleaning and plumping up their texture. The carbonation in soda acts to lift away grit and impurities from the surface and flesh.
Most taste testers report only subtle flavor improvements from soda-soaked shrimp. But the cleaning power of soda is backed up by science. Two to five minutes in very cold, fresh soda water can help rinse and purge shrimp prior to cooking. This is especially helpful for shrimp harvested from muddy environments.
When done properly, soda-soaking yields sweet, pure tasting shrimp that take on spices and sauces even better. While a quick rinse under water is sufficient for most, the extra step of a bubbly soda scrub can up your shrimp game just a bit more.