Deveining
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Deveining is the removal of the gastrointestinal tract of a shrimp, a common part of preparing them for eating. The digestive track is a dark band running from the head to the tail of the animal, where the spine would be if they were vertebrates. In females the reproductive canal is also in the same area.
The vein is relatively easy to remove. One must first cut a slit in the shell and the back of the animal. Special deveining tools are sometimes used, but most people just use a small knife. The vein is strong enough that when pulled it usually comes out in its entirety.
Removing the vein is not essential, as it is not poisonous and is mostly tasteless. Deveining does slightly change the flavour and makes it more consistent. However, aesthetically the vein does not look appealing. Shrimp also sometimes consume small amounts of sand by accident and the vein thus might be gritty. For females the reproductive canal contains roe that is highly prized by some, but others dislike it. With small shrimp the vein is barely detectable and is rarely removed.
