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Fish & seafood · Shellfish

Shellfish

Crustaceans (prawns, crab, lobster) and molluscs (mussels, clams, oysters, scallops, squid, octopus).

69 recipes with it

What it is

Shellfish is a kitchen term for two unrelated groups. Crustaceans have jointed legs and hard shells that turn red-pink when cooked: prawns, crab, lobster, crayfish. Molluscs include bivalves in hinged shells (mussels, clams, oysters, scallops), sea snails such as conch, and cephalopods (squid, octopus, cuttlefish). They cook quickly and toughen when overcooked, apart from octopus and conch, which also suit long cooking.

How it’s used

  • Stir-fries, curries and pasta
  • Steamed or boiled seafood platters
  • Paella, bouillabaisse and seafood stews
  • Grilled and barbecued
  • Raw oysters and cured ceviche (very fresh only)

Characteristics

Taste
Sweet, briny and delicate.
When cooked
Most shellfish cook in minutes and turn rubbery with longer heat; cephalopods are either flash-cooked or braised for an hour or more.
Sold as
fresh, frozen, canned, dried
Cooking uses
Commonly cooked, Suitable for frying, Suitable for grilling, Suitable for boiling

Kinds in our pantry

Storage

Refrigerated. Keep live shellfish cold and able to breathe (in a bowl under a damp cloth, never in water or a sealed bag). Cook fresh shellfish on the day of purchase; frozen prawns and squid are a good standby.

Diet, allergens and safety

Contains Crustaceans, Molluscs.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Crustaceans and molluscs are separate major allergens; many people allergic to one react to the other, and reactions can be severe.
  • Raw or undercooked shellfish can carry norovirus and Vibrio bacteria; pregnant people, young children, older adults and the immunocompromised should eat shellfish only when thoroughly cooked.
  • Buy from reputable sources: toxins from algal blooms can accumulate in bivalves and are not destroyed by cooking.

Related ingredients

Recipes with shellfish

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