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THE SHORT ANSWER

Does boiling shrimp wash out flavor?

Boiling can move water-soluble flavor compounds from shrimp into the cooking liquid. If you discard the liquid, some flavor goes with it.

Moderate confidence

Boiling can transfer water-soluble flavor compounds from shrimp into the cooking liquid.

The science in more detail

Free amino acids and small water-soluble taste compounds diffuse into cooking liquid. Glycine is especially important in sweet cold-water shrimp.

If the cooking liquid is consumed as part of the dish, the flavour is redistributed rather than discarded.

Evidence behind the answer

This answer is linked to the research rule above. Confidence describes its evidence, not the review status of this page. We tell you when we don’t know.

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