Devein

To remove the vein, especially the digestive tract or main dorsal vein, from something. This term is most commonly used in culinary contexts, referring to the process of extracting the dark, often gritty vein from shrimp or prawns. It can also refer to the removal of similar structures from other food items like leafy greens or grapes, or even medical procedures which remove veins.

Devein meaning with examples

• Carefully devein the shrimp before cooking to eliminate any sandiness or unpleasant texture. Using a small, sharp knife, make a shallow incision along the back of each shrimp and lift out the dark vein. This step significantly improves the final taste of the dish.
• After preparing the seafood boil, the guests enjoyed the meticulously deveined prawns. The chef had insisted on deveining the shrimp to elevate the dining experience and ensure the quality was up to par.
• The cook spent a significant amount of time deveining the shrimp, a task which requires focus and care, especially if the deveining is done in a kitchen of an establishment serving many dishes to many people.
• When preparing the shrimp scampi, the recipe instructed to carefully devein and butterfly the shrimp, removing the vein and splitting the shrimp lengthwise for even cooking.