That black line on a shrimp’s back? It’s the intestine, not a vein, and it can contain sand or debris.
While it’s not harmful if cooked properly, many remove it for better taste and texture—especially in larger
shrimp or fine dining dishes. Deveining is easy: just slice the back, lift the line out, and rinse.
Whether you skip it or not, thorough cooking is key to enjoying shrimp safely.