Rinse the shrimp under cold water
Hold the shrimp firmly by the body
Twist off the head if attached
Pull off the legs
Peel away the shell starting from the legs side
Leave the tail on or remove it, as desired
Use a small knife or shrimp deveiner to make a shallow cut along the back
Lift out the dark vein with the tip of the knife or rinse it out
Rinse the shrimp again under cold water
Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels