This Is The Reason Your Shrimp Heads Are Turning Black

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This Is The Reason Your Shrimp Heads Are Turning Black By Nicole Alexander Dec. 4, 2025 11:00 am EST

So you just bought a big bag of shrimp to present at your get-together. You've spent hours researching the best ways to serve shrimp cocktail , perfected your cooking technique, and even found a vegan cocktail sauce swap for your one plant-based friend. Everything seems to be perfectly falling into place — that is, until you notice your shrimp heads have turned an alarming shade of black.

But wait — don't panic. While it looks a little sketchy, black spots on shrimp actually aren't as scary as you may think. We sat down with Ahmad Alzahabi ( @thegoldenbalance ) for an exclusive interview at the New York City Wine and Food Festival , where he assured us t