What should be a celebration of sweet shellfish is nothing more than an insipid means of conveyance for cocktail sauce. But it doesn't have to be this way. The problem lies in undue confidence people ...

Prep an ice bath. In a large pot, bring 2 quarts water and Old Bay to a boil. Add shrimp and cook 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer shrimp to ice bath to halt cooking and chill.

Read more: What Exactly Is Imitation Crab Meat And How Do You Cook With It? Now, you wouldn't be completely amiss in assuming ...

the limp texture of raw shrimp meat in cocktail form wouldn't be nearly as satisfying. When people cook the shrimp in shrimp cocktail from its raw state, it's typically gently poached or boiled ...