Flour's essential role in many recipes for breaded shrimp is as a fastener, the base that lets the breading stick to the protein. Straight breadcrumbs, and even the egg or milk wash, would have difficulty sticking to the shrimp on its own. Enter, flour. After patting shrimp dry with a paper towel, coat the shrimp in flour and shake off any excess. Then, dip the floured shrimp in milk or egg and roll it in the final breading. The flour allows each subsequent layer to adhere to the shrimp.

An alternative way to bread shrimp, rather than using breadcrumbs, crackers or panko, is to use well-seasoned flour. The results will be less crunchy, but still flavorful. Coat the shrimp with flour and shake off any excess. Dip the coated shrimp into milk or egg, then dredge it in flour mixed with salt, pepper and any additional spices you prefer, such as Cajun seasoning or Italian spices. If you prefer a lighter coating for the shrimp, skip the milk or egg, and simply dredge the shrimp in seasoned flour. For a bit more crunch, mix the seasoned flour with cornmeal before dredging the shrimp.

For a different texture from breaded shrimp, use flour to create a batter and deep-fry your shrimp. The result will offer a similar crunch, but smoother coating. A simple batter uses egg, milk or water; flour; and melted butter or oil. In reverse order from breaded shrimp, dip the shrimp directly into the batter and allow the excess to drip off. Then, dredge the battered shrimp in well-seasoned flour for a final coating of flavor before frying. For an even fluffier coating, add 1 teaspoon of active dry yeast to the batter for each cup of flour. You can also use 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder per cup of flour and 1 to 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Alternatively, fry the shrimp in 1/2 inch of heated oil in a deep skillet, making sure to turn them so both sides reach golden brown.

Whether you or your dinner guests are sensitive to gluten, or you simply want to try something different, you have options for breading shrimp that don't involve traditional flour. Coconut flour offers a simple substitute, and can be used in place of breadcrumbs or seasoned flour in most recipes. For a bit of added crunch, mix in unsweetened coconut flakes with the coconut flour before dredging the shrimp. Another alternative is to dust the shrimp in almond flour, dip it in milk or egg and dredge it in almond meal or seasoned almond flour. The addition of coconut flakes works well with the almond flavor, as well.