How Many Jumbo Shrimp are in 3 Ounces? A Detailed Look at Shrimp Sizes

What does “26/30” mean? This guide will teach you how to read shrimp sizes, help you figure out what size and number of shrimp you need for your recipe, and give you ideas for cooking.

As a seafood lover and home cook, I often find myself wondering how many jumbo shrimp come in a typical 3 ounce serving. When a recipe calls for “jumbo shrimp” with no other size guidelines, how many should I buy to have the right amount?

In this article, I’ll provide a detailed look at shrimp sizes, counts per pound, and how to calculate the number of jumbo shrimp in 3 ounces. Whether you’re meal planning, shopping for shrimp, or prepping a recipe, this guide will help you determine the ideal shrimp quantity for your needs.

An Overview of Shrimp Sizes

Shrimp are available in a wide range of sizes, from tiny popcorn shrimp to giant prawns Here are some common commercial size classifications

Colossal – Under 10 shrimp per pound
Jumbo – Under 15 (U/15) shrimp per pound
Extra Jumbo – 16 to 20 shrimp per pound
Large – 21 to 25 shrimp per pound
Medium – 26 to 30 shrimp per pound

The lower the count per pound, the bigger the shrimp size. Terms like “jumbo” and “colossal” are not standardized, so the numerical count is more accurate.

How Many Jumbo Shrimp in 3 Ounces?

Based on the common definition of under 15 (U/15) shrimp per pound, you can expect 3 to 4 jumbo shrimp in a 3 ounce serving.

Let’s understand the math behind this:

1 pound = 16 ounces
U/15 means there are less than 15 jumbo shrimp in 16 ounces (1 pound)
So each jumbo shrimp weighs more than 1 ounce
For a 3 ounce serving, you need around 3 shrimp if they are on the larger side of the jumbo range, or 4 shrimp if on the smaller side

Serving Size Guidelines for Shrimp

Beyond jumbo, it helps to know recommended serving sizes for other shrimp categories:

Colossal (U/10): 2-3 shrimp per 3 ounces
Extra Jumbo (16/20): 4-5 shrimp per 3 ounces
Large (21/25): 5-6 shrimp per 3 ounces
Medium (26/30): 6-7 shrimp per 3 ounces

The FDA lists a standard cooked seafood serving as 3 ounces. Adjust as needed based on appetite and whether shrimp is a main dish or side dish.

Here is a handy shrimp serving size chart for easy reference:

Shrimp Counts with Heads On vs Peeled

One important note is that shrimp counts are based on whole, head-on shrimp. Removing the heads drops the count by 2, and peeling further reduces it by 1.

So if you buy head-on jumbo shrimp with a count of U/15, expect a count of around 21/25 once beheaded and 26/30 when peeled. Factor this in when purchasing shrimp and determining quantities for recipes.

Key Considerations for Different Cooking Methods

Ideal shrimp sizes can vary based on cooking technique. Here are some guidelines:

Grilling – Go for jumbo or colossal for easy handling. Skewer smaller shrimp.
Sautéing or Stir Frying – Medium to jumbo work well. Ensure even cooking.
Deep Frying – Jumbo or smaller are ideal. Butterfly extra large shrimp before frying.
Salads – Smaller shrimp are easier to cut or leave whole.
Shrimp Cocktail – Jumbo, extra jumbo, and colossal sizes make an elegant presentation.

Think about end use, cooking method, and personal preferences when choosing what shrimp size to buy or cook with.

Shopping for Shrimp: What 3 Ounces Looks Like

When shopping for jumbo shrimp, use visual comparisons to estimate 3 ounce portions:

With shells on, 3 ounces of jumbo shrimp is about a handful or fills the palm of your hand.
Once peeled and deveined, 3 ounces of shrimp flesh loosely fills a measuring cup or looks like a deck of cards.

If still uncertain, ask your fishmonger to weigh out a 3 ounce serving so you can see the right portion size.

Handy Recipes for 3 Ounce Servings of Jumbo Shrimp

Here are some mouthwatering recipes that call for 3 ounce servings of jumbo shrimp. Give them a try!

Lemony Herb Jumbo Shrimp Skewers

Marinate 1 lb jumbo shrimp in lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and herbs.
Thread 4 shrimp on each skewer. Grill 2-3 minutes per side.
Serve with rice pilaf or couscous.

Coconut Jumbo Shrimp with Pineapple Salsa

Coat 12 jumbo shrimp with coconut flour and pan fry.
Mix diced pineapple, bell pepper, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime juice for salsa.
Serve shrimp over coconut rice with salsa.

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with Spicy Cocktail Sauce

Boil 1 lb jumbo shrimp for 2-3 minutes just until pink.
Chill, then peel. Leave tails on for presentation.
Make sauce with ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, and hot sauce.
Serve 4-5 shrimp per person with chilled sauce. Garnish with lemon wedges.

Jumbo Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo

Sauté 1 lb peeled jumbo shrimp in butter and garlic. Set aside.
Make alfredo sauce with butter, heavy cream, parmesan. Toss with fettuccine.
Top pasta with shrimp. Garnish with parsley.

how many jumbo shrimp in 3 oz

How are Shrimp Sized?

Shrimp sizes are denoted in numbers, such as 21/25 or U/15. What does a “U” mean in the count? It means there are “under” that many shrimp in a pound. The slash between numbers denotes a range of shrimp in a pound.

So, for example, U/15 shrimp contain fewer than 15 shrimp per pound. 21/25’s weigh in at 21 to 25 shrimp to a pound. As the numbers get smaller, the shrimp get bigger.

Sometimes, you’ll see a sizing term alongside the number such as “Large” or “Jumbo”. For accuracy when cooking, I like to pay closer attention to the number count than the sizing term.

Because these terms aren’t standard in the seafood business, 16/20’s might be called “Extra Jumbo” by one brand or fishmonger and “Colossal” by another. Using the shrimp count instead lets you know for sure how many shrimp you’ll be getting when you plan a recipe.

Common Sizing Term (Varies)	Shrimp Count Per Pound	Approx. Count Per 3 oz Serving
Extra Colossal	U/10	2-3 shrimp
Super Colossal	U/12	2-3 shrimp
Colossal	U/15	3-4 shrimp
Extra Jumbo	16/20	4-5 shrimp
Jumbo	21/25	5-6 shrimp
Extra Large	26/30	6-7 shrimp
Large	31/35	8-9 shrimp
Medium Large	36/40	9-10 shrimp
Medium	41/50	10-12 shrimp
Small	51/60	12-15 shrimp
Extra Small	61/70	15-17 shrimp
Tiny	71+	18+ shrimp

Do Head-On or Unpeeled Shrimp Affect Shrimp Counts?

According to Louisiana Direct Seafood’s Handbook, shrimp are two counts larger with the head on and 1 count larger with the shells. So, say you buy U/15 shrimp with the heads and shells on. Once the heads are removed, they’ll weigh in two steps smaller at 21/25 shrimp per pound, and when peeled, they’ll be 26/30’s.

When I buy shrimp, I usually leave the shells on because they keep the meat juicy and give the shrimp a great flavor. So, when I go shopping, I base my serving sizes on the shrimp that are next to the smallest on the chart based on the label’s count.

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FAQ

How many pieces of jumbo shrimp in 3 oz?

Common Sizing Term (Varies)	Shrimp Count Per Pound	Approx. Count Per 3 oz Serving
Jumbo	21/25	5-6 shrimp
Extra Large	26/30	6-7 shrimp
Large	31/35	8-9 shrimp
Medium Large	36/40	9-10 shrimp

How many shrimp are in a 3 ounce serving?

For example, “jumbo” shrimp may be 16 count, meaning each weighs 1 ounce. “Large” shrimp are usually 31/40 count, which means 31 to 40 shrimp make up 1 pound. This means there are around two or three shrimp per ounce in weight, which would mean six to nine shrimp in a 3-ounce serving.

How many ounces of shrimp are in a pound?

However, shrimp count is the number of pieces in a pound of raw, uncooked shrimp. Because shrimp can lose up to 25% of their weight after cooking, a serving size is 3 ounces cooked, and approximately 4 ounces raw. The number of shrimp per serving depends on the size of the shrimp.

How many Jumbo Shrimp in a pound?

Extra jumbo – 16 to 20 pieces of shrimp in a pound. (16/20 count) Jumbo – 21 to 25 pieces of shrimp in a pound. (21/25 count) Extra large – 26 to 30 pieces of shrimp in a pound. (26/30 count) Large – 31 to 40 pieces of shrimp in a pound. (31/40 count) Medium-large – 36 to 40 pieces of shrimp in a pound. (36/40 count)

What is the serving size for shrimp?

One serving size for shrimp is about 3 oz or ¼ pound.