The size of shrimp can make or break your recipe. To make sure you have enough, you should also remember how many shrimp are in a pound.
Lucky for you, the seafood experts at North Coast Seafoods can help you finally figure out how big a shrimp is. Consider this your ultimate guide to shrimp sizes!.
As a seafood lover, I frequently find myself browsing the shrimp section of the grocery store or fish market. However, the shrimp labeling with those numerical sizes like 16/20, 21/25, etc has always confused me. What do those numbers actually mean?
After doing some research, I finally understand the method behind shrimp sizing and how to decipher those numerical codes. In this article, I’ll break down the common shrimp size labels, explain what the numbers signify, and share tips for buying and cooking shrimp of different sizes.
Shrimp Sizes 101
The numbers listed on shrimp packaging represent a size range of how many individual shrimp make up one pound. So “16/20” means there are 16 to 20 shrimp in a one pound bag. The smaller the shrimp, the higher the numbers since more fit per pound.
For example
- 16/20 = 16 to 20 large shrimp per pound
- 21/25 = 21 to 25 medium shrimp per pound
- 41/50 = 41 to 50 small shrimp per pound
While there are no universal size names, here’s a general shrimp size guide:
- Colossal – 16/20 or lower
- Jumbo – 21/25 or 26/30
- Extra Large – 16/20 to 21/25
- Large – 26/30 to 31/35
- Medium – 36/40 to 41/50
- Small – 51/60 and higher
So if you see a label like “Colossal 16/20” you know those shrimp will be on the larger side, with only 16 to 20 in a whole pound. But a pack labeled “Small 63/70” has tiny shrimp averaging 63 to 70 per pound.
How Shrimp Size Affects Quantity, Price, and Uses
Understanding shrimp sizes helps you determine how best to use them in recipes. Here’s what the numbers tell you:
Quantity: Lower shrimp count per pound means larger individual shrimp and higher count means smaller. For example, at 16 to 20 shrimp per pound you’ll get about 4 large shrimp per 3 ounce serving. But at 41 to 50 per pound, you’ll get around 10 smaller shrimp per serving.
Price: Larger shrimp sizes are pricier since you get less per pound. Colossal shrimp can cost up to $25 per pound compared to small shrimp at $10 per pound.
Uses: Different shrimp sizes work better for certain dishes. Extra large shrimp make impressive appetizers while smaller ones are great in salads, pastas, and stir fries.
Tips for Buying Shrimp Based on Size and Count
Here are some useful tips when purchasing shrimp depending on the intended use:
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For shrimp cocktails or platters, choose colossal or jumbo. Their large size makes them ideal for minimal prep like boiling or grilling.
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Opt for large or medium shrimp when making pasta, fried rice, and other dishes where the shrimp gets chopped or mixed in. You’ll maximize your quantity per pound.
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Save money with small or medium shrimp for salads, dips, and shrimp rolls where they’ll be chopped anyways.
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Buy shell-on shrimp and peel them yourself to stretch your seafood dollars. Just remember to account for 35-40% shrinkage when peeled.
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For breaded shrimp, medium works well since the coating helps even out sizes when frying.
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Purchase 21/25 or 16/20 for kabobs to ensure uniformity when skewering.
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Get extra large shrimp if you want to stuff them or prepare more elaborate presentations.
Cooking Considerations for Different Shrimp Sizes
Since shrimp come in such a wide range of sizes, you’ll need to adjust cooking times and methods accordingly:
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Colossal shrimp – Grill or sauté 4-5 minutes per side. Best simply prepared.
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Jumbo shrimp – Cook 3-4 minutes per side. Great for skewers, sautéing, or baking.
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Large shrimp – Cook 2-3 minutes per side. Well suited to pastas, stir fries, and frying.
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Medium shrimp – Cook just 1-2 minutes per side. Work well in fried rice, salads, and breaded shrimp.
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Small shrimp – Cook for 30-60 seconds per side. Best for dips, salad, and as a cocktail topping.
For any shrimp size, watch carefully to avoid overcooking which can lead to rubbery texture. A good rule of thumb is to cook just until the flesh turns opaque throughout.
Putting Shrimp Sizes in Perspective
Now that you know how to interpret shrimp sizing and labeling, you can confidently select the right shrimp for your needs. On your next trip to the market, keep this shrimp size cheat sheet in mind:
- Colossal – Special occasion shrimp for impressive appetizers
- Jumbo – Versatile shrimp suitable for many cooking methods
- Large – Provides good value for everyday meals
- Medium – Mixes well into shrimp dishes with other ingredients
- Small – Budget friendly option to stretch shrimp further
Rather than getting stressed out trying to decipher the numbers, let the shrimp size guide your purchasing and cooking decisions. Just follow the count per pound to pick the ideal shrimp for appetizers, salads, pastas, and more. Understanding sizing leads to smart shopping and delicious shrimp every time.
How to Determine Shrimp Sizes
You may have seen shrimp bags at the store that have numbers on them like U/20, 16/20, 21/25, or 31/40. You can use these numbers to find out how big the shrimp are and how many are in a bag.
The slash between numbers is simply the range of shrimp in a pound. There would be 16 to 20 shrimp per pound, 21 to 25 shrimp per pound, and 31 to 40 shrimp per pound in those cases. A “U” in the count means there are “under” that amount of shrimp in a pound. So for U/20s there would be fewer than 20 shrimp per pound.
When you buy shrimp, the bigger the shrimp, the smaller the number on the bag or in the deli case where the fresh seafood is kept.
If you’ve ever looked at a shrimp size chart, you’ve seen a handful of different sizes mentioned. Some shrimp size charts include only five sizes while others include upwards of 12.
That’s why, when you need a certain size of shrimp for a recipe, you should pay more attention to the number of shrimp per pound than the size term.
We’ll only be focusing on a handful of the common shrimp sizes from smallest to largest.
These tiny shrimp are known for having a subtle flavor and cooking quickly. They often come in bags 51/60, 71/90 or even 91/100. You want to make sure not to overcook small shrimp or they’ll become rubbery. These small shrimp are best used in recipes like popcorn shrimp, seafood or shrimp salads and dips, or stuffings.
This popular size comes in at 41/50 per pound. They still cook relatively quickly so they’re great for shrimp stir fry, seafood boils, or shrimp fritters.
Most of the time, larger shrimp cost 31/40 per pound and are used in shrimp appetizers, shrimp alfredo, shrimp tacos, and paella. Large shrimp are a great way to add protein to these dishes without being the main ingredient.
Big shrimp are the star of any shrimp dish, like shrimp cocktail or coconut shrimp that makes your mouth water. These bigger shrimp usually are available as 16/20, 21/25, or 26/30 per pound. Jumbo shrimp make the perfect appetizer or entrée considering 5-6 shrimp per person can be filling.
Try these with cajun grilled shrimp or a classic shrimp scampi.
Shrimp in this size range are also sometimes referred to as extra jumbo shrimp.
These huge shrimp often come as 13/15 per pound or U/15 (less than 15 shrimp per pound). They are also great for a hearty shrimp cocktail or for shrimp skewers on the grill. They take a bit longer to cook but are super succulent and tender.
Considered the mother of all shrimp, these super-sized shrimp are sold as 8/12, 6/8, or U/6 per pound. These exceptionally large shrimp are best for baked stuffed shrimp or barbeque shrimp. The recommended serving size is only 1-3 shrimp because they’re so massive. This is about the size of a prawn or lobster tail, so if you love shrimp, these are perfect for you.
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How to buy Shrimp. Shrimp Sizing Demystified
What are shrimp counts & sizes?
That’s why we’re here to help break down everything about shrimp counts and sizes! The shrimp count on a bag of wild-caught U.S. shrimp is the number that denotes how many shrimp are approximately in the bag “per pound.”
What is a 16 20 pound bag of frozen shrimp?
This bag of frozen shrimp is labeled “16-20,” which means 16 to 20 shrimp in one pound. Note: some brands may call 16/20 “Jumbo,” while others refer to the same count as “Extra Jumbo.” For this reason, we recommend buying shrimp based on counts vs. their general size names.
What is the shrimp count on a bag of wild-caught shrimp?
The shrimp count on a bag of wild-caught U.S. shrimp is the number that denotes how many shrimp are approximately in the bag “per pound.” For example, if a shrimp bag’s count reads “21/25,” then that means those shrimp are sized to be approximately 21 to 25 shrimp per pound.
What does 41 50 shrimp mean?
A label of “41 50 shrimp” means 41 to 50 shrimp per pound or Medium shrimp. What size is 31 40 shrimp? When referencing shrimp size, “31 40 shrimp” is Large shrimp, meaning 31 to 40 shrimp in a pound. Now you know the basics of shrimp size and counts per pound.