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!.
Shrimp come in a variety of sizes, from tiny to jumbo. But if someone asked you how big is a shrimp in inches could you give them an exact measurement? While shrimp sizes can vary greatly, knowing the average length of different shrimp can help you pick the right ones for your recipes and presentations.
In this article we’ll break down the common shrimp sizes and their length in inches. We’ll also look at how to choose the best shrimp size for everything from shrimp cocktails to stir fries. Let’s dive in!
The Many Shrimp Sizes
Shrimp are typically categorized by count per pound. The lower the count, the bigger the shrimp. Common terms for different sizes include:
- Colossal – 8 to 12 shrimp per pound
- Super Colossal – 13 to 15 per pound
- Jumbo – 16 to 20 per pound
- Extra Jumbo – 21 to 25 per pound
- Large – 26 to 35 per pound
- Medium – 36 to 50 per pound
- Small – 51 to 90 per pound
Now let’s look at how long these shrimp are in inches when measured from head to tail.
Colossal Shrimp Size
The biggest of them all, colossal shrimp clock in around 2 to 3 inches in length. These beauties are perfect for shrimp cocktails or as a main course since you’ll get big, succulent bites. Colossal shrimp cook slower, so allow extra time when grilling or baking.
Jumbo and Extra Jumbo
Almost as big as colossal, jumbo shrimp range from 1.5 to 2.5 inches long. Slightly smaller extra jumbo shrimp measure 1.25 to 2 inches. Both are ideal for sautéing, broiling, or grilling. Their large size stands up well to bold flavors.
Large Shrimp
Getting into the medium range, large shrimp extend 1 to 1.75 inches from head to tail. Their versatile size works for everything from pastas to kabobs. Large shrimp cook faster than jumbo, so watch closely to avoid overcooking.
Medium and Small
On the smaller side, medium shrimp span 0.75 to 1.25 inches in length. Even tinier small shrimp come in at 0.5 to 1 inch long. Their petite size makes them perfect for salads, dips, and stir fries where you want bite-sized pieces. Monitor cooking times closely since small shrimp overcook quickly.
Picking the Right Shrimp Size
Now that you know approximately how big shrimp are in inches, how do you decide what size to buy? Here are some tips:
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Main courses – Choose jumbo, extra jumbo or colossal for appetizer shrimp cocktails or main dish presentations. Their large size makes them stand out.
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Stir fries and sautés – Opt for medium, large or small shrimp that cook quickly and absorb flavors.
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Salads – Tiny small shrimp blend perfectly in seafood salads.
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Skewers and kabobs – Medium and large shrimp work well since they have enough surface area for grilling.
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Breading and frying – Colossal shrimp provide lots of crunchy surface area when battered.
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Shrimp scampi – Medium or large shrimp pair nicely with pasta and won’t overcook.
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Soup – Small or medium shrimp add sweet shrimp flavor without dominating.
No matter what size you choose, always buy fresh, sustainably-sourced shrimp and handle them properly for food safety. Now that you know exactly how big shrimp are in inches, you can pick the perfect size for any recipe!
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 the different sizes of shrimp?
When shopping for shrimp, you may encounter different sizes, including colossal, jumbo, large, and mini. Keep in mind that sizing terms may vary between stores, causing confusion among shoppers. For example, what one store calls jumbo may be labeled extra-large elsewhere. What Does the U Mean on Shrimp Packaging?
What is the difference between prawn and shrimp?
Shrimp and prawns have plenty of similarities, but they are not the same animal. Their differences involve their biology. Shrimp bodies are encased in a sort of accordion shell, with a membrane between the segments. Prawns have a shell where each segment overlaps the one below it. There are no big differences between them when it comes to their nutritional value; they are both a good source of protein, and relatively low in calories.
How big is a pound of shrimp?
While the size of shrimp at each market is different, there is a relative range available in most stores. Most shrimp are weighed with shells on, though, Mecir mentioned that some markets, like Dorian’s, will also offer peeled, deveined shrimp at their net weight. Colossal Shrimp: Around 8–10 colossal shrimp make up a pound.
What is the smallest size of shrimp?
Colossal is the largest size available! Our wild-caught shrimp are slightly smaller and fall into the Jumbo range, with 16 to 20 shrimp per pound (U-16/20). The smallest shrimp available are 71+ per pound, while medium shrimp fall between 36 and 41 per pound. Why is Shrimp Sizing Important?