In our arsenal of quick-cooking dinners, shrimp is a superhero. The crustaceans cook in less than five minutes, so you can get to the table as soon as possible. Lemon-oregano shrimp can be yours in 20 minutes or less. It only takes 15 minutes to make this shrimp and basil stir-fry. But shrimp isn’t just a weeknight dinner staple; it’s also one of our favorite proteins for a fancy dinner that doesn’t take too much work. Case in point: a little shrimp cocktail will turn any occasion into a party. Figure out the best way to cook shrimp and you’ll never have to ask, “What’s for dinner?” (okay, that might be a bit much, but you get the point).
Shrimp are a beloved seafood ingredient used in cuisines worldwide. Their versatility in recipes stems from the wide variation in shrimp sizes From colossal shrimp to tiny salad shrimp, their length can range dramatically. So how long is a shrimp on average? And what factors determine their size?
In this article, we’ll explore the length of different shrimp species, how they are categorized by size, and what the size differences mean for cooking. Whether you are buying shrimp at the market or catching them yourself, understanding shrimp lengths is key to picking the right ones for your recipe.
The Average Shrimp Length
Most shrimp species range from 1 to 3 inches in length when measured from the tip of the head to the end of the tail. However, there is significant variability
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Small shrimp species may only reach 1-2 inches.
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Medium shrimp are approximately 2-3 inches,
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Large shrimp can extend to 4-6 inches.
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Extra large varieties like mantis shrimp can reach a whopping 12 inches long!
So while a typical medium shrimp is around 2 inches long, shrimp lengths span a wide spectrum depending on species, environment, and age.
How Shrimp Size is Categorized
Rather than giving exact measurements, the seafood industry categorizes shrimp into size groups based on how many are needed to make up one pound. The common market designations from smallest to largest are:
- Colossal (16-20 per pound)
- Jumbo (21-25 or 26-30 per pound)
- Extra Large (31-35 per pound)
- Large (36-45 per pound)
- Medium (46-55 per pound)
- Small (56-69 per pound)
- Miniature (70-90+ per pound)
So colossal indicates bigger shrimp since you get less per pound, while miniature means very small shrimp. This numbering system gives a quick glimpse of shrimp sizes for comparison.
The Relationship Between Length and Shrimp Size
The numerical sizing and actual length have a direct correlation:
- Colossal shrimp range from 1.5 to 2 inches long
- Jumbo shrimp are 1 to 1.5 inches
- Large shrimp measure 0.75 to 1 inch
- Medium shrimp are 0.5 to 0.75 inches
- Small shrimp are under 0.5 inches
Of course, if a shrimp is an outlier in its category the length may vary. But in general, you can expect jumbo shrimp to be about 1 inch long, medium shrimp around 0.6 inches, and so on.
Why Size Matters for Cooking
Knowing typical shrimp lengths is useful because size significantly impacts cooking. Bigger shrimp require longer cook times and are great for grilling, broiling, or sautéing as main dishes. Smaller shrimp cook quickly, are tender, and work well in pastas, salads, and appetizers.
Here are some size-based cooking tips:
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Colossal: Up to 2-3 minutes per side. Often used as shrimp cocktails or stuffed/baked.
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Jumbo: 1-2 minutes per side. Perfect for skewers, stir fries, and pan searing.
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Large: 30-60 seconds per side. Nice in pastas, tacos, and curry dishes.
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Medium: 15-30 seconds per side. Mix into rice, salads, and soups or use for dipping sauces.
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Small: Under 15 seconds per side. Best used in shrimp rolls, crackers, or tempura.
Adjust cooking times as needed based on size. Smaller shrimp become tough and rubbery if overcooked.
Other Factors Affecting Shrimp Size
While the category names give a general indication of length, other factors also influence size:
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Species – Some shrimp species remain small while others can grow quite large.
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Habitat – Shrimp from warmer, more nutrient-rich waters tend to be bigger.
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Age – Younger shrimp are smaller, while older adults are larger.
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Diet – Better food availability enables shrimp to grow bigger.
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Gender – Female shrimp often outsize male shrimp of the same age.
So two shrimp in the “large” category may have different lengths based on their individual attributes.
Farmed vs Wild Caught Shrimp Sizes
Both farmed and wild shrimp come in a range of sizes. However, farmed shrimp harvested at commercial facilities are more standardized in size since conditions like temperature and feed are controlled. The goal is to produce consistent, large shrimp.
Wild shrimp vary more in length since size depends on their natural ecosystem and age at harvest. You may see a greater mix of sizes labeled as “wild” since nature isn’t as uniform.
Buying shrimp Based on Size Needs
Now that you know the length differences between shrimp sizes, you can better select the right shrimp for your recipes. Consider how you plan to use them:
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Salads, pasta, and stir fries do well with medium or large shrimp.
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Skewers, frying, and grilling call for jumbo or colossal.
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Soups and dipping sauces are great options for small or mini shrimp.
You can also buy a mix of sizes for versatility! Just adjust cooking times and methods accordingly.
Understanding typical shrimp lengths takes the guesswork out of picking sizes. While shrimp length varies by individual, the seafood terms give a helpful approximation to guide your purchasing and cooking. Now that you know “how long is a shrimp,” you can enjoy these tasty crustaceans even more!
How to shop for shrimp:
Raw shrimp have a brown “vein” running along their back. This is their digestive tract—a. k. a. their poop chute. It’s safe to eat, but leaving the matter in will make the shrimp taste and feel rough. Most people prefer to take it out before cooking. The good news is that you can buy shrimp that have already had this unpleasant part taken out, or you can ask your fishmonger to do it for you. Are you the DIY type? We’ve included instructions below on how to devein shrimp yourself. Shrimp Sizes.
The shrimp at your grocery store will probably come in different sizes, such as small, medium, large, jumbo, or colossal. The sizes are usually based on how many shrimp you can expect per pound. Unless otherwise stated, most of BA’s shrimp recipes call for large shrimp. For example, our best shrimp cocktail calls for jumbo shell-on shrimp. The problem is that different stores use different naming rules, so a store that sells large shrimp might call another store’s jumbo shrimp. To keep things simple, go by weight whenever available. Around 36 to 40 small shrimp, 31 to 35 medium shrimp, 26 to 30 large shrimp, 21 to 25 jumbo shrimp, 16 to 20 super jumbo shrimp, or 15 or less colossal shrimp per pound are what you can expect. I. e. , the higher the number, the smaller the shellfish.
It’s okay if the shrimp you use are not the same size as the ones in the recipe. Just change the cooking time to fit. Little guys will cook faster than big guys, but bigger boys will take a little longer overall. As a general rule, associate food editor Kendra Vaculin says to cook medium shrimp for three minutes, large shrimp for four to five minutes, and jumbo shrimp for six to seven minutes. As for small shrimp, blink and you could miss it, so don’t walk away. Shell-On or Shell-Off.
You can buy shrimp either in the shell or peeled. For the speediest dinners, we prefer peeled, deveined shrimp (less work on your end). But shrimp that hasn’t been peeled is often cheaper than shrimp that has, so if you don’t mind pulling the shrimp apart yourself, this could be a good choice.
You can also cook shrimp with the shell on. The shells add flavor and keep the shrimp from overcooking. They also help the shrimp keep their moisture when they are heated. Some shrimp in the shell will still have the head on, which is where most of the fat is. Some people like to cook shrimp with the heads on, then twist the head off and squeeze out the juices. If you choose to peel your shrimp, keep the shells to make shrimp stock (which is an important part of shrimp risotto) or to give sauces a fishy taste.
To peel shrimp: Twist off the head (if not already removed) and pull off the legs. With kitchen shears, cut the shell along its “backbone.” Then, wiggle your fingers under the shell to pull it off. Leave the tail on or remove.
To remove the veins from shrimp, make a cut with a sharp paring knife next to the vein that runs down the back of the shrimp. Use the tip of the knife to coax out the dark vein; discard. (Wiping your knife on a damp paper towel is a quick and easy way to do this. ).
How Long Can Frozen Shrimp Stay in the Fridge? ANSWERED
FAQ
What size is 16/20 shrimp?
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Size
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Count Per Pound
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Extra Colossal
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U/10
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Super Colossal
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U/12
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Colossal
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U/15
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Extra Jumbo
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16/20
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How big is a shrimp?
There are significant issues with excessive bycatch when shrimp are captured in the wild, and with pollution damage done to estuaries when they are used to support shrimp farming. Many shrimp species are small as the term shrimp suggests, about 2 cm (0.79 in) long, but some shrimp exceed 25 cm (9.8 in).
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 long do shrimp live?
Shrimp are widespread and abundant. There are thousands of species adapted to a wide range of habitats. They can be found feeding near the seafloor on most coasts and estuaries, as well as in rivers and lakes. To escape predators, some species flip off the seafloor and dive into the sediment. They usually live from one to seven years.
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?