We all want to serve up a delicious entrée or appetizer to impress our guests. But, when it comes to choosing shrimp, the process can get a tad overwhelming. Which size shrimp should I buy? Should I get frozen or fresh shrimp? How many shrimp do I need for my cocktail party?
Dont panic—weve got you covered. This handy guide contains all the information you need to pick out your prawns for any occasion confidently. So get ready for fearless shopping and delicious shrimpy treats.
Shrimp are a versatile and tasty seafood ingredient used in appetizers, main courses, salads, and more. But an important question when cooking with shrimp is – how many shrimp do you need? The quantity you buy and serve can vary based on shrimp size, whether shells are on or off, and the recipe at hand.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide tips on how many shrimp to purchase and serve per person. Read on for useful guidelines, size charts, and FAQs to determine the right shrimp counts for your meal plans and recipes.
How Many Shrimp per Serving?
The number of shrimp per serving depends primarily on shrimp size and whether shells are on or off. Here are some general recommendations
- 3-5 jumbo shrimp (16/20 per lb)
- 5-6 large shrimp (26/30 per lb)
- 8-12 medium shrimp (36/40 per lb)
- 10-15 small shrimp (51/60 per lb)
Shells and tails will account for about 1/4 to 1/3 of the shrimp’s weight. So for a 3-4 oz cooked, peeled and deveined serving, increase the shrimp count by about 25% if shells are left on
These serving guidelines are for a main course. For appetizers, allow 2-4 shrimp per person depending on size. Adjust shrimp counts up or down based on your menu and guests’ preferences.
Shrimp Size Chart
To determine the right shrimp size and counts for your needs, here is a handy shrimp size reference:
| Shrimp Size | Count per Pound |
|-|-|-|
| Colossal | under 12 |
| Jumbo | under 15 |
| Extra Jumbo | 16 to 20 |
| Jumbo | 21 to 25 |
| Extra Large | 26 to 30 |
| Large | 31 to 35 |
| Medium Large | 36 to 40 |
| Medium | 41 to 50 |
| Small | 51 to 60 |
| Extra Small | 61 to 70 |
So for example, “large” shrimp will have 31 to 35 shrimp per pound. The bigger the shrimp, the lower the per pound count.
How Much Shrimp to Buy Per Person
If serving shrimp as a main dish, here are some recommendations on how much raw, shell-on shrimp to purchase per person:
- Jumbo Shrimp – 1/4 to 1/3 lb per person
- Large Shrimp – 1/3 to 1/2 lb per person
- Medium Shrimp – 1/2 to 3/4 lb per person
For appetizers allowing 2 to 4 shrimp per person, buy the following shrimp per person:
- Jumbo Shrimp – 1/8 to 1/4 lb per person
- Large Shrimp – 1/6 to 1/3 lb per person
- Medium Shrimp – 1/4 to 1/2 lb per person
Adjust amounts down for larger appetizer shrimp like jumbo and up for smaller shrimp like medium. For children, serve about half the recommended adult portion.
Shrimp Counts for Common Recipes
To give you an idea of how many shrimp to cook for popular dishes, here are suggested quantities:
Shrimp Cocktail
- Jumbo Shrimp – 2 to 3 per serving
- Large Shrimp – 3 to 4 per serving
- Medium Shrimp – 5 to 6 per serving
Shrimp Scampi Pasta
- Jumbo Shrimp – 4 to 5 per serving
- Large Shrimp – 6 to 8 per serving
- Medium Shrimp – 10 to 12 per serving
Shrimp Tacos
- Jumbo Shrimp – 3 per taco
- Large Shrimp – 4 per taco
- Medium Shrimp – 5 per taco
Shrimp Fried Rice
- Jumbo Shrimp – 4 to 5 per serving
- Large Shrimp – 6 to 8 per serving
- Medium Shrimp – 8 to 10 per serving
Shrimp Skewers
- Allow 2 skewers per serving
- Thread 3 jumbo or 4 large shrimp per skewer
- Thread 5 medium shrimp per skewer
Adjust shrimp counts higher or lower depending on your recipe ingredients and personal preferences. More shrimp can always be served family-style.
Shrimp Count FAQs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions on shrimp counts:
How much shrimp is one serving?
The recommended serving size is about 3-4 oz or 3-5 large shrimp per person. Adjust up or down according to appetite.
Should I account for shrimp weight with shells on or off?
Serving size guidelines refer to the weight after shells are removed. If purchasing shell-on shrimp, increase the count to allow for the shell weight.
Can I mix shrimp sizes in a recipe?
Yes, feel free to combine small, medium, and large shrimp in dishes like shrimp boils or fried rice. Just adjust cooking times as needed.
What if I’m breading or stuffing shrimp?
For coated or stuffed shrimp, allow 2-3 jumbo or 3-4 large shrimp per person depending on appetite.
How long will shrimp stay fresh in the fridge?
Raw shrimp stored in the fridge will stay fresh for 1-2 days. Freeze for longer storage.
Get the Shrimp Counts Right Every Time
With this handy guide, you should have a better understanding of how to determine the right shrimp counts, sizes, and quantities for any recipe or menu. Use the serving recommendations and size chart as a reference, but adjust amounts according to your tastes. Serving delicious, perfectly portioned shrimp is now easy and foolproof.
For Shrimp Cocktails
The shrimp should be cooked for three to four minutes, depending on their size, before the shells are taken off or the veins are removed. You can opt for boiling or steaming your shrimp or pan-fry it. However, steaming is the perfect method of cooking shrimp for cocktails to prevent overcooking. Medium shrimp are the best shrimp for cocktails.
Deep-fry the shrimp for two to three minutes, depending on how big they are, until the outside is golden brown and the middle is clear. Sauté or stir-fry over medium heat and add butter, olive, or margarine.
You can deep fry huge to extra-large shrimp if you butterfly them, or big to extra-small shrimp if you fry the whole thing.
The following are some of the frequently asked questions about shrimp count.
Choosing Shrimp Size Based on Cooking Method
There are several methods of cooking shrimp depending on how you want it and the shrimp size. Lets look into some of these cooking methods:
Preheat the grills to around 375-450 degrees. Put the shrimp in a bowl before adding olive oil, salt, garlic, and onion powder. Mix using your hands and place it on the grill and let each side cook for two minutes. You can grill all sizes of shrimp, from super colossal to large, because the high heat makes the bigger shrimp cook faster.
Cooking shrimp is a breeze with baking. Its the quickest, most convenient, and surefire way to prepare a batch in less than 10 minutes. If baking shrimp, go for something super colossal (U10) to medium height (36/40). You cant go wrong with this speedy, delicious cooking method.