How Many Shrimp are in a Pound? A Detailed Look at Shrimp Sizes

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!.

When cooking with shrimp, one of the most important things to know is how many shrimp come in a pound. The number of shrimp per pound determines the size of the shrimp and is key for proper portioning In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at shrimp sizes, counts per pound, and how to select the right shrimp for your recipes

Shrimp are typically categorized by the number of shrimp in a one pound bag. This number range is indicated on the packaging or seafood counter label. For example, a bag labeled “31/40” contains between 31 to 40 shrimp per pound.

The numbers work opposite of what you may expect. The lower the numbers, the larger the shrimp size, since fewer shrimp are needed to make a pound. Higher numbers indicate smaller shrimp.

Here’s a quick rundown of common shrimp size counts:

Extra Colossal or Super Colossal: 8-12 or less per pound
Colossal: 13-15 per pound
Extra Jumbo: 16-20 per pound
Jumbo: 21-25 per pound
Extra Large: 26-30 per pound
Large: 31-40 per pound
Medium: 41-50 per pound
Small: 51-60 per pound
Extra Small or Salad: 61-70 per pound
Miniature or Tiny: 71-90+ per pound

Let’s take a closer look at the shrimp sizes within each count range.

Extra Colossal and Super Colossal Shrimp (8-12 or less per pound)

The largest shrimp available are Extra Colossal (8-12 count) and Super Colossal (under 8 count). These behemoth shrimp can reach up to 8 inches long! With shrimp this enormous, a single piece can be a serving.

Signature uses for extra colossal and super colossal shrimp include:

Baked stuffed shrimp
Shrimp cocktail
Grilled shrimp skewers
Barbecued shrimp

You’ll make the best use of these shrimp stars by featuring them simply with bold seasonings or stuffings that complement, rather than hide, their sweet briny flavor. Expect to get only 1-3 shrimp per 3 oz serving.

Colossal Shrimp (13-15 per pound)

Only slightly smaller than their jumbo counterparts, colossal shrimp still pack impressive size and flavor. These shrimp measure over 3.5 inches long on average.

Colossal shrimp are perfect for:

Shrimp tacos – cut into pieces
Hearty shrimp salads or rolls
Shrimp quesadillas
Shrimp scampi over pasta
Shrimp kabobs

For a 3 oz serving, plan for 3-4 colossal shrimp.

Extra Jumbo & Jumbo Shrimp (16-25 per pound)

Extra jumbo (16-20 count) and jumbo (21-25 count) shrimp provide the ideal balance of size and price for a versatile ingredient. They range from 3-3.5 inches long.

You can’t go wrong with extra jumbo or jumbo shrimp for:

Coconut shrimp
Shrimp cocktail
Grilled or broiled shrimp
Shrimp tacos
Shrimp pasta dishes like shrimp scampi

Figure 4-6 jumbo or extra jumbo shrimp per 3 oz serving.

Extra Large & Large Shrimp (26-40 per pound)

Extra large (26-30 count) and large (31-40 count) shrimp measure 2.5-3.5 inches long. With a nice size and mild flavor, they work well in a range of dishes.

Some go-to uses for extra large and large shrimp include:

Fried shrimp
Shrimp boils or shrimp and sausage boils
Shrimp tacos
Shrimp alfredo
Jambalaya or gumbo
Casinos (shrimp with bell pepper, onion, and celery)

For a 3 oz portion, plan on 6-10 shrimp in these size ranges.

Medium Shrimp (41-50 per pound)

Medium shrimp weigh in at 1.5-2 inches long. Their petite size means they cook quickly, so keep an eye on them!

Medium shrimp are well-suited for:

Popcorn shrimp
Soups, chowders, and stews
Shrimp fried rice or stir fry
Seafood pasta dishes
Seafood salads and rolls

Figure 10-13 medium shrimp per 3 oz serving.

Small & Extra Small Shrimp (51-70 per pound)

Small (51-60 count) and extra small shrimp (61-70 count) are petite shrimp that measure 1-1.5 inches. Their mild taste and texture make them adaptable.

These tiny shrimp work nicely for:

Shrimp tacos
Shrimp salad, especially when chopped
Garnishing dishes
Stuffing into mushrooms or bell peppers
Adding to dips and spreads

For a 3 oz portion, small and extra small shrimp provide 12-18 pieces.

Miniature or Tiny Shrimp (71-90+ per pound)

Miniature or tiny shrimp weigh in at less than 1 inch long. They have an almost crunchy texture.

Best uses for miniature or tiny shrimp include:

Soups, where they almost dissolve into the broth
Salad shrimp
Garnish for cocktails
Fillings for spring rolls
Skewered party appetizers

You’ll get around 17+ miniature shrimp per 3 oz serving.

Key Considerations When Choosing Shrimp Size

Now that you know the common shrimp sizes, here are some tips for choosing the right shrimp count for your recipes:

For appetizers where shrimp is the star, opt for colossal to jumbo sizes.
Extra large, large, and medium work well as ingredients in main dishes and pasta.
Lean towards extra small, small, and miniature for soups, salads, fillings, or heavy seafood dishes like jambalaya where you want shrimp as a complementary ingredient.
Adjust portions based on shrimp count. More pieces are needed of smaller shrimp to make up a serving.
Take cooking method into account. Larger shrimp hold up better to grilling or stuffing, while smaller are great for boiling.

Shrimp Size Conversions

To make shrimp sizing even easier, here are some quick conversions between counts, sizes, and servings:

8-12 count = Extra Colossal or Super Colossal = 1-3 per serving
13-15 count = Colossal = 3-4 per serving
16-20 count = Extra Jumbo = 4-5 per serving
21-25 count = Jumbo = 5-6 per serving
26-30 count = Extra Large = 6-8 per serving
31-40 count = Large = 8-10 per serving
41-50 count = Medium = 10-13 per serving
51-60 count = Small = 12-15 per serving
61-70 count = Extra Small or Salad = 15-18 per serving
71-90+ count = Miniature or Tiny = 17+ per serving

Knowing these shrimp size conversions helps simplify planning and shopping. No more guessing games in the store!

The Takeaway on Shrimp per Pound

Understanding shrimp counts per pound unlocks the secret to picking the right shrimp size for everything from shrimp cocktail to gumbo. Just match the shrimp count to your recipe needs and desired portion size.

The numbers tell the shrimp size story. Focus on the count per pound rather than generic size names, which can vary by brand. Let the shrimp counts guide you for shrimp success!

What are your favorite ways to eat different shrimp sizes? Share your recipes and tips below!

how many shrimp are in a pound

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 Many Shrimp Are in A Pound | What Is The Shrimp Count

FAQ

How many jumbo shrimp in 2 pounds?

Shrimp Type (Varies)	Shrimp Per Pound
Jumbo	21/25
Extra Large	26/30
Large	31/35
Medium Large	36/40

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 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.”

How is shrimp size measured?

In the seafood industry, shrimp size is measured by the number of shrimp in one pound. For example, ’71-90′ indicates that there are 71 to 90 shrimp per pound. On most bags of shrimp, you will find a smaller number followed by a slash and then a larger number. As a general rule, the smaller the shrimp size, the larger the count.