Sizes of shrimp can be given in many ways, such as jumbo, large, or medium, and counts can be given in many ways, such as 21–25 or 26–30. Here we explain the differences and how to choose the right shrimp for your recipe.
We often hear shrimp called “jumbo”, “large”, “medium” or “small”. However, since shrimp sizes aren’t standardized, a “jumbo” sized shrimp might have different sizes at different stores. This creates some challenges when following recipes since larger shrimp require more cooking time.
To solve this problem, shrimp are sized according to the weight in the U. S. , and a count is used to indicate how many shrimp are in one pound. Shrimp counts are a more accurate way to calculate how many shrimp you need for your recipe.
Shrimp is one of the most popular types of seafood. It’s delicious, nutritious, and easy to cook. But when buying shrimp, one common question arises – how much is half a pound of shrimp? Understanding shrimp sizes and how many shrimp are in a pound is key to buying, cooking, and serving the perfect amount.
In this detailed guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about:
- Shrimp sizes and counts per pound
- How to read shrimp size labels
- Serving sizes based on shrimp counts
- How many shrimp are in half a pound
- How big half a pound of shrimp looks
- Best uses for half-pound servings
Shrimp Sizes and Counts Per Pound
Shrimp are sized and sold based on a count of how many pieces are in one pound The lower the count, the bigger the shrimp size Common shrimp sizes include
- Colossal – Under 15 shrimp per pound
- Extra Jumbo – 16 to 20 per pound
- Jumbo – 21 to 25 per pound
- Extra Large – 26 to 30 per pound
- Large – 31 to 40 per pound
- Medium – 41 to 50 per pound
- Small – 51 to 60 per pound
- Extra Small – 61 to 70 per pound
- Tiny – Over 70 per pound
So if a bag says “16/20” that means there are 16 to 20 shrimp in a pound. The higher the numbers, the smaller the shrimp.
How to Read Shrimp Size Labels
When buying shrimp fresh or frozen, check the label for the count per pound to understand the size. Some common ways shrimp size is noted
- A number range like “31/35”
- A label like “Large”
- An description like “Jumbo”
For accuracy, go by the numeric label rather than descriptive terms, which can vary by brand.
Serving Size Based on Shrimp Counts
The typical serving size of shrimp is about 4 ounces uncooked, which is around 3 ounces cooked. Here’s how many shrimp that equals depending on the size:
- Colossal – 1 to 4 shrimp
- Jumbo – 5 to 6 shrimp
- Large – 8 to 10 shrimp
- Medium – 12 to 15 shrimp
- Small – 15 to 20 shrimp
Half that amount would be the serving size for 2 ounces of shrimp.
How Many Shrimp are in Half a Pound?
Now that we know serving sizes, how many shrimp will you get in half a pound?
A full pound is 16 ounces. So half a pound of shrimp is 8 ounces.
That means half a pound serves about:
- Colossal – 2 to 3 shrimp
- Jumbo – 3 to 4 shrimp
- Large – 5 to 6 shrimp
- Medium – 8 to 10 shrimp
- Small – 10 to 15 shrimp
The exact amount will depend on the shrimp’s precise size, but this gives a good estimate.
What Does Half a Pound of Shrimp Look Like?
Wondering what half pound of shrimp looks like visually? Here’s a quick guide:
- Colossal – About 2 very large shrimp
- Jumbo – Around 4 large shrimp
- Large – 5-6 decent sized shrimp
- Medium – A handful of smaller shrimp
- Small – A very full handful of tiny shrimp
Of course, appearances can be deceiving when it comes to size and weight. But this provides a rough visual aid for half a pound of the various shrimp sizes.
Best Uses for Half a Pound of Shrimp
What are the best ways to use half a pound of shrimp? Here are some serving ideas for different shrimp sizes:
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Colossal – Perfect for shrimp cocktails with 2-3 shrimp per glass. Or make an entree with 1-2 baked stuffed shrimp per person.
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Jumbo – Allow 3-4 shrimp for shrimp tacos or shrimp salad. Or cook 5-6 shrimp for fajitas or pasta.
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Large – Use 5-6 shrimp for scampi or garlic butter shrimp. Or add to seafood pasta or salad.
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Medium – Make shrimp skewers or kabobs with 2-3 shrimp per skewer. Use 8-10 shrimp for quesadillas, fried rice or soup.
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Small – Add up to 15 to seafood pasta or salad. Use 10-12 for shrimp rolls or ceviche.
No matter the size, half a pound of shrimp goes a long way in recipes when paired with other ingredients. Add it to pasta, tacos, skewers, salad, and more for a tasty meal.
Key Takeaways on Half a Pound of Shrimp
To wrap up, here are the key things to remember:
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Shrimp are sized by counts per pound. The lower the count, the bigger the shrimp.
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Check labels for the count to understand shrimp size, not descriptive terms.
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Half a pound is about 8 ounces and serves 2-3 jumbo shrimp up to 10-15 small shrimp.
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Visually, half a pound is 2 colossal shrimp up to a very full handful of small shrimp.
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Best uses are shrimp cocktails, tacos, pasta, skewers, rolls, and other recipes.
Now that you know all about how much is in half a pound of shrimp, you can shop for and serve shrimp with confidence!
How Many Shrimp in a Pound
It’s also hard to understand why the count goes down as the shrimp get smaller. Huge shrimp may only count 10 per pound, while very small shrimp count 60 per pound.
When reading shrimp package labels, you’ll see numbers like 16/20 or 16-20 count. That means there are between 16 and 20 shrimp per pound. Since bigger shrimp are more expensive, it’s important to know you’re getting the actual size you’re paying for!.
Different kinds of shrimp such as white shrimp, pink shrimp and rock shrimp are usually available in multiple sizes. However, mantis shrimp harvested from the southeast tends to be colossal only.
The table below shows the counts per pound for each shrimp size. For most sizes, a count range is used. A “U” means “under” or “less than” a certain number in pounds for the colossal sizes:
| Shrimp Size | Shrimp Per Pound |
| Extra Small | 61-70 |
| Small | 51-60 |
| Medium | 41-50 |
| Medium Large | 36-40 |
| Large | 31-35 |
| Extra Large | 26-30 |
| Jumbo | 21-25 |
| Extra Jumbo | 16-20 |
| Colossal | Under 15 (U15) |
| Super Colossal | Under 12 (U12) |
| Extra Colossal | Under 10 (U10) |
Note: These numbers are for fresh or frozen shrimp without heads, shell-on or shell-off. Shrimp with heads weigh in one category higher.
What’s the biggest shrimp size? Extra colossal shrimp is the largest size available in seafood markets with counts as large as 5 shrimp per pound. However, there are Asian tiger shrimp that weigh 7-11 ounces each with a count of just 1-2 per pound!
What’s the smallest shrimp? There are extremely small shrimp with counts like 150 per pound or occasionally even 250-350 per pound, usually labeled incorrectly as extra small shrimp!
Shrimp Sizes in Recipes
Each recipe calls for specific shrimp sizes and there’s an element of personal preference. For instance, when making Coconut Shrimp, you might like to make them as one-bite appetizers with medium-sized shrimp or as two-bite appetizers with large shrimp.
Just bear in mind to adjust the cooking time to the different size shrimp, i. e. larger shrimp will need extra cooking time, whereas smaller shrimp will require less cooking time.
For menu planning, it’s sometimes helpful to know how many shrimp you get per serving. Here’s what to expect for a 4-oz (113 gram) serving:
- Colossal shrimp: 1-4 per serving
- Jumbo shrimp: 5-6 per serving
- Large shrimp: 7-9 per serving
- Medium shrimp: 10-12 per serving
- Small shrimp: 13-18 per serving
How Many Shrimp Are in A Pound | What Is The Shrimp Count
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)
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.
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.”
Which shrimp size is best for cooking?
Extra Colasssal (U/10) and Super Colossal (U/12) shrimp are the largest shrimp sizes for cooking. But, when buying shrimp, be sure to look at the counts per pound. Colossal shrimp can be labeled as such, but have a count per pound of 16 to 20, actually making it Extra Jumbo shrimp.