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.
As a seafood lover, shrimp is one of my go-to proteins. When a recipe calls for a pound of shrimp, I need to be able to visualize exactly how much shrimp that entails.
Understanding what a pound of shrimp looks like helps ensure I buy the right quantity at the store and portion recipes properly when cooking at home,
After doing some shrimp science I have a much better sense of what to expect from a pound of these succulent shellfish. Keep reading for a deep dive into what a pound of shrimp looks and feels like.
Shrimp Sizes
Shrimp come in different sizes, which impacts how many are in a pound. The main sizes are:
- Colossal – 10 shrimp per pound
- Jumbo – 15-20 per pound
- Extra Large – 21-25 per pound
- Large – 26-30 per pound
- Medium – 36-40 per pound
- Small – 41-50 per pound
- Mini – Over 50 per pound
Jumbo shrimp are the kind you often see served as an entree at restaurants. A pound of jumbo shrimp is around 16-20 shrimp.
Visualizing a Pound of Shrimp
Here’s a visual snapshot of what about one pound of medium shrimp looks like:
- Fits in a gallon zip top freezer bag
- Fill a standard dinner plate
- The size of two cupped handfuls
- A heaping pound of peeled shrimp fills a mixing bowl
For large tail-on shrimp, a pound is around a packed pint container. Head-on shrimp take up more space with heads and shells.
Sensory Details
Beyond just looking, I like to get a multi-sensory image of a pound of shrimp. Here’s what you’ll observe:
- A faint sea breeze aroma
- A collective weight of around 1 pound
- A sound of shells lightly clacking together
- A cool, smooth texture when raw
These details really help me understand the actual quantity and characteristics of shrimp.
Buying at the Store
When buying shrimp at the grocery store or seafood counter, they are typically sold in 1 pound frozen bags or trays. Fresh shrimp may be displayed on ice by the pound.
Some tips for buying the right amount:
- Estimate number needed based on shrimp per pound for size
- Pick up bag to feel weight
- Ask for half pound if making small recipe
- Request head-on or shell-on for stock uses
It’s okay to buy a bit extra since shrimp freezes well or can become shrimp salad.
Portioning for Recipes
When prepping shrimp for recipes at home, a food scale helps accurately divide into pound portions. Or you can eyeball it using the visual and sensory cues for a pound of shrimp.
Some recipe tips:
- Shrimp pasta or stir fry for 4: 1 pound shrimp
- Shrimp tacos for 6: 1.5 pounds
- Shrimp cocktail for 8: 2 pounds
- Soup or gumbo for 6: 1 pound shrimp
- Salad for 2: 1/2 pound shrimp
Adjust amounts depending on appetites and number of servings needed.
Get a “Feel” for Shrimp Quantities
The more experience you gain cooking and eating shrimp, the better sense you’ll have for estimating pound portions. But keeping the details of what a pound looks and feels like handy helps remove the guesswork.
So next time a recipe calls for a pound of shrimp, you’ll know exactly what quantity you need to deliver shrimp perfection!
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 to buy Shrimp. Shrimp Sizing Demystified
How do you know if a shrimp is a pound?
In this sizing system, there are two kinds of labels: larger shrimp like “colossal” or “jumbo” will often be marked as “U-10” to signify that 10 or fewer shrimp usually make up one pound. For smaller shrimp sizes, labels will be marked with a range like “ 26/30 ” to indicate the number of shrimp that will make up a pound.
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 do you know if a shrimp is big or small?
Shrimp are considered two counts larger with their heads on (head-on shrimp) and one count larger with just their shells on (unpeeled shrimp with no heads). Shrimp sizes can also be determined by descriptions on the bags, such as “Large” for large shrimp and “Jumbo” for even bigger shrimp.
How many shrimp are in a pound?
The number on the label will indicate the number of shrimp in the package. If it reads 21/25, you know there should be from 21 to 25 shrimp in each pound. Here’s a general list of size designations and counts per pound, where the “U” means “under” or “less than.” One thing to keep in mind is that the size designation isn’t standard.