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, I often find myself wondering – how much shrimp should I buy for my recipes? While shrimp packaging labels provide the count per pound, visualizing the actual quantity can be tricky. In this article, we’ll explore what 4 ounces of shrimp looks like and how to measure it properly
An Overview of Shrimp Sizes
Shrimp are categorized by their size and the number of shrimp per pound The larger the shrimp, the lower the count. Here’s a quick guide to the common shrimp sizes
- Colossal – Under 15 shrimp per lb
- Jumbo – 16 to 20 per lb
- Extra Large – 21 to 25 per lb
- Large – 26 to 30 per lb
- Medium Large – 31 to 35 per lb
- Medium – 36 to 40 per lb
- Small – 41 to 50 per lb
The smallest shrimp can have as many as 61 to 70 per lb!
When buying shrimp, check the label for the count per pound to understand the size. This will help you determine how much you need for your recipes.
Visualizing 4 Ounces of Shrimp
So how can we visualize what 4 ounces of shrimp looks like? Here are some guidelines:
- For jumbo shrimp – 4 oz is around 5 to 6 shrimp
- For large shrimp – 4 oz is about 7 to 9 shrimp
- For medium shrimp – 4 oz equates to 10 to 12 shrimp
- For small shrimp – You’ll get 13 to 18 shrimp in 4 oz
As a general rule, 4 ounces of shrimp is approximately the size of a palmful. The exact amount can vary a bit depending on the size of your palm and the actual size of the shrimp.
Here are some examples of what 4 ounces of shrimp looks like for different sizes:
- 5 jumbo shrimp
- 8 large shrimp
- 12 medium shrimp
- 15 small shrimp
So if you’re cooking for two people, about 8 to 12 jumbo shrimp would make a nice single portion. For a dinner party, you may need 1/4 to 1/2 lb of shrimp per person depending on the recipe.
How to Accurately Measure 4 Ounces of Shrimp
While visualizing the amount is helpful, the most accurate way to measure shrimp is by using a food scale. Here is a simple technique:
- Place an empty bowl on your food scale and press tare to reset to zero
- Add the raw, shell-on shrimp to the bowl until you reach 4 oz
- You can note the number of shrimp for future reference
Using a scale ensures you have the exact 4 ounce portion for your recipe. No more guessing!
If you don’t have a scale, here are some other options:
- Use measuring cups designed for proteins. A 4 oz ladle scoop works well.
- Estimate by comparing to the size of your palm as mentioned earlier.
- Refer to the shrimp count per lb and calculate the amount needed.
These methods aren’t as precise but can work in a pinch.
Cooking Ideas for 4 Ounces of Shrimp
The possibilities are endless when cooking with shrimp! Here are just a few ideas:
- Sauté shrimp in olive oil or butter with garlic, lemon, herbs, etc.
- Stir fry shrimp with veggies and serve over rice.
- Grill shrimp for tacos, kebabs, or salad topping.
- Bake shrimp with breadcrumbs, Parmesan, or Cajun seasoning.
- Broil shrimp for a quick and easy meal.
- Add shrimp to pasta – think shrimp scampi or shrimp Alfredo!
With so many options, you can enjoy shrimp multiple times a week without getting bored. It’s one of the most versatile proteins.
Nutrition Information for 4 Ounces of Shrimp
Shrimp packs a nutritional punch. Here are some of the benefits of 4 ounces cooked:
- Protein: Over 20g, supporting muscle growth and keeping you full.
- Vitamin B12: Helps form red blood cells and maintain the nervous system.
- Selenium: Boosts immune function and protects cells from damage.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Reduce inflammation and support heart health.
- Low calorie: Only around 100 calories in 4 ounces of shrimp.
Shrimp provide this great nutrition for less than 100 calories, making them a powerhouse food.
Tips for Storing and Handling Shrimp
To keep shrimp fresh and safe to eat, follow these storage guidelines:
- Store raw shrimp in the coldest part of the fridge in an airtight container. Use within 1-2 days.
- Cooked shrimp lasts 3-4 days refrigerated.
- Freeze shrimp for up to 6 months if you won’t use within a couple days.
- Thaw frozen shrimp overnight in the fridge or in cold water. Don’t thaw at room temp.
- Cook shrimp until opaque and flesh is pearly pink. Discard any with black spots.
- Avoid cross-contaminating work surfaces and utensils used with raw shrimp.
Following proper storage, thawing, and cooking methods prevents bacteria growth and foodborne illness.
Is 4 Ounces Enough Shrimp per Serving?
Whether 4 ounces of shrimp is enough per serving depends on the recipe, your appetite, and how many people you are serving. Here are some general guidelines:
- For a shrimp-focused appetizer, 4 oz provides 2-4 pieces per person.
- In a stir fry or pasta, 4 oz gives a moderate shrimp presence.
- For shrimp tacos or salad, 4 oz is enough for 2-3 tacos per person.
- If shrimp is a side dish, not the main event, 2-3 oz per person may suffice.
- Big appetites may prefer 6-8 oz of shrimp per individual serving.
Consider the overall meal and choose the shrimp portion accordingly. You can always serve extra shrimp on the side too!
Pairings and Seasonings for Shrimp
The beauty of shrimp is that it goes well with almost anything! Consider these pairing and seasoning ideas:
- Seasonings: Old Bay, Cajun, jerk, lemon pepper, garlic, paprika, chili powder
- Vegetables: Asparagus, broccoli, tomatoes, corn, zucchini
- Grains: Rice, pasta, couscous
- Sauces: Cocktail, remoulade, marinara, teriyaki
- Herbs and citrus: Cilantro, parsley, basil, lime, lemon
Get creative with global flavors like chipotle, harissa, saffron, curry, and sesame oil. The options are endless!
Common Shrimp Recipes
Here are a few popular shrimp recipe ideas to consider trying:
- Shrimp scampi – Sautéed with wine, butter, garlic
- Coconut shrimp – Breaded and fried, served with mangochili sauce
- Shrimp boil – Boiled with sausage, corn, and potatoes
- Bang bang shrimp – Fried, tossed in spicy mayo
- Shrimp tacos – Grilled shrimp, cabbage, mango salsa
- Shrimp fried rice – Stir fried with egg, vegetables, and soy sauce
- Shrimp cocktail – Chilled, served with cocktail sauce
- Shrimp alfredo – Tossed with fettuccine, garlic, and Parmesan
With so many choices, you can make shrimp the star of any meal!
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
Fried Shrimp- Huge 4 oz Fried Shrimp
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.”
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.
What is the smallest size of shrimp?
The smallest shrimp are well under 1/2 inch (as small as 2mm or .07 inches), while the largest shrimp can be as big as 8 inches. The average size is 1.5 to 3 inches, according to Britannica. What is the serving size of shrimp? Let’s look at shrimp serving sizes in terms of both ounces and shrimp counts.