Once you make prawn stock, it will become a kitchen staple. It adds amazing flavor (like fish sauce!) to anything you put it in. It’s super easy to make and freezes very well.
Our customers don’t have to buy pre-made broth that may be high in sodium and preservatives. Instead, they can use Lummi Island Wild discarded Spot Prawn heads to make their own. This kit comes with 1 pound of prawn heads, so you can order shrimp broth online in a way that is good for you and good for the environment.
Shrimp stock, also known as shrimp broth, is a flavorful liquid made by simmering shrimp shells in water. It forms the base for many seafood soups, stews, sauces, and rice dishes. With its briny, savory umami taste, shrimp stock adds wonderful depth and nuance to recipes. But where can you buy high-quality shrimp stock if you don’t have time to make it from scratch?
I’ve scoured the web to find the best places to buy pre-made shrimp stock, whether you need a single serving or buy in bulk. I’ll also provide tips on what to look for when buying canned, boxed, or bottled shrimp broth Let’s dive in!
Check Asian Markets for Fresh Shrimp Stock
My first recommendation is to check your local Asian supermarket Many have seafood counters that sell fresh, housemade shrimp stock by the pint or quart This is hands down the best shrimp broth you can buy, with intensely rich, shrimpy flavor.
The stock is made from actual shrimp shells, heads, and sometimes meat, simmered for hours. It captures the pure umami essence of fresh shrimp. The broth is often cloudy with a pale pink or orange hue from the shells.
Prices vary but expect to pay around $3-6 per pint or $6-12 per quart at Asian seafood markets. I like to buy a few quarts at a time and freeze them in smaller portions. Thaw as needed for seafood soups and stews all season long!
Boxed and Canned Shrimp Broth Offers Convenience
When a trip to an Asian market isn’t convenient, look for boxed or canned shrimp stock at regular supermarkets. While not as flavorful as fresh, these provide a quick and easy broth base.
Popular supermarket brands for shrimp stock include:
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Kitchen Basics – Mildly flavored shrimp broth sold in 32 oz aseptic cartons. About $4-6.
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Imagine Foods – Low sodium, all natural shrimp broth in 32 oz boxes. Around $4.
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Progresso – Hearty, robust shrimp broth available in 49 oz cans. Approximately $3-4 per can.
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Swanson – Traditional shrimp flavored broth in 14.5 oz cans. Roughly $2 per can.
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Bar Harbor Foods – All natural, gluten free shrimp stock in BPA-free cans. Approximately $4 per 15 oz can.
When buying boxed or canned shrimp broths, I recommend checking the ingredients list. Ideal stocks have shrimp and shellfish components high up on the list. Avoid those with lots of fillers like hydrogenated oils or excessive sodium.
Shrimp Base and Bouillon Offer Concentrated Flavor
Another convenient option is shrimp bouillon cubes, granules, or paste. These are highly concentrated, offering bold shrimp flavor that you reconstitute with water. Popular brands include Knorr, Better Than Bouillon, and Minor’s.
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Bouillon cubes like Knorr – Add 1 cube per 1 cup water. Around $1-2 for 8 cubes.
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Granulated bouillon like Knorr – Use 1-2 tsp per 1 cup water. Approximately $4-8 for a 7.9 oz jar.
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Shrimp paste like Maesri – Add 1-2 tsp paste per 1 cup water. About $5 per 3.1 oz tub.
I like keeping some shrimp bouillon or paste in my pantry for a quick broth boost anytime. They have long shelf lives compared to fresh stock. Just know that quality varies widely, so taste test a few brands to find your favorites.
Buy Shrimp Shells to Make Your Own Stock
For the absolute freshest, most flavorful shrimp broth, I recommend making your own from shrimp shells. You can buy shells alone specifically for stock at many fish markets or request them when you purchase fresh shrimp.
Simmer 1 pound shrimp shells in 4 cups water for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Season simply with salt, pepper, thyme or bay leaf. Strain the broth and you have pure, homemade shrimp stock for a fraction of the cost!
Making your own allows you to control the ingredients and quality. The stock boasts a pronounced shrimp taste and aroma. Freeze leftovers in ice cube trays for easy use.
Tips for Buying the Best Quality Shrimp Stock
When purchasing packaged shrimp broths and bases, keep these tips in mind:
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Check the color – It should be pale orange to pink if made with real shrimp. Avoid very light or clear broths.
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Read the label for ingredients like actual shrimp, shells or flakes. Avoid MSG, excessive sodium, or fillers.
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Look for low or no fat options. Shrimp stock is naturally lean.
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Consider sustainable brands that use responsibly sourced seafood.
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For bouillon, look for brands that use real shrimp or shellfish extracts, not just flavoring.
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Watch out for odd chemical tastes or scents which can indicate preservatives.
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Once opened, store shrimp broth in the refrigerator and use within 3-4 days for best flavor.
Shrimp Broth Uses
Shrimp stock is very versatile. Here are just some ideas:
- Bases for soups like hot & sour, tom yum, seafood chowders
- Flavorful rice like jambalaya, shrimp fried rice, shrimp étouffée
- Seafood stews and braises
- Sauces and gravies to top fish and shellfish
- Cooking liquids for grains and aromatics
- Deglazing pans after cooking shrimp
- Subtle flavor boost for risotto or congee
- Non-seafood dishes to add delicate shrimp essence
How to Make Prawn Head (Shrimp) Stock?
The best answer to this common question is to avoid store-bought shrimp stock. Instead, make your own soup stock at home. Until now, the hardest part of the process has been finding a place to buy prawn heads. Our prawn head soup stock kit makes it easy to get everything you need right here.
Before you order your prawn head stock kit online, make sure you have everything you need. In addition to shrimp heads, you should include a few pounds of vegetables. Most veggies will work, but carrots, celery, potatoes, and onions are traditional. You’ll also need a stock pot big enough to cook everything at once and a mix of spices and herbs to make it taste better.
Once you have everything you need, the actual cooking is simple. Simmer the vegetables in your stock pot for around 20 minutes, then add the prawn heads. Submerge everything in water and simmer for around 50 minutes, taking care to avoid overcooking the broth. When done, enjoy warm or freeze into portions to use while cooking stews, soups, and other seafood dishes.
Our prawn head soup stock ships frozen to help preserve their flavor. Inside the fridge, these prawn heads will stay fresh for up to three days. They can also be frozen and kept for months. However, we recommend making your broth soon after the delivery arrives. If you want to use the broth later, it’s easier to make it and freeze it than to keep the bones.
Prawn head stock is extraordinarily easy to cook on your own. You can make your own shrimp stock if you have the scraps and bones you need. No need to order it online. You’ll be sure to taste the difference.
How do you ship? Orders that need to be delivered quickly are sent via UPS 2nd Day Air Carbon Neutral, packed with enough dry ice to make sure they arrive frozen. Non-perishable items ship standard ground-arriving 3-5 days from the selected shipping date. * Shipments cannot be delivered to a PO BOX.
How do I track my order? Once your order has shipped, you will get an email with your tracking number to the address you used when you checked out. If you do not see an email in your inbox, please check your junk and spam folder!.
How do you keep things cold while they’re being shipped? We pack your order with enough dry ice or frozen gel packs based on where it’s going to keep things frozen. Dry ice will dissipate during transit and if none is visible in your box, that is ok.
Do you offer Local Pick up? We offer curbside pickup! Please place your order online. You can select local pickup during checkout. Leave a note with the day and time you’d like to come by, or you can come by between 10am and 1:30pm, Monday through Friday.
Do you offer a gift note service for online orders? Yes, you can leave messages for the recipients in the “Notes” section when you check out. This message will appear on the packing slip and does not include prices.
How to Make Shrimp Stock – HTK Tutorial
What is seafood stock made of?
Made with white wine, the stock of lobster, pollock, cod, tilapia, and shrimp, mirepoix (carrot, celery, and onion), tomato paste, and salt, this seafood stock is as flavorsome as it is colorful. Made with pride in the USA, this seafood stock is concentrated and packaged in 1.5-ounce (42.5 gram) containers.
What is more than gourmet seafood stock?
Many a home cook swear by More Than Gourmet’s Classic Seafood Stock, and for good reason. Made with white wine, the stock of lobster, pollock, cod, tilapia, and shrimp, mirepoix (carrot, celery, and onion), tomato paste, and salt, this seafood stock is as flavorsome as it is colorful.
Can you find good seafood stock at the grocery store?
And yet, it takes a lot to find good seafood stock at the grocery store! To say that what’s on the shelves is mediocre would be a major underestimation: Much of the seafood stock that’s out there falls short of expectations and, if you read the ingredients list, is stuffed with fillers and preservatives.
Is seafood broth the same as seafood stock?
Generally speaking, a seafood broth is the same thing as a seafood stock, especially when we’re referring to store-bought versions. In the culinary world, the word stock is more common when referring to fish, lobster, crab, and shrimp stock.