Shrimp are a versatile and delicious seafood ingredient used in everything from appetizers to main courses. When following or creating recipes, it’s helpful to know how shrimp sizes translate to weights and vice versa. If you have 5 shrimp, how many ounces will that yield? Let’s take a closer look.
An Overview of Shrimp Sizes
Shrimp are categorized by “count per pound” which refers to how many individual shrimp make up one pound. The lower the number, the larger the shrimp size. Common sizing includes:
- Colossal or Super Colossal: Under 15 per pound
- Jumbo: 16 to 30 per pound
- Extra Large: 31 to 35 per pound
- Large: 36 to 45 per pound
- Medium: 46 to 55 per pound
- Small: Over 55 per pound
So a pound of 30 count shrimp contains approximately 30 jumbo-sized shrimp. Sizes may also be labeled descriptively as extra small, large, etc but the count per pound provides the most accuracy
Calculating Ounces based on Shrimp Counts
Knowing the count per pound you can calculate how many ounces a certain number of shrimp equals
- There are 16 ounces in 1 pound
- So 1 ounce equals 1/16 of a pound
- For 30 count shrimp, 1 pound = 30 shrimp
- So 1 ounce of 30 count shrimp = 30/16 = 1.875 shrimp, or around 2 shrimp
Using this math:
- Jumbo (21/25 per pound): 1 ounce = 3-4 shrimp
- Large (31/35 per pound): 1 ounce = 2-3 shrimp
- Medium (41/50 per pound): 1 ounce = 2 shrimp
And for our original question:
- 5 jumbo shrimp = about 1.5 to 2 ounces
- 5 large shrimp = around 2 ounces
- 5 medium shrimp = about 2.5 ounces
So 5 average-sized shrimp equates to around 2 to 2.5 ounces depending on size.
Standard Serving Sizes
While useful for recipes, shrimp counts and weights don’t tell you how much you need per person. The FDA defines a standard serving of cooked shrimp as 3 ounces. This translates to:
- Jumbo: 5-6 shrimp per serving
- Large: 8-9 shrimp per serving
- Medium: 10-12 shrimp per serving
When serving shrimp as an appetizer, smaller servings of around 1.5 to 2 ounces (4-5 jumbo shrimp) are common. For a main course, larger servings of 4+ ounces are typical. Consider your menu and guests’ appetite when portioning.
Tips for Buying and Cooking Shrimp
When purchasing shrimp:
- Opt for fresh, raw shrimp when possible
- Look for shrimp that smells like the ocean, not fishy
- Choose sustainable wild-caught or responsibly farmed shrimp
For cooking shrimp perfectly:
- Thaw frozen shrimp overnight in the fridge
- Peel and devein shrimp if desired
- Brine shrimp in saltwater for enhanced flavor
- Adjust cooking times based on size – small cooks quickest
- Don’t overcook or shrimp becomes rubbery
With this guide, you now have a helpful reference for calculating shrimp sizes, weights, and servings! Whether following a recipe or cooking freestyle, you’ll know just how many ounces is 5 shrimp or any amount needed.
Appetizer Servings
If you are serving several appetizers, allow 2 to 3 (medium or larger) shrimp per person. Calculate even more shrimp per person if there are no other appetizers on the menu.
A tasty appetizer is battered and deep-fried shrimp with remoulade sauce. However, you might want to serve boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce if you know some of your guests have food allergies or if you are serving a lot of other appetizers.
Entree Servings
As per the American Heart Association, three ounces of fish or seafood is a serving. However, this can change based on your appetite and if you are feeding small children. Allow about 4 ounces for each adult and about 2 ounces for small children. If the shrimp are head-on and not peeled, like in a shrimp boil, give each person about 6 to 8 ounces. If you arent sure about appetites, err on the side of more.
Shrimp Servings By the Numbers
- Medium and below, about 9 to 11 shrimp per person
- Large to jumbo, about 5 to 7 shrimp per person
- Extra jumbo and above, about 3 to 5 per person
Nutritional Facts Per 1 Ounce Cooked Shrimp
Calories: 40
Total Fat: 0.66g
- Saturated Fat: 0.125g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.255g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 0.096g
Cholesterol: 58mg
Sodium: 172mg
Potassium: 49mg
Total Carbohydrate: 0.35g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 0g
Protein: 7.73g
To make shrimp, whether it’s for a main dish, a snack, or an appetizer, there are many ways to prepare and cook it. A traditional shrimp dish that is full of garlic is shrimp scampi. It can be eaten as an appetizer or as a main dish with rice or pasta. Shrimp Creole and etouffee are Louisiana-style shrimp dishes with tomato-based sauces. Shrimp Fra Diavolo is a spicy Italian dish. For cold dishes, consider a tasty pickled shrimp or a flavorful shrimp salad.
How Many Red Cherry Shrimp Per Gallon? THE ONLY ANSWER YOU NEED!
FAQ
How many shrimp is 3 ounces?
How many shrimp is 4 oz of shrimp?
How many shrimps are 8 oz?
How many calories are in 5 shrimps?
How many ounces are in a pound of shrimp?
According to the FDA, the serving size for seafood, including shrimp, is 3 ounces, cooked. 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.
How many shrimp are in a serving?
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. A serving of tiny salad shrimp (71+ per pound) is close to 17+ shrimp, while a serving of Colossal (U/15) shrimp is 3 to 4 shrimp.
How many ounces of shrimp per person?
If shrimp is the main entrée, plan to use at least 4 ounces per person, raw (approximately 3 ounces cooked). Some people plan for 6 to 8 ounces per person to have plenty and be on the safe side. If your meal is similar to a shrimp boil where many other ingredients will be added, you can use safely use 4 ounces per person.
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.