What does “26/30” mean? This guide will teach you how to read shrimp sizes, help you figure out what size and number of shrimp you need for your recipe, and give you ideas for cooking.
Shrimp is one of the most popular types of seafood Their sweet, briny flavor and tender texture make them an irresistible addition to pasta, salads, tacos, and more. But when it comes to cooking shrimp recipes or buying shrimp at the store, it’s important to understand how much to purchase. One common question is how many ounces is 12 shrimp?
The answer depends primarily on the size of the shrimp. Shrimp are typically 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 Shrimp Sizes and Ounces per Shrimp
Here is an overview of common shrimp sizes, along with the typical number of ounces per individual shrimp:
- Colossal or Super Colossal (U10) – 10 or less per pound. These jumbo shrimp weigh around 1.6 ounces each.
- Extra Jumbo (U12) – Under 12 per pound. Approximately 1.3 ounces per shrimp.
- Jumbo (16/20) – 16 to 20 per pound. Each shrimp weighs about 0.8 ounces.
- Extra Large (21/25) – 21 to 25 per pound. These shrimp average 0.6 ounces each.
- Large (26/30) – 26 to 30 per pound. Around 0.5 ounces per shrimp.
- Medium (36/40) – 36 to 40 per pound. Approximately 0.4 ounces per shrimp.
- Small (51/60) – 51 to 60 per pound. Each shrimp is about 0.3 ounces.
So if you have jumbo 16/20 shrimp where each weighs 0.8 ounces, then 12 jumbo shrimp would be 12 x 0.8 = 9.6 ounces. For a medium 36/40 shrimp that’s 0.4 ounces each, 12 shrimp would be 12 x 0.4 = 4.8 ounces.
As you can see, the number of ounces in 12 shrimp ranges quite a bit based on their size.
Serving Size Guidelines
Besides counting shrimp, another way to determine the right amount is to go by serving sizes. The FDA lists a standard serving size of cooked seafood as 3 ounces.
For medium, small, and extra small shrimp, you can expect about 12-15 individual shrimp per 3-ounce serving. For jumbo, extra jumbo, and colossal shrimp, a serving is typically 3 to 5 shrimp.
Here are some serving size guidelines based on shrimp size
- Colossal (U10) – 3 shrimp
- Extra Jumbo (U12) – 3 to 4 shrimp
- Jumbo (16/20) – 5 to 6 shrimp
- Extra Large (21/25) – 6 to 7 shrimp
- Large (26/30) – 8 to 9 shrimp
- Medium (36/40) – 12 shrimp
- Small (51/60) – 12 to 15 shrimp
While the FDA sets a 3-ounce portion as standard, serving sizes often increase for main entrees or heartier appetites. A main course may have 6 ounces of shrimp, which would double these numbers.
Tips for Buying, Cooking and Serving Shrimp
When purchasing and preparing shrimp, keep these tips in mind:
- Choose fresh, firm shrimp with a seafood aroma. Avoid ammonia odors or black spots.
- Check the count per pound to determine size and calculate the number needed.
- Rinse thawed shrimp before cooking to prevent excess sodium.
- Don’t overcook. Shrimp turn pink and become firm when done.
- Season simply with lemon, garlic, herbs, butter, or cajun spices.
- Pair with rice, pasta, salads, or tacos for easy meals.
Understanding how many ounces are in 12 shrimp allows you to purchase, prepare, and serve the perfect shrimp dish every time. Whether making shrimp scampi, seared shrimp tacos, or shrimp salad, you’ll know exactly how much to buy and cook.
So the next time you’re headed to the seafood counter or prepping a recipe, use this handy guide on shrimp sizes, ounce counts, and serving tips. Simply count your shrimp, check the size, and enjoy heavenly, tender shrimp on your plate.
Do Head-On or Unpeeled Shrimp Affect Shrimp Counts?
According to Louisiana Direct Seafood’s Handbook, shrimp are two counts larger with the head on and 1 count larger with the shells. So, say you buy U/15 shrimp with the heads and shells on. Once the heads are removed, they’ll weigh in two steps smaller at 21/25 shrimp per pound, and when peeled, they’ll be 26/30’s.
When I buy shrimp, I usually leave the shells on because they keep the meat juicy and give the shrimp a great flavor. So, when I go shopping, I base my serving sizes on the shrimp that are next to the smallest on the chart based on the label’s count.
How are Shrimp Sized?
Shrimp sizes are denoted in numbers, such as 21/25 or U/15. What does a “U” mean in the count? It means there are “under” that many shrimp in a pound. The slash between numbers denotes a range of shrimp in a pound.
So, for example, U/15 shrimp contain fewer than 15 shrimp per pound. 21/25’s weigh in at 21 to 25 shrimp to a pound. As the numbers get smaller, the shrimp get bigger.
Sometimes, you’ll see a sizing term alongside the number such as “Large” or “Jumbo”. For accuracy when cooking, I like to pay closer attention to the number count than the sizing term.
Because these terms aren’t standard in the seafood business, 16/20’s might be called “Extra Jumbo” by one brand or fishmonger and “Colossal” by another. Using the shrimp count instead lets you know for sure how many shrimp you’ll be getting when you plan a recipe.
| Common Sizing Term (Varies) | Shrimp Count Per Pound | Approx. Count Per 3 oz Serving |
|---|---|---|
| Extra Colossal | U/10 | 2-3 shrimp |
| Super Colossal | U/12 | 2-3 shrimp |
| Colossal | U/15 | 3-4 shrimp |
| Extra Jumbo | 16/20 | 4-5 shrimp |
| Jumbo | 21/25 | 5-6 shrimp |
| Extra Large | 26/30 | 6-7 shrimp |
| Large | 31/35 | 8-9 shrimp |
| Medium Large | 36/40 | 9-10 shrimp |
| Medium | 41/50 | 10-12 shrimp |
| Small | 51/60 | 12-15 shrimp |
| Extra Small | 61/70 | 15-17 shrimp |
| Tiny | 71+ | 18+ shrimp |
How to buy Shrimp. Shrimp Sizing Demystified
FAQ
How many ounces are 12 medium shrimp?
How many shrimp is 3 ounces?
How many shrimp is 4 oz of shrimp?
How many shrimps is 8 oz?
How many shrimp are in an ounce?
An average serving size of shrimp is around 3-4 ounces. But how many shrimp does that equal depending on the size? Here’s a breakdown of how many shrimp come in one ounce on average: As you can see, the larger the shrimp, the fewer come in an ounce. Jumbo shrimp may have 2-3 per ounce, while smaller shrimp have more like 10-12 in an ounce.
How many shrimp per pound?
This is about 10 to 15 shrimp per 3 oz serving and 0.23 oz per shrimp. Large shrimp are about 31 to 40 shrimp per pound making for about 8 or 9 shrimp per serving. Each individual shrimp weighs about 0.33 oz. Cooking Medium shrimp and large shrimp only takes about 4-6 minutes to pan-sear.
How many Jumbo Shrimp in 3 oz?
If you’re working with jumbo-sized shrimp, which typically weigh around 1 ounce each, you can expect to have approximately 3 jumbo shrimp in a 3 oz portion. 2. How many large shrimp in 3 oz? Large shrimp typically weigh around 0.5 ounces each. Therefore, you can expect to have around 6 large shrimp in a 3 oz portion. 3.
How much is 3 oz of shrimp?
There are around 21-25 medium-sized shrimp in a pound, so 3 oz would be roughly equivalent to 4-5 shrimp. 11. What is the average weight of a medium-sized shrimp? The average weight of a medium-sized shrimp is approximately 0.25-0.3 ounces. 12. How can I measure 3 oz of shrimp without a scale?