Shrimp – All You Need to Know | Instacart’s Guide to Groceries

What is shrimp?

Shrimp is a small swimming crustacean that can be found abundantly in waters all over the world. It is the most commonly consumed seafood in the U.S. As it’s so versatile, shrimp is very popular both as a main dish and as an ingredient in salads, chowders, appetizers, curries, and stir-fries.

The U.S. loves its shrimp and gets through 600 million pounds of it every year. Shrimp is also incredibly popular in cuisine in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia.

However, the majority of shrimp eaten in the U.S.—over 90%—is imported from Southeast Asia and Central America and is mostly coastal-pond farmed, not wild-caught. The highest volume of shrimp aquaculture occurs in China, followed by Thailand.

Widespread and abundant, shrimp has adapted to live in both marine and freshwater over a wide range of habitats including most coasts, estuaries, rivers, and lakes. Although almost fully aquatic, some species of shrimp do spend time on land in mangroves.

Where did shrimp originate from?

There has been evidence found of shrimping off the southeastern coast of North America as far back as 600 AD.

The term “shrimp” originates from Britain. Although in the UK, both shrimp and prawns are referred to as prawns. Understandably, the terms “shrimp” and “prawn” are used interchangeably and often confused. Although anatomically they have a lot in common, shrimp and prawns are completely different creatures.

How is fresh shrimp harvested?

Shrimp is actually an ambiguous term that refers to many different shrimp species of many different origins. When you order or buy shrimp, your shrimp could be one of the multiple different species, it could be domestic or imported, or it could be wild-caught or farmed.

The two main methods of harvesting shrimp are commercial farming or wild-caught shrimp. 

• Wild-caught shrimp are fished from their natural environment by fishermen. Wild-caught shrimp are checked and regulated by the government, so these associated costs can make it more expensive.
• Farmed shrimp are raised on commercial shrimp farms. Commercial shrimp farming began in the 1970s, and the global production of shrimp rose rapidly to keep up with demand from the U.S, Japan, and Western Europe.

The main difference between these two types of harvesting comes down to taste. Wild-caught shrimp are caught and sold fast without being frozen prior. They have a stronger taste than farmed variants. 

Before buying farmed shrimp, check that the producer raises shrimp in an ethically sustainable manner and adheres to environmentally friendly standards. Check the label on your grocery store’s shrimp products or ask at your seafood counter.

What are the different types of shrimp?

It may surprise you to learn that there are over 2,000 species of shrimp, but only a few hundred of these are commercially available for culinary use.

From a shopping standpoint, the most important criterion when buying shrimp is size. Shrimp are usually categorized as small, medium, large, and jumbo, and some express the size by the shrimp count per pound. The count refers to the number of individual shrimp in 1lb. 

The most popular types of shrimp are:

• Pink shrimp 
• Brown shrimp
• Pacific white shrimp
• Rock shrimp
• Spot shrimp
• Tiger shrimp
• Banana prawn
• Blue shrimp

How is fresh shrimp served or eaten?

Fresh shrimp has a mild and sweet flavor, so it’s an incredibly versatile food. Its main redeeming quality is that it cooks fast and can be cooked in almost every way imaginable. You can:

• Throw it on the grill and garnish with lemon butter
• Marinate in garlic and chili or hot sauce 
• Make Malaysian Butter shrimp with coconut milk, curry leaves, and chili paste
• Create an easy appetizer with a shrimp cocktail
• Add shrimp to Thai fried rice with pineapple

You’ll also find shrimp incorporated into Asian paste and into dried snacks such as shrimp chips —a cracker with Chinese origins made of tapioca flour plus dried shrimp.

Shrimp can be bought peeled and deveined and is often eaten after peeling the shell and shrimp head. The heads and shells can be eaten, and some even prefer the stronger flavor of the shell. It simply comes down to personal preference. 

What should I look for when buying shrimp at the grocery store?

You’ll find fresh shrimp in the seafood section of your grocery store. If you’re buying fresh or wild-caught shrimp, make sure the head is still on. Heads are only removed prior to freezing. Fresh shrimp should smell like sea or saltwater—clean, not overly fishy.

When buying frozen shrimp, look at the accompanying card that indicates the shrimp size—also called shrimp count. The count indicates the shrimp amount per pound, and smaller numbers mean less shrimp thus bigger sizes and vice-versa.

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for fresh shrimp via Instacart. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products. Shop for shrimp.

How to store shrimp

Fresh, raw shrimp is extremely perishable, so once you have bought shrimp, try to cook it as soon as possible. Cooked shrimp will last 1-2 days in the refrigerator.

In a freezer, shrimp can last up to 18 months. Freezing is the best way to store shrimp, though freezing for long periods can affect its taste.

How to tell if shrimp is bad

Shrimp that has gone bad will have a strong fishy smell, and it can also give off a strong ammonia odor. Mold is another indicator to watch out for. Other signs include a slimy texture or soft shells. 

If you notice any of these occurring, throw the shrimp out.

Get fresh shrimp delivered

Grab it now on Instacart:

Sea Queen Wild Caught Gulf Shrimp, Raw, Peeled & Deveined (22 oz)

White Shrimp, Medium, Peeled & Deveined, 51 60 Shrimp/Lb Previously Frozen, Farmed (per lb)

Ohsung Yes Chips Shrimps Dressed In Garlic (3.35 oz)

Large Shrimp (1 lb)

Wholey Gulf Shrimp, All Natural (1 lb)

Fresh Shrimp (per lb)

Shrimp is a popular seafood that’s easy to cook, so it’s clear to see why shrimp is in such high demand. Whether you’re cooking up a seafood chowder in the kitchen or preparing shrimp cocktail appetizers for a social gathering, add shrimp to your shopping list and save time by ordering your grocery delivery with Instacart.

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Instacart is the leading grocery technology company in North America, partnering with more than 1,400 national, regional, and local retail banners to deliver from more than 80,000 stores across more than 14,000 cities in North America. To read more Instacart posts, you can browse the company blog or search by keyword using the search bar at the top of the page.