How Many Inches Is A Shrimp? Interesting Fact For Kids

Apart from the fact that we love to consume shrimp in a range of ways, it also gives a range of nutritional benefits to us and boosts up our energy to have a better day.

The average size of a jumbo shrimp will be different from a smaller specimen. Shrimp sizes tend to vary according to the species depending on various factors.

Shrimps are elongated bodies and smaller species of marine life. These species have long and narrow muscular abdomens.

They are semi-transparent bodies that are flattened from side to side and have a flexible abdomen. The shrimp count depends on the size shrimp count and the size of shrimp count also depends on the counts per pound the smaller the shrimp, the more the counts per pound.

The shrimp per pound can cost any range between $6-$25 per pound according to shrimp sizing. Count per pound of shrimp indicates a range of shrimp in a pound.

If there is a 'U' in the count, then that means they are under that range of shrimp in a pound. Let's take the example of the jumbo shrimp.

For the jumbo shrimps, the count per pound is 21/25, for extra-large, it is 26/30, for large it is 31/35, and for medium-large, it is 36/40. You can choose to buy either fresh or frozen shrimp.

Some people classify shrimp as fish. But it is important to understand that shrimp is not fish. Fish is classified as a completely separate entity. A fish can even be a decorative purpose but humans tend to feast more often on shrimp than keep them as decoration.

Shrimps are mostly marine and swim crustacean. They have a compressed body with long antennae and stalked eyes. They are beat-like prolongations with five pairs of swimming legs and are diversified into true, sand, and pistol shrimps.

After reading about the average size count of many shrimp species, do check how many eyes do flies have and how many hearts does a worm have?

Types Of Shrimp

In reality, there exist different varieties of shrimps, of which only a few are available commercially.

The types of shrimps existing match with the colors available in this world. For example, we have a few categories of shrimps such as pink, red, white, and brown.

If we go on to keep counting like this, we end up in the value 300. If we look at the white shrimp, which is usually seen in stores, it is a white or white leg shrimp.

Similarly, each has its origin, like the pink one is the gulf pink shrimp, Maine shrimp, Oregon pink shrimp, northern or southern shrimp.

Tiger shrimp are fellas who have been characterized by the number of their stripes. They can become quite big and large, though they are not very sustainable. The rock shrimp as we see are deshelled, but in reality, they start with hard shells. They have a nice texture, so they are often confused with lobster.

The royal red shrimp, which appears in bright red, adds a rich flavor due to their firm texture. Pink shrimps are most common because one can find them beside any seafood court, they are pink when raw.

White shrimps are sweeter, and are farmed species but not caught. Also known as Chinese or Mexican white shrimp, are nuttier to taste than the pink ones.

Finally, the brown shrimps can change color when it is cooked, they turn to pink color. Having more mineral flavor and containing more iodine, they are usually used in dishes like gumbo.

To quickly list a few types of shrimp, I can state as white leg shrimp, cherry shrimp, Amano shrimp, Alaskan pink shrimp, kuruma shrimp, Chinese white shrimp, sakura shrimp, Hokkaido shrimp, Japanese glass shrimp, and caramote shrimp.

Nutritional Facts About Shrimp

Did you know that apart from giving a tasty meal, there are a lot of proteins offered by shrimps? It is quite nutritious and gives large amounts of nutrients including iodine, which are not found in other seafood items. It is a type of shellfish, which is most commonly consumed, giving 18 g (0.6 oz) of protein.

Iodine is required for the proper functioning of the thyroid and the health of the brain, but many people lack this source of food. The selenium content is 48% of RDI, which is recommended dietary intake.

It gives Vitamin B12, which is an essential vitamin, this helps the body’s blood cells and nerves healthy, it helps to make DNA, of which shrimps are very high rich in protein, containing 21% of RDI.

Shrimps contain amino acids that are required by the body. This is also a great source of phosphorus which also contains calcium, magnesium, and choline. It has many health benefits, such as promoting heart health rate. It also helps to maintain weight loss, it will benefit brain health and strengthens bones.

Shrimps are an excellent source of protein, along with calcium, magnesium, and selenium. This is a very good antioxidant.

The food items that can be prepared from shrimps include shrimp scampi, shrimp stir-fry, which includes Vitamin B3, Vitamin D, zinc, iron, and calcium. There are various cooking and serving methods of these shrimps.

The cooking and serving methods depend on the type of shrimp. Cooking and serving the smaller shrimp is easier than cooking and serving the larger shrimp in size. Shrimp cooking and serving are easier because it does not take much time to cook and they can be put into serving easily.

On the other hand, cooking and serving bigger shrimps is a task. Cooking and serving the bigger shrimps also cost more.

Frozen cooked shrimp recipes are quick, especially when preparing the recipes for a weeknight meal or late-night snacks. The shrimp cocktail recipes and shrimp salad adds an elegant touch to pasta or pizza and go well with dishes that are served cold.

These shrimp cocktails need to be on ice, otherwise, the bacteria can cause illness.

As per available recipes, the serving needs to be done when it is cold and on chilled platters that are stainless steel. Because by doing this, the platter transmits the cold to stay as chilled as possible.

When shrimps were swapped out for oysters, it was repurposed into appetizer cups, and thus the birth of the cocktail happened. At a party, we can place the shrimp cocktail in individual bowls or cups that are small and filled with ice or crushed ice.

To add a bit of flavor to this, we can also place a lemon wedge by the center of the glass which contains the cocktail, and put it on the top of the ice.

At supermarkets too, the Costco shrimp cocktail is easily available at an affordable price. But naturally, shrimp cocktails are costly because of the way they are farmed, and also the price includes various other fluctuating factors.

The Average Size Of A Shrimp

Shrimps are usually classified on various kinds of factors. Shrimp sizes are one of the factors.

They measure shrimp in inches.

According to the shrimp sizing chart, there are extra colossal, super colossal,  jumbo shrimp, extra jumbo, medium jumbo-sized shrimp, colossal shrimp,  shrimp large, shrimp large jumbo, small shrimp on the shrimp sizing chart. The sizes of shrimp can be referred to by looking at the shrimp size chart, in which the following information is available.

The shrimp sizes count per pound, for colossal shrimp it is 15 or less, for extra-jumbo, it is 16 - 20.

The jumbo-sized shrimp sizes 21 - 25 count per pound, the extra-large and extra-jumbo sizes 26 - 30, large sizes 31 - 40, medium-large sizes 41 - 50, small sizes 51 - 60, and finally small shrimp measures 61 - 70 count per pound. The brown shrimp is a type of small shrimp.

The size designation that is always best to use is the count per pound, the average size being about 4-8 cm (1.5-3 in). The largest size available is extra colossal shrimp with five shrimps per pound that weigh 7-11 ounces.

The average adult size is 2 - 3 in (5 -7.6 cm) in length, reaching a maximum length of 11 in (27 cm). Mantis shrimp is the biggest shrimp you can choose when you buy shrimp.

Their size is about 10 cm in length. It is not just a colossal shrimp but rather an extra colossal shrimp.

If we go to a seafood industry, these shrimp's selling parameters are quantity per pound, when it comes to supermarkets, we know it by names- large shrimp, extra-large shrimp, and jumbo. The medium-large shrimp is 36/40 count per pound.

Shrimps generally range from some mm to more than 7 in (20 cm). The larger species of shrimps are called prawns.

We should choose the right shrimp for the perfect occasion as it befits the moment. The smallest of all is mini and the largest is colossal shrimp. The lower the number of U that is under while buying a shrimp, the larger is the shrimp size length.

A jumbo shrimp is 13-25 shrimp per pound, measuring the enormous shrimp of 18 in long. This type of shrimp has a powerful claw that is good enough to break aquarium glass. A fully-grown shrimp measures from 4-8 cm, which is the adult size. A large shrimp is between 1.5 -3 in in length.

Now let’s discuss the average size of prawns, mostly they reside in local waters. The largest of all is known as the jumbo tiger prawn which measures up to 12 (33 cm), and it can be easily distinguished by the light by having dark stripes on its tail.

The other types of prawns, known as king prawns, which are easily available in local supermarkets, diameter is about 2.5 cm, or otherwise 1 inch.

Shrimp Vs Prawn

Often shrimps are confused with prawns, but they both are separate distinct sea animals. Shrimps belong to the sub-order pleocyemata and prawns are the sub-order dendrobranchiate, even though they both have 10 legs and external skeletons.

Their anatomies are different because prawns have branching grills and clouds on three pairs of their legs. Prawns do not possess that special bend to their bodies as opposed to shrimps. Shrimps are plate-like frills, claws on two pairs of its legs. And usually, shrimps are smaller in comparison to prawns.

Shrimps usually live in marine water, while creatures like shrimps live in the freshwater resource. Prawns are mostly larger than shrimps. There is also a difference in the flavors of the two, prawns are sweeter to taste and more expensive than shrimp. Finally, big shrimps are called prawns.

So talking about shrimp vs prawn size, prawns are usually large and possess grittiness, sometimes in the United Kingdom, shrimp is called to refer to a tiny prawn that is very small. In the United States of America, a decent-sized prawn is addressed as shrimp.

Prawns have larger legs with claws on three pairs, and branching gills, whereas shrimps are quite smaller and have shorter legs, they have claws on two pairs, but the similarity is that they both only stick near the ocean floor. Prawns have three pairs of claw-like legs, but shrimps have only one pair.

Few similarities between the shrimp and prawn can include that they both are decapod crustaceans, which means they both have ten legs and possess the external skeleton.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for how many inches is a shrimp then why not take a look at how many legs do butterflies have, or shrimp facts.