If you’re not sure how to buy shrimp, don’t worry, we have the answers. Selecting the right shrimp is the first step to a perfect shrimp dish. We will answer all your questions about how to buy shrimp, right here:

1. Buy frozen shrimp: Unless you are in a rush to use your shrimp, we suggest that you always buy frozen shrimp. Almost all available shrimp have been previously frozen. The grocery store or seafood market is thawing it for your convenience. Shrimp can be thawed at home in under 30 minutes, so if you don’t need to defrost now, stick with the frozen bags. The reason is that when you defrost it yourself you know how long it has been defrosted, giving you more control over the best quality.

2. Avoid buying shrimp that have already been peeled: Because most shrimp are pre-frozen as mentioned above, you want to buy shrimp with the shell on. The rind helps protect the meat from freezer burns. You may still have the vein. This is good. The vein can be easily left or removed if you prefer. So whether you buy it frozen or thawed, buy shrimp in the shell.

3. Color and appearance: When shopping for shrimp, look at the color and appearance – look for a nice translucent color. Avoid shrimp that have black spots or rings. These are not harmful, it just means that the shrimp are getting old and starting to decompose. Avoid buying shrimp that look yellow. It may mean that it has been soaked in a solution to remove blackheads or rings.

4. Smell: If you buy thawed shrimp, never buy shrimp that smell strong or “shrimp” my term for fishy smell. You should hardly miss a smell. It may have a slight salty water odor, but nothing else.

Again, buying frozen shrimp is the best way to go, but if you’re in a rush and just want to make a quick shrimp cocktail, follow the guidelines above if you buy thawed shrimp. If you prefer to buy cooked shrimp for your appetizer, look for a nice pink shrimp. The size is really your preference. There won’t be much difference in taste between large and small shrimp. Look for a nice firm texture. You don’t want flimsy shrimp. It should have a nice firm curl. (That is, the tail curls up and remains glued towards your body)

Final recommendation: Always use raw shrimp when cooking with them. Never use previously cooked shrimp in a recipe where you have to cook them again. It will become rubbery and hard.

How many shrimp should you buy?

A good rule of thumb is approx. 1/4 lb per person of cooked shrimp. One pound of raw shrimp in the shell equals approx. 1/2 lbs. of peeled and cooked shrimp.

That’s! It is that easy. Now you can go ahead and create a perfect shrimp dish tonight.