Hey there, fellow seafood lovers! Today we’re gonna dive deep into one of the most common questions I get from my health-conscious readers – exactly how many calories are packed into a half pound of those delicious little crustaceans we call shrimp. Let’s break it down in simple terms!
The Quick Answer
A half pound (8 ounces) of shrimp contains:
- 240 calories
- 46.06g protein
- 3.92g fat
- 2.06g carbs
Macronutrient Breakdown
Here’s how those calories are distributed
- 81% from protein
- 16% from fat
- 3% from carbs
Detailed Nutritional Breakdown
Let me break down all the important nutrients you’ll get in your half-pound serving:
Vitamins & Minerals
- Vitamin D: 9mcg (43% DV)
- Calcium: 118mg (9% DV)
- Iron: 5.47mg (30% DV)
- Potassium: 420mg (9% DV)
- Vitamin A: 122mcg (14% DV)
- Vitamin C: 4.5mg (5% DV)
Fat Breakdown
- Total Fat: 3.92g (5% DV)
- Saturated Fat: 0.744g (4% DV)
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.517g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 0.574g
Other Important Nutrients
- Cholesterol: 345mg (115% DV)
- Sodium: 336mg (15% DV)
Why Shrimp is Actually Super Healthy
Ya know what’s cool about shrimp? It’s like this perfect little package of nutrition! Here’s why I love recommending it to my readers:
-
High Protein, Low Calories
- Perfect for weight loss
- Great for muscle building
- Keeps you feeling full longer
-
Heart-Healthy Fats
- Rich in omega-3 fatty acids
- Low in saturated fat
- Contains beneficial antioxidants
-
Packed with Nutrients
- Excellent source of iodine
- High in vitamin B12
- Good source of selenium
Common Questions I Get About Shrimp Calories
“Does cooking method affect calories?”
Yup! The base calories (240) are for plain shrimp. When you start adding butter oil or breading, those numbers go up real quick!
“How does shrimp compare to other proteins?”
For 3 oz serving:
- Shrimp: 90 calories, 20g protein
- Chicken breast: 140 calories, 26g protein
- Lean beef: 150 calories, 24g protein
- Tofu: 60 calories, 6g protein
Tips for Keeping Shrimp Healthy
-
Best Cooking Methods:
- Grilling
- Steaming
- Baking
- Air frying
-
Healthy Seasoning Ideas:
- Lemon and herbs
- Garlic and chili
- Cajun seasoning
- Old Bay seasoning
Some Yummy Low-Cal Shrimp Recipe Ideas
-
Simple Garlic Shrimp
- Half pound shrimp
- 2 cloves garlic
- Lemon juice
- Fresh parsley
Total calories: ~275
-
Shrimp Lettuce Wraps
- Half pound shrimp
- Boston lettuce leaves
- Cucumber
- Light sauce
Total calories: ~290
The Bottom Line
So there ya have it! A half pound of shrimp gives you 240 calories of mostly protein-packed goodness. It’s one of the leanest protein sources out there, and I personally think it’s a fantastic choice for anyone watching their calories but still wanting something tasty and satisfying.
Just remember – how you cook it matters! Keep it simple with light seasonings and healthy cooking methods, and you’ll have yourself a super nutritious meal that won’t blow your calorie budget.
Have you tried any good shrimp recipes lately? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below! And don’t forget to check out our other articles about healthy seafood options!
Note: If you’ve got any shellfish allergies, obviously skip the shrimp and check out some of our other protein guides instead!
Would you like me to explain any part of this article in more detail?
Shrimp Sizes in Recipes
Each recipe calls for specific shrimp sizes and there’s an element of personal preference. For example, with Coconut Shrimp you may prefer making them as one-bite appetizers with medium shrimp or as two-bite appetizers with jumbo shrimp.
Just bear in mind to adjust the cooking time to the different size shrimp, i.e. larger shrimp will need extra cooking time, whereas smaller shrimp will require less cooking time.
For menu planning, it’s sometimes helpful to know how many shrimp you get per serving. Here’s what to expect for a 4-oz (113 gram) serving:
- Colossal shrimp: 1-4 per serving
- Jumbo shrimp: 5-6 per serving
- Large shrimp: 7-9 per serving
- Medium shrimp: 10-12 per serving
- Small shrimp: 13-18 per serving
How Many Shrimp in a Pound
The other confusing thing is that the larger the count, the smaller the shrimp! Huge shrimp may count 10 per pound, while very small shrimp count 60 per pound.
When reading shrimp package labels, you’ll see numbers like 16/20 or 16-20 count. That means there are between 16 and 20 shrimp per pound. Since bigger shrimp are more expensive, it’s important to know you’re getting the actual size you’re paying for!
Different kinds of shrimp such as white shrimp, pink shrimp and rock shrimp are usually available in multiple sizes. However, mantis shrimp harvested from the southeast tends to be colossal only.
The table below shows the counts per pound for each shrimp size. For most sizes, a count range is used. For the largest colossal sizes, a “U” refers to “under” or “fewer than” a certain number in a pound:
| Shrimp Size | Shrimp Per Pound |
| Extra Small | 61-70 |
| Small | 51-60 |
| Medium | 41-50 |
| Medium Large | 36-40 |
| Large | 31-35 |
| Extra Large | 26-30 |
| Jumbo | 21-25 |
| Extra Jumbo | 16-20 |
| Colossal | Under 15 (U15) |
| Super Colossal | Under 12 (U12) |
| Extra Colossal | Under 10 (U10) |
Note: These numbers are for fresh or frozen shrimp without heads, shell-on or shell-off. Shrimp with heads weigh in one category higher.
What’s the biggest shrimp size? Extra colossal shrimp is the largest size available in seafood markets with counts as large as 5 shrimp per pound. However, there are Asian tiger shrimp that weigh 7-11 ounces each with a count of just 1-2 per pound!
What’s the smallest shrimp? There are extremely small shrimp with counts like 150 per pound or occasionally even 250-350 per pound, usually labeled incorrectly as extra small shrimp!