Let’s face it – figuring out how many shrimp to serve can be super confusing! Whether you’re planning a fancy dinner party or just cooking for the family, I’ve got you covered with this comprehensive guide to shrimp serving sizes.
Quick Answer
For a main course, plan on 3-4 ounces of cooked shrimp per person (about 8-12 medium shrimp) For appetizers, serve 2-3 medium shrimp per person when offering multiple appetizers, or 4-5 shrimp if it’s the only starter.
Understanding Shrimp Sizes
Before we dive in, let’s decode those mysterious numbers on shrimp packages! The numbers tell you how many shrimp make up one pound. Here’s a simple breakdown:
- Extra Colossal/Super Colossal: U/10 or U/12 (fewer than 10-12 per pound)
- Colossal: 13/15 (13-15 per pound)
- Extra Jumbo/Jumbo: 16/20 or 21/25 (16-25 per pound)
- Extra Large/Large: 26/30 or 31/35 (26-35 per pound)
- Medium: 36/40 or 41/50 (36-50 per pound)
- Small: 51/60 (51-60 per pound)
Pro tip: The smaller the number, the bigger the shrimp!
Serving Size Guidelines by Course
Main Course Portions
- Colossal shrimp: 4-5 pieces per person
- Jumbo shrimp: 5-7 pieces per person
- Extra Large shrimp: 8-10 pieces per person
- Large shrimp: 10-12 pieces per person
- Medium shrimp: 12-16 pieces per person
Appetizer Portions
- Colossal shrimp: 2-3 per person
- Jumbo shrimp: 3 per person
- Extra Large shrimp: 3-4 per person
- Large shrimp: 4-5 per person
Shrimp Cocktail
We usually serve:
- Jumbo or Large: 4-5 shrimp per person
- Extra Large: 5-6 per person
- Large: 6-8 per person
Special Considerations
Shell-on vs. Peeled
When serving shell-on or head-on shrimp (like in a shrimp boil), increase portions by about 25%. Plan for 6-8 ounces per person instead of the usual 4 ounces.
Party Planning Tips
- For buffets, plan extra – about 4-6 ounces per person
- Kids typically eat smaller portions – reduce by 1-2 shrimp
- When in doubt, make extra! Leftover shrimp keeps well
Nutritional Info per 4-ounce Serving
- Calories: 120
- Protein: 24g
- Fat: 1g
- Carbs: 1g
My Favorite Cooking Methods
I’ve found these methods work best:
- Grilled
- Broiled
- Baked
- Air fried
- Sautéed
- Steamed
Common Questions I Get Asked
Q How do I know if I’m buying enough?A Better to have too much than too little! For a dinner party, I always add an extra 10-15% to my calculations
Q: Does frozen shrimp work the same as fresh?
A: Yep! Just remember they might lose a bit of weight when thawed, so grab a little extra.
Final Thoughts
Remember, these are just guidelines – you know your crowd best! I’ve hosted enough dinners to know that some folks will demolish a pound of shrimp while others might nibble on just a few. When in doubt, having extra is better than running short.
Appetizer Servings
If you are serving several appetizers, allow 2 to 3 (medium or larger) shrimp per person. Calculate even more shrimp per person if there are no other appetizers on the menu.
Battered and deep-fried shrimp with remoulade sauce make a tasty appetizer, but you might want to go with boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce if youre aware of guests dietary restrictions or if you are serving many other appetizers.