How Much Is 60 Pounds of Shrimp? A Detailed Look at Shrimp Prices, Sizing, and Serving Information

Shrimp is one of the most popular seafood choices in the United States. Its versatility, mild flavor, and nutrition profile make it a menu staple in restaurants and homes. But when it comes to buying shrimp in bulk for large gatherings or special occasions, things can get a bit confusing. Specifically, the question often arises: how much is 60 pounds of shrimp?

To answer this question properly, we first need to understand how shrimp is sized and sold. Once we have that background knowledge, we can then calculate the cost of 60 pounds of shrimp based on common retail pricing. We’ll also look at how to determine how many people 60 pounds of shrimp can serve.

Shrimp Sizes and Counts Per Pound

Unlike seafood like lobster and crab that is sold by the pound at a fixed price, shrimp is priced and sold by “count per pound”. This means the number listed on the packaging indicates how many individual shrimp are in each pound.

For example “21/25 count” means there will be 21 to 25 shrimp in each pound. The lower the count number, the larger the shrimp. Here is a general sizing chart for shrimp counts

• Extra Colossal – Under 10 per pound
• Super Colossal – Under 12 per pound
• Colossal – Under 15 per pound
• Extra Jumbo – 16 to 20 per pound
• Jumbo – 21 to 25 per pound
• Extra Large – 26 to 30 per pound
• Large – 31 to 35 per pound
• Medium Large – 36 to 40 per pound
• Medium – 41 to 50 per pound
• Small – 51 to 60 per pound
• Extra Small – 61 to 70 per pound

As you can see, a 60 count shrimp is on the smaller end of the spectrum. However, it’s important to note that size naming isn’t completely standardized between different seafood suppliers. The descriptors like “jumbo” or “large” can vary. To get the clearest sense of shrimp size, always look at the actual numerical count.

Typical Per Pound Pricing for 60 Count Shrimp

Now that we understand how shrimp sizing works, we can look at typical per pound pricing for 60 count shrimp from major seafood retailers:

• FreshDirect – $13.99 per lb for 60 count shrimp
• SeafoodSource – $11.00 to $14.00 per lb for 60 count shrimp
• Asian Food Grocer – $9.99 per lb for 60 count shrimp
• Catfish Wholesale – $10.49 per lb for 60 count shrimp
• Cleaned Shrimp – $12.99 per lb for 60 count shrimp

As you can see, pricing can range based on the specific retailer, but 60 count shrimp averages about $11 to $14 per pound from most major supppliers.

Regional pricing differences and seasonal availability may also impact costs. But in general, 60 count shrimp lands in the economy end of the pricing spectrum since it is on the smaller side. The largest Super Colossal and Colossal shrimp can cost $18 to $25 per pound or even more at high-end retailers.

Calculating the Cost of 60 Pounds of 60 Count Shrimp

Now we can start to calculate the cost of 60 pounds of 60 count shrimp based on average per pound pricing:

• 60 lbs of 60 count shrimp
• Average price of $12.50 per lb
• 60 lbs x $12.50 per lb = $750

So 60 pounds of 60 count shrimp would cost about $750 on average. Of course, the exact total will depend on your specific retailer’s pricing. Some may be in the $600 range while high-end sources could be over $800. But this gives a ballpark estimate to work with.

And since shrimp freezes well, buying in bulk quantities like 60 lbs can offer great savings vs buying smaller amounts weekly or monthly. Many retailers even offer tiered discounts at 60 lbs or more, making the per pound price drop the more you buy.

Determining Serving Sizes From 60 Pounds of Shrimp

The final consideration for a large 60 lb shrimp purchase is determining how many people it can serve. Let’s use some general shrimp serving size guidelines:

• Appetizer – Allow 2-3 medium/large shrimp per person
• Entree – Allow 5-7 large/extra large shrimp per person
• Shrimp Boil or Shell-On – Allow 6-8 oz (about 8-12 shrimp) per person to account for shell

Given 60 count is on the smaller side, let’s budget 7 shrimp per person for a main course serving.

• 60 lbs of 60 count shrimp = approximately 960 total shrimp
• If serving 7 shrimp per person, 960 shrimp will serve about 135 people

This means 60 pounds of 60 count shrimp should provide a main course seafood entree for around 130 to 140 people. You may need to adjust slightly depending on appetite and whether you serve other items. But in general, you can comfortably serve over 100 guests with 60 pounds of smaller peeled shrimp.

Key Takeaways on 60 Pounds of Shrimp

To summarize the key details on buying, pricing, and serving 60 pounds of shrimp:

• 60 count shrimp is on the smaller size end of the spectrum, with 50-70 shrimp per pound
• Expect to pay around $11 to $14 per pound for 60 count shrimp depending on your source
• 60 pounds of 60 count shrimp will cost around $600 to $800 on average
• 60 pounds of shrimp can provide a main entree serving for 130 to 140 people
• Buying in bulk delivers savings over smaller purchases and may come with volume discounts

Understanding sizing, pricing, and serving sizes is key to getting the most value from bulk shrimp purchases. And properly stored frozen shrimp has a long shelf life, so buying 60 pounds or more can be convenient and economical when hosting large gatherings and events.