How Many Shrimp are in 7 Ounces? A Detailed Look at Shrimp Sizes

Whether you’re meal planning, prepping a shrimp dish or simply curious – determining how many shrimp come in 7 ounces can certainly be useful information to know! As an avid home cook and seafood lover, I often find myself wondering just how many of those tasty crustaceans fit into various weight measurements.

Through some research and hands-on experience, I’ve come to learn there are several factors that impact the number of shrimp per ounce. While a seemingly simple question, “how many shrimp in 7 ounces?” has a more complex answer than you may initially think. In this article, we’ll take a deeper dive into sizing, counts per pound, and how to estimate the number of shrimp you’ll get in 7 ounces.

Understanding Shrimp Sizes and Grading

The size of shrimp can vary greatly from colossal sea monsters to tiny salad shrimp. In the seafood industry, shrimp are typically graded by “count per pound” – how many individual shrimp make up one pound. The lower the count the larger the shrimp size.

Some common shrimp size names and corresponding counts per pound are

• Colossal – Under 15 shrimp per pound
• Jumbo – 16 to 20 shrimp per pound
• Extra Large – 21 to 25 per pound
• Large – 26 to 30 per pound
• Medium – 31 to 35 per pound
• Small – 36 to 40 per pound
• Miniature – Over 50 per pound

You may also see names like “extra jumbo” or “super colossal”, but there are no standardized size charts across all brands and fish markets. The species of shrimp also impacts size differences. For example, White shrimp tend to be smaller than Tiger shrimp at similar counts per pound.

When a recipe simply calls for “shrimp”, your best bet is to choose medium sized shrimp in the 31 to 40 count per pound range. They work well in a variety of dishes from pastas to kebabs Jumbo and colossal shrimp are best for displaying shrimp as the star of the dish, like in cocktails, while mini shrimp work well in salads or scampi

How Many Shrimp Come in a 7 Ounce Portion?

So how does this size and count information relate to a 7 ounce portion? Well, let’s break it down:

• 1 pound of 40 count shrimp contains about 40 shrimp.
• 7 ounces is close to half a pound.
• So if you cut that pound of 40 count shrimp in half, you’d have about 20 shrimp in a 7 ounce portion.

Of course, the actual number can vary a bit based on the individual sizes in that particular pound. But you can use this logic to estimate shrimp counts for any given weight:

1. Determine the count per pound (lower = bigger shrimp).
2. Figure about how many ounces you have in relation to a full pound.
3. Calculate the percentage of a pound your portion is.
4. Multiply the count per pound by that percentage to estimate the number of shrimp.

So for a 7 ounce portion of:

• Colossal (10 per pound): 7 oz is ~0.44 lbs. and 0.44 * 10 = about 4 shrimp
• Jumbo (18 per pound): 7 oz is ~0.44 lbs. and 0.44 * 18 = about 8 shrimp
• Large (30 per pound): 7 oz is ~0.44 lbs. and 0.44 * 30 = about 13 shrimp
• Medium (36 per pound): 7 oz is ~0.44 lbs. and 0.44 * 36 = about 16 shrimp
• Small (45 per pound): 7 oz is ~0.44 lbs. and 0.44 * 45 = about 20 shrimp

As you can see, the number of shrimp you’ll get in a 7 ounce portion can range quite a bit based on their individual size!

Other Factors Affecting Shrimp Counts

Beyond just the labeled shrimp size, there are a couple other factors that can alter the number of shrimp per pound:

Head On vs Peeled

• Head on shrimp weigh more per piece, so there will be fewer per pound compared to peeled and deveined shrimp.
• Shell on shrimp also add weight, resulting in lower counts per pound.

So if comparing a 7 ounce portion of head on extra large shrimp to a 7 ounce portion of peeled and deveined extra large shrimp, you’ll get fewer individual shrimp in the head on portion.

Cooked vs Raw

Cooking causes shrimp to lose some moisture, so cooked shrimp weigh less than raw. For example, 7 ounces of cooked medium shrimp may contain 18 pieces, while 7 ounces of raw medium shrimp could have 20 or more. Just keep this in mind if your recipe specifies a count based on cooked or raw shrimp.

Shrimp Species

Some species, like White shrimp, run smaller than Tiger shrimp at the same counts per pound. Depending on the species, you may get slightly more or less shrimp in the same 7 ounce cooked portion.

Tips for Buying and Serving Shrimp

• Look for fresh, firm shrimp with a mild sea breeze aroma. Avoid shrimp with an ammonia odor.

• For versatility, choose raw medium or large shrimp in the 26 to 40 count per pound range.

• For salads and scampi, go with smaller mini shrimp in the 41 to 60 count range.

• Buy jumbo or colossal shrimp for appetizers, shrimp cocktails and as entree showstoppers.

• Allow 4-5 jumbo shrimp or 6-8 large shrimp per person as an entree.

• Estimate about 3 shrimp per person for appetizers, depending on the dish.

• Size matters less for dishes like shrimp pasta, etouffee or coconut shrimp where shrimp aren’t the main visual star.

• You can freeze raw shrimp for up to 4 months without loss of quality. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.

• Undercooking shrimp can make them rubbery, while overcooking leads to tough, dry shrimp. Use a cooking thermometer if needed.

Putting It All Together

Figuring out the number of shrimp per 7 ounces – or any weight – is easy once you understand shrimp sizing, counts per pound and a few simple calculations. The number can range dramatically based on the shrimp’s individual size, from around 4 colossal shrimp up to 20 or more mini shrimp.