How Many Cups are in a Pound of Shrimp? A Helpful Conversion Guide

Shrimp is a versatile and healthy protein that can be used in everything from appetizers to main courses. When cooking with shrimp recipes often call for a certain weight measurement like pounds. But if you buy frozen shrimp in bags measured in cups, how do you know how many cups are in a pound?

This handy guide provides the shrimp cup to pound conversion so you can seamlessly substitute bagged frozen shrimp into any recipe. Read on for a breakdown of shrimp sizes, counts per pound and cup equivalents.

An Overview of Shrimp Sizes

Shrimp are categorized by size using a count per pound. The higher the number, the smaller the shrimp size. Common commercial shrimp sizes include:

• Colossal or Super Colossal – under 12 shrimp per lb
• Extra Jumbo – under 15 per lb
• Jumbo – 16 to 20 per lb
• Extra Large – 21 to 25 per lb
• Large – 26 to 30 per lb
• Medium Large – 31 to 35 per lb
• Medium – 36 to 40 per lb
• Small – 41 to 50 per lb
• Extra Small – 51 to 60 per lb

So for example, Jumbo shrimp contain 16 to 20 shrimp in each pound. Super Colossal may have 10 or less per pound since they are extra large.

When buying pre-packaged frozen shrimp, the bag will indicate the shrimp count, tail status (on or off), and whether they are peeled and deveined. This info helps determine total yield per bag.

How Much Do Shrimp Shrink When Cooked?

When calculating how many shrimp cups are in a pound, it’s important to consider cooked shrimp vs raw. Just like many foods, shrimp shrinks when cooked.

On average, raw shrimp shrinks about 50% during cooking. So 1 lb of raw medium shrimp may yield approximately 2 cups cooked.

However, larger shrimp tend to shrink slightly less. Jumbo shrimp may only shrink around 30% during cooking.

To get a more precise measurement, weigh cooked shrimp after draining to see exact yield per pound of a specific size.

Handy Shrimp Cup Per Pound Conversions

For simplicity, here are some common shrimp size to cup conversions:

• Colossal or Super Colossal shrimp (10 per lb) – 2 lb = 8 cups raw, 5 cups cooked
• Jumbo shrimp (16-20 per lb) – 1 lb = 4 cups raw, 3 cups cooked
• Extra Large shrimp (21-25 per lb) – 1 lb = 4 cups raw, 2 1/2 cups cooked
• Large shrimp (26-30 per lb) – 1 lb = 4 cups raw, 2 cups cooked
• Medium shrimp (36-40 per lb) – 1 lb = 5 cups raw, 2 1/2 cups cooked
• Small shrimp (41-50 per lb) – 1 lb = 5 cups raw, 2 1/2 cups cooked

These conversions can vary slightly based on specific shrimp count and if shells are on or off. But this chart provides a helpful guideline for common frozen bagged shrimp.

You can use these shrimp cup conversions to substitute bagged shrimp into recipes calling for pounds of shrimp. Or use it to determine how many pounds to buy based on cups called for in a recipe.

Handy Tricks for Measuring Shrimp

When cooking, you don’t necessarily need to meticulously measure out cups of shrimp. Here are some tips for eyeballing amounts:

• For appetizers allowing 2-3 shrimp per person, estimate 6-9 jumbo shrimp or 12-18 medium shrimp per serving
• For shrimp-based main courses, allow 4-6 oz or 8-12 medium shrimp per serving
• For shrimp scampi over pasta, estimate 3-4 large shrimp per serving
• For shrimp salad or ceviche, use equivalent of 2 cups chopped cooked shrimp per 3-4 servings
• For shrimp tacos, figure approximately 3-4 jumbo or 5-6 large shrimp per taco
• For shrimp cocktail, allow 3-5 jumbo or extra large shrimp per serving

Learn how shrimp stacks up in your hand or measuring cup to guesstimate amounts for recipes. No need to precisely measure every time.

Storing Leftover Shrimp

Only prepare the amount of shrimp you think you’ll use for a meal. Improperly stored leftover shrimp can pose food safety risks.

• Cooked shrimp should be refrigerated within 2 hours
• To freeze, first spread in single layer on baking sheet and freeze solid, then transfer to bags
• Refrigerate cooked shrimp for 2-3 days max, freeze for longer storage
• Reheat fully to 165°F, boil or simmer shrimp for best results

With this handy guide, you can stop wondering how many cups are in a pound of shrimp. Simply use the shrimp count and our cup conversions to seamlessly work with bagged frozen shrimp. Then wow your family and friends with your shrimp cooking prowess. Enjoy!