How Much Weight is in 12 Shrimp? A Detailed Breakdown

Shrimp are a delicious and nutritious seafood choice enjoyed around the world. Their sweet, succulent meat makes them perfect for tacos, salads, pasta dishes, and more. But when it comes to portioning out shrimp for recipes or meals, many home cooks wonder – how much does 12 shrimp weigh?

The answer depends largely on the size of the shrimp. Shrimp are typically categorized by “count per pound”, which tells you how many individual shrimp make up one pound The lower the count per pound, the larger the shrimp size

In this article, we’ll break down the common shrimp sizes, counts per pound, and weights to give you a detailed overview of how many ounces 12 shrimp equals. Whether you are meal planning, cooking for a crowd, or just curious about shrimp sizes, read on for the full scoop!

Understanding Shrimp Sizes

Shrimp come in a wide range of sizes, from colossal prawn-like shrimp to tiny salad shrimp. Some of the most common size designations are:

• Colossal – U/8 to U/12 count per pound
• Extra Jumbo – U/15 count per pound
• Jumbo – 16 to 20 count per pound
• Extra Large – 21 to 25 count per pound
• Large – 26 to 30 count per pound
• Medium – 36 to 40 count per pound
• Small – 41 to 50 count per pound
• Miniature – 51 to 60 count per pound
• Tiny – 61 to 70 count per pound

As you can see, the lower the count per pound, the bigger each individual shrimp. Colossal shrimp may only have 8 to 12 shrimp per entire pound. But tiny shrimp could have 60 or more shrimp per pound due to their small size.

It’s important to note that size names like “jumbo” or “large” are not universal One vendor’s “large” may be another’s “extra large” Always pay attention to the count per pound to determine true shrimp size,

How Many Ounces are in 12 Jumbo Shrimp?

For easy math, let’s look at jumbo shrimp that are 16 to 20 count per pound. This means that one pound contains 16 to 20 jumbo shrimp.

• If there are 16 shrimp in a pound, each jumbo shrimp weighs ~1 oz
• If there are 20 shrimp in a pound, each jumbo shrimp weighs ~0.8 oz

So in either case, 12 jumbo shrimp would weigh approximately 9.6 to 12 ounces. This makes jumbo 16/20 count shrimp a good size for single servings. 2-3 jumbo shrimp provides a satisfying 3-4 oz portion.

How Many Ounces are in 12 Large Shrimp?

The “large” designation is more variable, but typically refers to 26 to 30 count shrimp.

• In a 26 count bag, each large shrimp weighs ~1.3 oz
• In a 30 count bag, each large shrimp weighs ~1.1 oz

So for 12 large 26/30 shrimp, the total weight would be approximately 13.5 to 15.5 ounces. This makes large shrimp a great size for sharing dishes or combination platters.

You can expect 3-4 large shrimp to make up a serving size of around 4-5 oz. So 12 large shrimp could feed 3-4 people well.

How Many Ounces are in 12 Small or Mini Shrimp?

Once you get into the smaller shrimp sizes, around 41 count per pound and up, it becomes less useful to calculate weight by count. The shrimp are simply too small.

Instead, it’s better to think in terms of volume or total weight. A good rule of thumb is:

• 3 oz makes a typical serving size
• 12-20 small shrimp provide a 3 oz serving
• 12 mini shrimp would weigh approximately 2-3 oz

The exact weight depends on just how small the shrimp are, but you can expect 12 miniature shrimp to equate to 2-3 ounces for a single serving.

Key Things to Remember About Shrimp Sizes and Weights

To wrap up, here are the key takeaways when determining the weight and servings per shrimp count:

• Pay attention to count per pound, not descriptive size names like “jumbo” or “large”
• The lower the count per pound, the larger each shrimp will be
• For jumbo shrimp, plan on 6-8 shrimp per 3-4 oz serving
• For large shrimp, plan on 4-5 shrimp per 3-4 oz serving
• For small or mini shrimp, plan on 12-20 per 3 oz serving
• 12 jumbo shrimp = ~9.6-12 oz
• 12 large shrimp = ~13.5-15.5 oz
• 12 mini shrimp = ~2-3 oz

Follow these guidelines when portioning out or substituting shrimp in your favorite recipes. And enjoy the delightful taste and nutrition these shellfish have to offer! Let us know if you have any other shrimp sizing or serving questions.