Shrimp Sizing

This information is from The Striped Spatula website by Amanda Biddle

 Shrimp sizes are denoted in numbers, such as 21/25 or U/15. When you see a “U” in the count, it means that there are “under” that number of shrimp in a pound. The slash between numbers denotes a range of shrimp in a pound.  So, for example, U/15 shrimp contain fewer than 15 shrimp per pound. 21/25’s weigh in at 21 to 25 shrimp to a pound. As the numbers get smaller, the shrimp get bigger. 

 Sometimes, you’ll see a sizing term alongside the number such as “Large” or “Jumbo”.  However the seafood industry doesn’t standardize these terms, so while one brand or fishmonger might call 16/20’s “Extra Jumbo,” another might call them “Colossal.”  For accuracy when cooking I like to pay closer attention to the number count than the sizing term. Relying on the shrimp count instead lets you know exactly how many shrimp you’re getting when planning a recipe.