17 Different Types Of Shrimps With Images
Shrimps have been one of the most popular and loved by many seafood dish by everyone. Shrimps are versatile that it can be prepared in so many ways. Shrimp dishes is very delicious because of its juicy and soft meat. At present, there are more than a thousand species of shrimps. But in this article, we have gathered the different types of shrimp that are commonly seen served in seafood restaurants across the globe.
Difference between Shrimps and Prawns
Shrimps and Prawns can be confusing because they are almost identical with each other. Aside from both are popular, shrimps and prawns can be used interchangeably in most of the seafood recipes. But shrimps and prawns also have their differences.
Shrimps and Prawns both are considered to be decapods, this means both have 10 legs. Although both differs in the suborder categories of decapods.
Prawns is a suborder of dendrobranchiate while shrimps on the other hand is a member of pleocyemata order.
Shrimps and prawns are also different when it comes to appearance. Shrimps has a sharp bent body while with prawns the bending is not as pronounced as that of a shrimp. When it comes to their legs, the legs of a shrimp usually has 1 pair that is longer than the rest of the legs but with prawns there are 3 pairs of legs longer than the other legs.
Type of Shrimps
Pink Shrimp
A Pink Shrimp is also called as Gulf Pink Shrimp. These large and plump shrimps are usually found in the off coast of Southern California, where are large population of Pink Shrimp can be found. Pink shrimps are harvested by the trawling method.
Pink Shrimps can grow up to 11 inches long. Gulf Pink Shrimps are nocturnal types of shrimps, this means that during the day they usually hide under the sand but at night time it is when they would go out to feed and mate. They do this to protect oneself from cold and their predators.
Pink Shrimps can be prepared in different cooking methods such as grilling, boiling, steaming and pan fried. Pink Shrimp meat are sweet and juicy but tends to have a stretchy texture. Pink Shrimps are commonly used in recipes such as omelets, salad and often used in appetizers.
Tiger Shrimp
Tiger shrimps typically appears to have a pattern of red and black stripes especially after it is cooked. When these types of shrimps are cooked with its shell, the cooler appears to be redder, while if peeled tiger shrimps are cooked, the meat becomes orange in color. Tiger shrimp is considered to be one of the largest shrimp species that are edible and are commonly used in most seafood dishes served in seafood restaurants.
Tiger shrimps are harvested using the farming method, although other ways of harvesting is by using the wild trawling method in the ocean, but this type of method is rarely used since other species are usually caught unintentionally.
Tiger shrimp typically grows up to 13 inches long, although 9 inches to 11 inches are commonly harvested. Tiger shrimp can be prepared by either grilling and or steaming.
When it comes to the flavor of a tiger shrimp, it slightly differs to the process of harvesting. Tiger shrimps that were farmed shrimp have a mild flavor as compared to tiger shrimp that were harvested using wild trawling that tends to have a briny flavor.
White Shrimp
White shrimp is another type of shrimp specie that is usually harvested from Cold water. These are medium sized shrimp originally found in China specifically in East China sea and Yellow Sea. In the late 1900s, the supply of White shrimps greatly decline that is why to increase the productions of these type of shrimp, baby shrimps were released in the water.
White shrimps have a crunchy and delicate texture. It also has a mild flavor but is sweet. White shrimp are usually prepared in a stir fry method mixed with greens and spices. Often used to add to pasta, green salads and fries. These shrimps usually becomes tender after 2 minutes of cooking using a wok.
White shrimps typically grows up to 7 inches long. It comes in three different varieties: Chinese white shrimp, Gulf White shrimp and Pacific white shrimp.
Brown Shrimp
Brown shrimp is usually found in the Atlantic ocean in Massachusetts. Typically grows up to 7 inches long. These type of shrimp species has a bold flavor not to mention briny and seafood forward flavor than most of other shrimp varieties.
Brown shrimp has a brown to red shell appearance with a hint of gray. The meat of brown shrimp is not only tender but is delicious with a mild sweet and a little salty. Brown shrimps can be prepared using different cooking methods such as steaming and boiling. Common recipes where brown shrimp is often used includes but not limited to fried rice, dumplings and broth.
Atlantic Northern Shrimp
This type of shrimp species is a native to cold waters in the North Atlanta. These are small shrimps but have a relatively sweet flavor. It usually has a light colored appearance.
Atlantic Northern Shrimps typically grows of up t0 4 inches long. And since they are relatively small in size and with a mild flavor, Atlantic Northern shrimp is best prepared by either poaching, steaming and or pan frying.
Spot Shrimp
Spot Shrimp is another types of shrimp species that is also called as Spot prawns. Spot shrimp is a native to the west coast of the Pacific Ocean in Alaska to of San Diego, California.
Because of the shrimp’s size and color, it can often be mistaken as a lobster. In fact, there are those that would usually refer spot shrimps as the Lobster of Alaska.
Spot shrimps have a soft and juicy flavor. Considered to be on of the most tender shrimp commonly used in seafood dishes. Although, most seafood restaurant find spot shrimps difficult to clean because its shell are very fragile.
This type of shrimp typically grows between 8 inches to 12 inches long. Since these are long shrimps, it is usually prepared as a deep fried dish. Once spot shrimps are cooked, it tends to be very tender that you will not have a hard time chewing the shrimps.
Other cooking methods includes steaming, grilling, and can even be broiled in the oven.
Aesop Shrimp
Aesop Shrimp is another type of shrimp species also known as Pink Striped Shrimp or Coonstripe Shrimp. It features a round head with a more curved body. This are medium sized shrimp that typically grows up to 6 inches long. Aesop Shrimp thrives well in cold water, hence they are freshwater shrimp hat is why most of the time this type of shrimps are usually seen on the sandy ocean (about 30 to 300 feet deep below sea level)
Pink striped shrimps has a sweet flavor and usually prepared by poaching and or added to green salads.
Blue Shrimp
Blue Shrimp is another type of shrimp variety and a saltwater shrimp specie. It features bluish grey shell and are popular in Brazil, Mexico, Carribean and Hawaii.
Blue shrimp can grow up to 7 inches long. It has a mild and slightly salty flavor. It is also very tender and appears to have a soft texture.
Commonly used in Hawaiian and Mexican cuisines and are also best paired with Mexican salsas and fruit sauces.
Listed below are some types of shrimp that are not used for culinary but rather as a decoration to tanks displayed to beautify a home, these are called freshwater shrimps.
Bumblebee Shrimp (Striped Harlequin)
This type of shrimp is called Bumblebee shrimp because of its appearance. Its skin features as yellow or white with either black dots or black stripes that appears to look like a bumblebee, hence the name.
Bumblebee shrimp is a native of southern China and is a member of the Caridina Breviate family (freshwater shrimp genus).
This type of shrimp variety usually consumes small fishes and loves to eat meat based shrimp foods. This are tiny shrimps so make that sure that when placed inside a tank there are no big fishes.
Red Cherry Shrimp
If you happen to see a shrimp that appears as having bright red shade, then you’ve probably encountered a red cherry shrimp. Its shade makes this shrimp to look very attractive and pleasing to the eyes.
Red cherry shrimps thrives well in basic water temperature but make sure it is at room temperature.
Algae (plant-based) and Leftover foods (Meat based) foods is the favorite of a red cherry shrimp. Feeding of pellets as a form of supplemental diet is possible with red cherry shrimps, just make sure there are no other shrimps or freshwater species also in the same tank as the red cherry shrimp.
Blue Bolt Shrimps
A native to Southern china and have a unique appearance is the Blue bolt shrimp. The body and the head of a blue bolt shrimp has a bright blue shade and the color near its tails usually appears either pale blue or creamy.
And since it appears to be Blue, many are very curious about its appearance and its flavor. You can easily spot a Blue bolt shrimp in the tank because of its unique color.
Rock Shrimp
Rock Shrimp is named as such because it appears as a rock hard shell. Most of the time, because of its size and appearance, it is often mistaken as a lobster. Though it has a firm and hard texture. As with other types of shrimp, rock shrimp also tastes as incredibly delicious as the rest.
And since the shell is rock hard, it is often difficult and somehow complicated to remove, you will be needing a specialized tool for that. Therefore if you noticed it being sold in the market as already de-shelled, or the shell has already been removed.
Rock shrimp is another versatile shrimp that is commonly seen in risotto, fries and pasta. Different ways to cook Rock shrimp includes boiling, steaming, baking, grilling and frying.
This type of shrimp is also known to have health benefits since it has high protein content.
Royal Red Shrimp
Another type of shrimp is the Royal Red Shrimp. It features a bright and deep red color. It has a rich but salty sweet flavor.
The meat of royal red shrimp is very tender and has a buttery taste. And since it is very tender, it is best boiled and or steamed. If you are familiar with the taste of a scallops or a lobster, it has the same taste as that of the royal red shrimp.
When preparing royal red shrimp, make sure not cook for a very long time as it has the tendency to be overcook because it is very tender.
Crystal shrimp
Crystal Shrimp has two varieties such as the Crystal Black shrimp and the Crystal Red Shrimp. Both these varieties are similar but the only difference is its color and pattern.
Crystal shrimps thrives well in high water purity and they love to hide in areas in the tank since this type of shrimp is not actually a fan of being exposed. Also, make sure that there are no other species are inside the tank.
Snowball shrimp
This type of shrimp has a small and white visible eggs. When growing snowball shrimps in a tank, make sure the pH level of the clean water should be between 6.5 to 8.0.
The preferred food of choice with Snowball shrimps are algaes. Snowball shrimps can also thrive well with either a hard water conditions or a soft water conditions.
Snowball shrimps in the tank must not be overfeed, it can either cause serious health problems to the shrimp and can also change the water quality of the tank.
Black King Kong shrimp
It is called Black King Kong Shrimp because of its appearance, it has black and white stripes. (signature color of a panda).
Growing Black King Kong shrimp inside a tank needs extra careful as they do not adapt well to changes in the water so make sure to put this type of shrimps in a large container. That way you can easily control when the water in the tank changes and or fluctuates.
When feeding Black King Kong shrimp, feed with only plant based foods in moderation.
Amano Shrimp
Amano shrimp are best for beginners since adjusting the water is not actually required in the tank, though same with other types of shrimps in the tank make sure to prevent it from other species inside the tank. Amano shrimp thrives well with algae. Amano shrimp grows up to 2 – 3 inches long.
Here are some of the famous shrimp dishes
Shrimps can turn into delicious, mouth watering and simply irresistible shrimp dishes such as:
Cajun Shrimp Mac and Cheese
One of the most popular Shrimp dish that is made of course of shrimp, creamy baked mac and cheese. These mac and cheese dish will definitely please your palate when topped with crispy and well seasoned shrimp.
Fried Coconut Shrimp
Fried Coconut shrimp is made by dipping the shrimp in the batter, coating with coconut and then deep fried.
Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta
This type of dish has the most delicious creamy sauce there is. Bang bang shrimp pasta goes well with dishes such as pasta, roasted vegetables, and cauliflower rice.
Where can you buy best shrimps
There are numerous options to buy shrimps such as in the seafood counter at your nearest grocery store. But if you really want fresh shrimps, you may want to head over to your nearest fresh market where you can find the freshest seafoods there is.
