Frozen shrimps are a staple in my kitchen. It’s one of those incredible ingredients that’s not only delicious and easy-to-cook but goes with almost every savory dish.
Want to zhuzh up the stir-fried noodles? Throw in a bunch of shrimps. Craving some seafood pasta? Shrimps got your back. Craving seafood stew to warm you up on a cold day? Shrimps to the rescue!
Frozen shrimps can be just as good as the “fresh” ones you find at the supermarket, you know? The ones you see on display are probably harvested and frozen 2-3 months ago and thawed before going on display.
Buying frozen shrimps is better because you get to make sure that the product doesn’t sit defrosted for too long. After trying a good deal of frozen shrimp brands, I’ve narrowed down a list of my top 5 favorite brands.
Let’s find out what they are:
Table of Contents
5. Sea Best Peeled and Deveined Tail On Shrimp
These shrimps are individually quick frozen (IQF) instead of block froze which not only makes them easier to defrost but also tastes better. The shrimps are farm-raised in Indonesia and come in convenient resealable bags.
They arrived at my doorstep hard frozen, well-cleaned, and deveined. The 16/20 size at this price is a steal deal, mate! Thawing them was a piece of cake and the taste is very much on-point – fresh, buttery, and lightly sweet.
What’s not to like? Toss them up in some butter garlic sauce, finish off with cilantro and enjoy! I have probably bought 10 of the 2 pounds packets so far and only one of them was smelling kind of funky. So, one point knocked off for that.
4. 365 by Whole Foods Market Wild-Caught Gulf White Shrimp
When it comes to seafood, wild-caught is always better than farm-raised. These sustainably wild-caught shrimps are markedly superior to about 80% of the cheap farm-raised frozen shrimps I have had the misfortune of trying.
Granted, wild-caught shrimps are expensive but the flavor and texture make it worth every last penny. No cap! Most of the shrimps in the pack are jumbo with a few small pieces tucked here and there – something I can get past when the quality is top-notch.
The chili vodka shrimps I made with these made everyone go bonkers at the party! The only downer is that you will have to peel and devein them which is a bit time-consuming. Other than that, they are perfect for an easy gourmet meal on a special occasion.
3. Whole Catch, Key West Pink Shrimp
Impressive quantity and spectacular bargain – my experience with these frozen shrimps has been excellent so far. I’m very pleased with the flavor. They take on seasoning perfectly and elevate any dish they become a part of.
The large-sized shrimps come perfectly peeled and deveined which I appreciate because I don’t always find the energy to spend an eternity on food prep. Are these the best-tasting frozen shrimp I have ever had? No. But would I buy when I’m shopping on a tight budget? You bet!
It’s not gourmet stuff but a handful of these shrimps definitely takes my Mexican fried rice and tacos to the next level.
2. Aqua Star, Peeled Tail-off Raw Shrimp
It’s no secret that I’m not big on food prep. So when these tail-off, deveined shrimps caught my eye, I didn’t think twice before grabbing a bag. I wasn’t disappointed. These large shrimps are the perfect size for shrimp cocktails or literally any dish that calls for shrimps.
Thawing them is super easy. Just rinse them under running water for a few minutes and they are ready to go into the pan. I didn’t find any fishy or chemical smell people often associate with frozen shrimps.
The quantity is terrific for the price. That said, on some unfortunate occasions, I have found a little vein left in a few pieces. Definitely a bummer but not a dealbreaker for me.
1. Fresh Brand, Colossal Raw Shrimp, Tail On Peeled & Deveined
These colossal, farm-raised shrimps can be best summed up as majestic. They are meaty, slightly sweet with a pleasant hint of the ocean, and super fresh every single time. I have cooked them numerous times over hibachi and they turned out perfect.
If you are specifically looking for frozen shrimps for grilling, look no further. The 12-ounce bag contains 16-20 pieces. You will find greater quantity at this price but if it is quality you are after, Fresh Brand is hard to beat. They are so flavorful that it feels borderline illegal to put any fancy seasoning on them.
Keep the cooking as simple as possible to allow the taste of the shrimps to sing. If you love shrimp as much as I do, then this brand is absolutely worth a shot!
Conclusion
That brings us to the very end of this shrimplicious discussion. Those who have grown up eating fresh seafood all their lives might be reluctant to try frozen shrimp. But believe you me, although most brands sell packaged BS, a handful of them are almost as good as the real stuff.
All you have to do is take your sweet time trudging through your options, deal with a few hits and misses until you find a brand that fits the bill.
