How Long Can Raw Shrimp Stay in the Fridge

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How long can raw shrimp stay in the fridge? Knowing the answer to this important question is valuable in food preparation and food safety. We’ll help you know how to properly store raw shrimp and cooked shrimp in the refrigerator as well as in the freezer, along with how to watch for signs that your shrimp has gone bad.

fresh shrimp served on a platter
fresh shrimp served on a platter

How Long Does Shrimp Last in the Fridge?

How long can shrimp stay in the fridge? The length of time shrimp will last in the fridge is determined by whether the shrimp has been cooked or if it’s still raw. Shrimp has a relatively short window of freshness that should be adhered to for food safety reasons. Let’s look at how long shrimp can stay in the fridge based on its status.

How Long Does Cooked Shrimp Last in the Fridge?

How long is shrimp good for in the fridge? Shrimp that’s already been cooked can be stored in a 40F degree or less refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Shrimp is best stored in an airtight container.

How Long Can Fresh Shrimp Stay in the Fridge?

Raw shrimp or fresh shrimp should only stay in a 40F degree or less refrigerator for up to 1-2 days. Fresh shrimp is best when stored in its original store packaging.

how long can raw shrimp last in the fridge pinterest pin
pinterest pin

How to Freeze Shrimp?

If this is your first time preparing shrimp, you might be interested in how to freeze shrimp. Here are some tips.

When freezing cooked shrimp, remove its shell first and then place it in an airtight container or zipped freezer bag.

When freezing raw shrimp, snap off the shrimp heads first. It’s okay to leave the shell on for cooking purposes if desired.

How to Store Shrimp in the Fridge

The best place to store shrimp in the refrigerator is on the bottom shelf. Keep it in its original packaging if the shrimp is raw and make sure the refrigerator temperature is 40F degrees or less.

To store cooked shrimp, place it in an airtight container and transfer it to the refrigerator that has a temperature of 40F or below. You can store cooked shrimp in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.

How to Store Raw Shrimp in the Refrigerator

To store raw shrimp in the refrigerator, keep it in its original store packaging and make sure that the temperature of your refrigerator is 40F degrees or less. Use the shrimp in 1-2 days or transfer it to the freezer.

raw shrimp on wooden cutting board with lemon and herbs
raw shrimp on wooden cutting board with lemon and herbs

Storing Shelled vs. Shell-On Shrimp in the Fridge

Shrimp whether shelled or shell-on, should be stored in the refrigerator in its original packaging. Shelled shrimp or shell-on shrimp can be stored for up to 1-2 days in the refrigerator, when stored at 40F degrees or less.

After that, any shrimp should be frozen or thrown away.

How to Store Raw Shrimp in the Freezer

How long is frozen shrimp good for? Raw shrimp should be stored in an airtight container or zipped freezer bag. Remove any excess air if possible and be sure that your freezer is set to 0 °F / -17.8 °C or less.

For best quality, your raw shrimp will last for up to 3-6 months in the freezer.

Storing Shelled vs. Shell-On Shrimp in the Freezer

Is there a difference in shelf life of frozen shrimp with shells on as compared to shelled shrimp? Not really. According to the USDA, shellfish will be safe when frozen indefinitely, but it has the best quality when used in 3-12 months, when your freezer is set to 0 °F / -17.8 °C or less. But how long can you freeze shrimp?

Shelled shrimp can last for up to 9 months in the freezer when stored properly, for best quality.

Shrimp with the shell on can be frozen for up to a year or longer when stored properly and kept frozen consistently.

How to Thaw Frozen Raw Shrimp

Now that we know about how long is shrimp good for in the freezer. Are you wondering about how to defrost frozen shrimp? When thawing frozen raw shrimp, transfer it directly from the freezer to the refrigerator and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before cooking it.

If you’re in a hurry, you can also use the cold water method. This involves transferring the shrimp still in its packaging directly to bowl of cold water. You’ll want to change the water about every 30 minutes for this method.

How long does thawed shrimp last in the fridge? If you’re defrosting your shrimp in the microwave, you’ll want to use 30 second intervals so that you don’t end up cooking your shrimp in the microwave. Be sure to use a microwave safe bowl and you’ll want to be ready to cook your defrosted shrimp as soon as it’s thawed. 

grilled shrimp with thyme on bbq
grilled shrimp with thyme on bbq

How Do You Tell If Raw Shrimp Has Gone Bad?

How to tell if shrimp has gone bad? You can usually tell if shrimp has gone bad by its smell, feel, and appearance.

Smell. When you open the shrimp packaging, take a good sniff, and see how it smells, it one way how to know if shrimp is bad. Bad shrimp usually has an ammonia smell. But fresh shrimp should smell fishy.

Texture. How do you know if shrimp is bad? Good shrimp has a firm texture. If you gently press the shrimp and it feels mushy or slimy, it’s likely gone bad.  

Appearance. When shrimp shows signs of mold or black spots, it has gone bad and should be thrown away. Fresh shrimp has a nice light pink color.

If you’re still not sure how to tell if shrimp is bad, and you’re in doubt, don’t eat it.

What Happens if You Eat Expired Shrimp?

Eating expired shrimp can cause food poisoning. The symptoms of food poisoning are vomiting and diarrhea which can cause serious illness and in some cases be fatal. If you suspect your shrimp has gone bad, don’t risk eating it. Throw it away instead.  For more on how to tell if raw shrimp is bad, see our 3 ways of knowing above.

How Long Can Cooked Shrimp Stay in the Fridge?

Cooked shrimp can last in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. If your shrimp shows any signs of going bad, however, throw it away and don’t consume it.

How Long Can Cooked Shrimp Stay in the Freezer?

How long does frozen shrimp last? If stored in an airtight container or zipped freezer bag, cooked shrimp can last in the freezer for up to 6-9 months.

How Many Days After the Expiration Date Can You Eat Shrimp?

How long does raw shrimp last in the fridge? Research shows that shrimp should be used within 1-2 days. However, if any signs of spoilage show at that time, the shrimp should be thrown away instead and shouldn’t be eaten.

Should I Buy Frozen or Fresh Shrimp?

If you’re looking for the best flavor, buy fresh shrimp as that’s what they’re known for.

Do Shrimp Have to Be Peeled?

Shrimp do not have to be peeled to be cooked. You can cook them with the shells on if you prefer for a moister outcome.

how long can raw shrimp last in the fridge
Fried shrimps with herbs

Does the Type of Shrimp Matter?

How long can thawed shrimp stay in the fridge? There are three main kinds of shrimp that include wild, farmed, and frozen.

Wild shrimp are shrimp that are wild caught out in the open waters.

Farmed shrimp are shrimp that are raised for the purpose of selling them and usually are grown in commercial waters that are partitioned off for the purpose of raising shrimp.

Frozen shrimp are just that, they’re shrimp that are frozen for the purpose of sale. 

Does Shrimp Size Matter?

It takes larger shrimp longer to cook than smaller shrimp so you might need to adjust any recipe’s cook time accordingly if you’re using extra-large shrimp. That’s really the only thing that matters when it comes to shrimp size.

Health Benefits That Shrimp Offers

Some people appreciate eating shrimp because of the potential health benefits and nutrients they receive from consuming it. Here are some of the health benefits of shrimp according to dietitians.

Heart Heath. Studies according to the Mayo Clinic indicate that eating shrimp can lower one’s risk of heart disease.

Minerals. Shrimp contains iodine, phosphorus, zinc, and magnesium. These minerals can help with immunity, blood pressure, and bone health.

Protein. Shrimp is a good source of protein. And protein helps you feel fuller longer which is good for weight management.

However, like most any food, consuming too much shrimp can also have adverse effects. The concern about eating too much shrimp is it contains mercury and cholesterol. So be sure to take these into consideration if you plan on consuming a lot of shrimp. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Following are frequently asked questions for how. Long can raw shrimp stay in the fridge. If you have a question that’s not answered here, feel free to drop it in the comments box below and we’ll be happy to answer it.

Can I eat cold cooked shrimp?

Shrimp is generally served warm when it’s cooked. But if you’re having it in a salad, or as leftovers, sure it’s okay to eat it cold so long as it’s been properly stored in the refrigerator at 40F degrees or less and doesn’t show any signs of spoilage.

Will eating pre-cooked shrimp make me sick?

There are no guarantees when eating shrimp. Statistics say that 16% of cooked shrimp still contain potential bacteria.

Is it still safe to eat leftover shrimp that has been sitting out overnight?

No, never eat shrimp that’s been left out for more than 2 hours at a room temperature less than 90F degrees, or more than 1 hour at more than 90F degrees.

Bacteria grows rapidly at those rates and the shrimp is considered spoiled after it’s reached those time frames.

how long can raw shrimp last in the fridge
Fried shrimps with herbs

Is it possible that the shelf life of cooked shrimp can be affected by cooking applications?

No, regardless of how shrimp is prepared, it all has the same shelf life.  This is true whether it’s. grilled, sautéed, boiled, or stewed, all have same shelf life. It’s mainly about proper storage and how long is shrimp good for.

What dishes can I make with pre-cooked shrimp?

Pre-cooked shrimp can be used to make dishes such as salads, soups, spring rolls, wraps, or cold pasta.

How long does shrimp cocktail last in the fridge?

Shrimp cocktail will only last for up to 2 days when stored in a 40F degree refrigerator or colder.

How long does shrimp take to cook?

The length of time it takes to cook shrimp varies depending on the size of the shrimp as well as the heat source or cooking method used. Shrimp can generally be cooked in 4-6 minutes.

How long does cooked seafood last in the fridge?

How long is shrimp good in the fridge? According to the USDA, raw fish and shellfish should be stored in a 40F degree refrigerator for up to 1-2 days. The same is true for how long can raw shrimp stay in the fridge before cooking.

For example, if you have raw shrimp in fridge for 5 days, it’s time to throw it out.

How long can raw thawed shrimp stay in the fridge?

Thawed raw shrimp can stay in a 40F degree refrigerator for up to 1-2 days.

How long can seasoned raw shrimp stay in the fridge?

Seasoned raw shrimp can stay in a 40F degree refrigerator for up to 1-2 days.

How long can peeled raw shrimp stay in the fridge?

Peeled raw shrimp can stay in a 40F degree refrigerator for up to 1-2 days.

grilled shrimp with limes on a wood cutting board
grilled shrimp with limes on a wood cutting board

Summary

How long is raw shrimp good in the fridge? Raw shrimp has a relatively short window of time for it to be enjoyed fresh. We recommend following food safety standards and not leaving raw shrimp in the fridge for 5 days, or leaving raw shrimp in fridge for a week. Even when it’s left as raw shrimp in fridge for 3 days, or raw shrimp in the fridge for 4 days, it can begin to show signs of spoilage and should be thrown away.

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Sarah
Sarah is known for her extra fancy yeast breads, melt in your mouth pies, and everything salads. She has won awards as a home cook, and is passionate about helping others feel smarter in the kitchen. Sarah is the cooking genius of the sister duo.

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