How to determine shrimp size?

Our article not only helps you learn to determine the size of shrimp, but also tells about these unusual creatures. Today shrimps are spread almost all over the planet. These sea inhabitants have mastered many fresh water bodies, but even those who liked their valuable and tasty meat did not seem to have enough. And because shrimp are artificially grown on farms. There is a huge number of species that differ from each other in taste, color, composition, size.

Some breeds were artificially produced, but not at all for subsequent consumption, but for the sake of aesthetic pleasure. Aquarium shrimps are also of different sizes: large and small. Everyone who loves the magical underwater world, can populate the aquarium with such dwellers that he likes.

You will learn from our article a lot of useful information for anyone interested in shrimp: size, photo, color, culinary value and many other interesting facts about these animals.

Features

Shrimp belongs to the class of the Higher Crayfish. The closest relatives of these arthropods are crabs, crayfish, lice and amphipods.

As it is not difficult to guess by the name of the detachment (Desyatinoe Raki), shrimps have 5 pairs of legs. Almost all representatives of the infraorder have a couple of mustaches.

The body of the shrimp is segmented, the tail is bent to the abdomen. Sexual demorphism is almost not expressed, but in most species the male is slightly more intense than the female. But during the breeding period, it is possible to quickly determine a female specimen by the presence of a caviar laying, which is stored on the abdomen between the legs.

Experts have a huge number of types of shrimp. The size of their representatives varies from 2 to 30 centimeters.

Shrimp and their importance in cooking

It is difficult to list all the peoples in the world who consider shrimp a national product. They are adored by Italians and Frenchmen, Spaniards and Greeks, inhabitants of South America, Australia, Oceania, the Far East and many other regions in which this arthropod is inhabited. Some of the world's cuisine can not be imagined without shrimp dishes: boiled, grilled, smoked, marinated, fried with spicy spices.

Give shrimp in both inexpensive bars and luxury restaurants. The price tag for dishes with them varies in a huge range. Fortunately, to taste this delicacy, it is not necessary to go to a restaurant, you can cook them at home.

Once upon a time, the inhabitants of many regions remote from the seas and oceans could only dream of such dishes and enjoy them only on trips. But nowadays many species are quite accessible. In any supermarket you can easily find shrimp. 90 size is considered the most common. But what does this figure mean? Now we'll figure it out.

What is a caliber?

Surely you have encountered similar labeling, choosing products. The word "caliber" can be read not only on the shrimp pack, but also on a jar with olives, olives and other delicacies. Of course, we are talking about magnitude. Caliber refers to the size of the shrimp.

What does the number mean? The answer to this question is easy to remember. It is about the number of individuals in a kilogram. Hence, the conclusion is that the smaller the number, the larger the shrimp size. Each caliber in its own way is good and suitable for different dishes.

Shrimp

In many countries of the world such a trifle is not very popular. But the shrimp size 90/120 has a number of advantages. The main advantage of small caliber, as it is not difficult to guess, is the price.

Small shrimps are great for adding to salads, cocktails, sauces. You can decorate them with toast, canapés, volovany, pizza, sandwiches. And with prawns caliber 90/120 you can make soup.

The color of most varieties ranges from gently pink to rich peach. The taste of small shrimp, as a rule, pronounced.

There is an even smaller caliber of shrimp. Surely everyone who has ever been to Odessa, tried, or at least saw an unusual delicacy, which the local call crustacean. This species is found in the coastal zone of the Black Sea, and only gauze and bucket are required for catching. In most countries of the world, similar varieties are used only in the preparation of feeds for animals and commercial fish, but each Odessite considers a kulechk of a crustacean as one of the symbols of the Southern Palmyra. Prepare this trifle quite simply - boil in salted boiling water.

Shrimp of medium size

The shrimp size is 70/90 often chosen by those who are going to cook pasta or pilaf. This category is also relatively affordable.

As we already know, this marking denotes the amount of shrimp. In one kilogram there may be 72, and 79, and 85.

Shrimps of this size are most often caught in the Atlantic Ocean.

Large and very large

Many mistakenly believe that the larger the shrimp, the more it tastes better. Unfortunately, this is a common misconception at the hands of unscrupulous sellers who diligently cultivate it. In order not to get trapped, it is worth studying this question in more detail.

You probably know the name of the royal shrimp. Their dimensions are great, as are the prices for dishes with such an ingredient. But is excitement justified? In fact, the name "royal shrimp" has nothing to do with science. This kind of simply does not exist. These beautiful words sellers and cooks are called completely different varieties of shrimp, to increase their price. Quite often, even the not very tasty breeds grown on farms are called royal. To obtain large samples, not the most useful components that promote growth are added to the feed. Real connoisseurs are unlikely to be tempted by this dubious product.

Another thing is the ocean giants. The maximum size of tiger shrimps can reach 30 centimeters. Their caliber is 2-3 individuals per kilo. To find this species is easy, because the dark transverse bands fully justify the name. Unfortunately, in our time, you can also run into a counterfeit, because these shrimp also learned to breed artificially, so it's important to know how to choose a quality product.

What is cocktail shrimp?

It should be understood that when it comes to caliber, we mean a whole shrimp, with shell, legs and head. But along with the unclean, on sale there are also so-called cocktail shrimp. This term indicates that the product is completely cleaned, and sometimes even boiled before freezing.

Of course, if you clean a kilogram of shrimp caliber 90, then the weight of carcasses will be much less than a kilogram. The difference can reach 40-50%, that is, the peeled shrimp in a kilogram will no longer be 90, but 170-180.

Freezing

Another way to outwit the buyer is through the technological features of freezing. Dry freezing practically does not change their structure and perfectly preserves the product. But in domestic supermarkets, another category is more common - shrimp in glaze. This "tasty" word means nothing other than ordinary water. Due to the fact that the shrimp body covers the ice layer, a much smaller quantity will fit in a kilogram. Remember that the size of the shrimp is increased artificially, if on the pack you see the marking "in the glaze".

How to choose shrimp

About many pitfalls you already guessed. Our small cheat sheet will help you not to get confused in the store when choosing the best shrimp.

1. Give preference to the packaged product, not weighted. The packaging is difficult to forge.
2. Pay attention to the country of origin. The best shrimp are caught by Norwegian, Danish, Finnish companies. An excellent product is provided by the Japanese (although it is more expensive and less common). Russian prawns are quite good. But most shrimp from the Far East are grown in captivity.
3. Pay special attention to the ice. It should not be on the shrimp itself, nor in the pack.
4. Cocktail shrimps that have been processed with steam or boiled water have a shorter shelf life than raw shrimps. Look at the numbers.

Decorative value

Did you know that shrimp can be planted in an ordinary aquarium? Many breeds perfectly coexist with non-aggressive fish and other neighbors. But some prefer solitude.

If you want to have such a pet, be sure to consult a specialist who can give recommendations on care, diet, feed.

The shrimp size for an aquarium is on average small. Most of them on average reach 5-6 cm. But the color variety is truly huge! You can choose blue, black, red, yellow, mottled and even completely transparent pet.

Shrimp-giants: myths and reality

Have you heard terrible stories about giant squids and octopuses? Maybe there are other underwater inhabitants, the size of which is much larger than the encyclopedia claims?

In the case of shrimp, we are unlikely to expect a sensation. In any case, no information, even indirect and questionable, is currently not available. The size of shrimps does not exceed 30 cm.

Often with shrimps confuse langoustins. But these are completely different animals, albeit similar in appearance. In order not to be ignorant and not confused, it is enough to remember that langoustine has claws.

As we could see, the variety of shrimp is very large. We hope that our article has told you something new about these unusual creatures.