Want to know if prawns and shrimp are the same? Shrimp and prawns live in freshwater and saltwater, according to my experience.
We buy mostly freshwater prawns for cooking, while most shrimp gotten from saltwater.
Their differences go beyond where they actually live.
However, you’ve probably had to choose between little, sweet shrimp and huge, meaty prawns on a menu or at a seafood counter. Many of us need to learn the distinctions.
I always assumed “prawn” was a British regional word for shrimp.
Shrimp and prawn are scientifically different, and it’s not only their sizes. This guide will definitively distinguish shrimp from prawns.
Now, let’s get started.
Table of Contents
What is Shrimp
Shrimp are among the most numerous saltwater crustaceans. They help marine ecosystems by eating algae and organic detritus in the benthic zone near the bottom.
Global oceans contain trillions of shrimp.
Shrimp are small but powerful invertebrates with a streamlined, curved cephalothorax and abdomen. In pursuit of food, they gently glide over coral reefs and seagrass meadows on their 10 legs and swimmerets.
Depending on the species, their pale pink to grayish-brown tint helps them hide from predators.
White and pink prawns are popular. White (saltwater) shrimp are pale grayish-white. Northern hemisphere estuaries and coasts are home to them.
Pink shrimp with reddish shells swim in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Both kinds are important for commercial fisheries and shrimp aquaculture worldwide.
The average shrimp sexual maturity is 6 months and 1-2 inches. Some survive 5 years and grow over 3 inches. Shrimp have an interesting life cycle that includes larval and post-larval phases before becoming juveniles and adults.
Due to their rapid reproduction, shrimp are essential for ocean equilibrium.
In conclusion, shrimp are small yet powerful in our oceans. Their abundance and high protein content make them a favorite seafood worldwide.
What are Prawns
Although prawns are from fresh or salt water, freshwater prawns are often the majority that are easily sold. Prawns are plumper and bigger than shrimp, just like langoustines.
Prawns are large shrimp that grow above 5 inches as adults. Their lopsided body shape is due to the fact that their second pair of legs is bigger than their first leg.
Prawns are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas. Gulf and northern prawns, caught throughout the US Gulf Coast and in Australia and New Zealand, are popular.
The major difference is size—prawns are bigger shrimp. However, different culinary cultures use the phrase interchangeably.
Prawns and shrimp are termed shrimp in the US and Canada. In the UK and Europe, bigger types are called prawns.
What are the Benefits of Eating Shrimp and Prawns for Health
We all know protein builds muscles and fills us up. Shrimp are high in protein—a 3-ounce portion has 20 grams, which is impressive for around 100 calories.
Your body can simply use their protein because it’s digestible.
Shrimp are packed with vitamins and minerals. They are also one of the natural sources of selenium, which can provide 25% of your daily requirement.
Selenium preserves cells and may improve brain health with aging. Shrimp are also high in B12 and phosphorous, which help maintain your body’s health.
Omega-3s and pink shrimp astaxanthin lower cholesterol and triglycerides. Lower cholesterol reduces heart disease risk.
I also like that shrimp have little calories for their protein content. I feel full for hours after three ounces, which is under 100 calories.
This makes them ideal for weight management. Their high-quality protein helps mend aching muscles after a strenuous workout so I can return sooner.
Generally, shrimp and prawns are low in calories yet high in nutrients. Their frequent inclusion to meals boosts health and fitness.
If you desired solid bones and teeth, you would need to consume a lot of calcium; growing children particularly need calcium.
Prawns can advantageously provide that. Make sure your body is getting adequate calcium by consuming it often.
What is the Difference between prawns and shrimp
Prawns and prawns are among the most misinterpreted crustaceans. Some people assume they are the same, while others say their size is the main Difference. Still others think they go by different names in different states, nations, or regions.
And yet, these people need to be corrected! Prawns and shrimp are two completely distinct species.
Yes, they are both decapods, meaning they have ten appendages each and an external skeleton, but that’s all.
Prawns are members of the sub-order Dendrobranchiata, while shrimp are members of the sub-order Pleocyemata.
Despite their size, prawns are more varied than other seafood.
In the prawn/shrimp category, the top five largest prawns are all prawns, with the Pacific White Shrimp being the largest.
Consequently, prawns are the best option when making an impression on the dish.
But when buying prawns, you will have a far better option of sizes when it comes to the gourmet kinds that are likely to be available.
Prawns may be found in local markets in various amounts, from 40 to 50 per pound to jumbos that may weigh as little as 6 or 8 per pound.
Depending on the recipe, obtaining prawns will provide you with many more possibilities when it comes to cooking.
Prawns usually live toward the bottom in clean or brackish (slightly salty) water.
If you buy unpeeled seafood, you may see these crustaceans have nails on three legs.
There is less body bending in prawns because their shell segments overlap along their belly (first overlaps second, second overlaps third).
Are prawns more expensive than shrimp
Shrimp are less expensive than prawns, so don’t feel the need to splurge the next time you plan a shrimp boil.
Your purchase is more likely affected by the seafood’s diet, habitat, and region. It’s better to find the product’s source than the taxonomy differences.
Wild-caught is best, as most farmed seafood comes from areas where regulations are limited.
Generally speaking, however, prawns tend to be more expensive than shrimp.
This is likely because prawns are a more significant seafood option, requiring more resources (such as time and money) to produce.
Do prawns and shrimp taste the same
Anyone who claims that prawns and their flavor are different is not being truthful with you. Sure, prawns taste better than others, and vice versa, but this is more of a trait unique to the species than to the suborder.
Taste-wise and tactilely, they are comparable.
Some believe that while prawns taste more delicate, they are more fatty and sweet than others.
However, the habitat and nutrition of the species have a far more significant impact on the flavor and look of the dish; for this reason, recipes frequently call for prawns instead of other prawns.
What are The most popular types of shrimp and prawns
Now let’s explore the many varieties of shrimp that you might expect to encounter:
1. Litopenaeus vannamei, or white-leg shrimp
The white leg is the most common shrimp, which can be cooked quickly and has a mild flavor.
2. Prawn Banana
Australia is a significant market for this Asian species of freshwater shrimp. Because of its meaty, thick texture, it works well for grilling, making shrimp burgers, or filling dumplings. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch approves this species, which is harvested all year round.
Originating in northern Australia, Indonesia, and Thailand
Dimensions: Up to 7 inches
taste: Firm, flaky texture combined with a sweet taste
Two types of banana prawns exist, which is a fun fact. As you might expect, the white banana prawns have yellowish limbs, whereas the red leg banana prawns have red legs.
3. The Penaeus monodon, or black tiger shrimp, is a big species of shrimp distinguished by the black stripes on its shell.
Because of its rich flavor and soft flesh, it is one of the most widely used varieties of shrimp in the culinary industry. Originating in the Indo-Pacific area, this species is frequently encountered in Southeast Asia’s warm seas.
Name in science: Penaeus monodon
Size: Up to 13 inches (33 cm) in height long. Color: Clearly defined grey stripes ranging from dark grey to black
Habitat: Areas with sand or mud substrate along the coast and in estuaries
Lives: Two to three years in the wild
4. Shrimps in pink
Large, meaty shrimp species, known as pink Shrimp or Gulf pink shrimp, are caught all year round.
Trawling is used to gather pink shrimp, which are most abundant off the coast of southern Florida.
Try boiling, grilling, pan-frying, or steaming these big, plump shrimp to bring out their inherent sweetness.
They originated in Waters extending southward to the Yucatan Peninsula and from the Chesapeake Bay across the Gulf of Mexico.
Length: Up to 11 inches
Taste: luscious, sweet, and crisp in texture.
Unusual fact: Gulf shrimp only eat at night. They spend the day digging in the sand, feeding, and mating at night. This shields them from the elements and apex predators.
5. The Gulf white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) is a frequent shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico and nearby seas.
Due to its mouthwatering flavor and numerous culinary applications, it is incredibly well-liked and highly sought after.
Animal: Setiferus Litopenaeus
The Gulf of Mexico and nearby waterways serve as habitats.
Measures approximately 6-7 inches in length. Pale to rosy pink in color with a white underbelly
Lives for two to three years in the wild.
Final thought
Now that we have established that prawns and shrimp are not the same, be aware that there is a rigid order of authority among Clownfish in a group.
At the top is the most extensive and most aggressive female. There are just two Clownfish in the group—a male and a female. Because Clownfish are sequential hermaphrodites, they grow into females after initially developing into males.
A female Clownfish will spawn from one of the most significant and most dominant males if the female is removed. The surviving men will advance in the hierarchy.
Any level surface near their host anemones is where Clownfish deposit their eggs. Clownfish reproduce in the wild during the complete moon phase.
Depending on the species, Clownfish can lay anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand eggs.
Usually, two hours after nightfall, the male parent watches over the eggs until they hatch, which happens six to ten days later.
In summary, it is imperative to use extreme caution and diligence when establishing a clownfish tank. Without a doubt, they are territorial and aggressive.
Nevertheless, if done correctly, there shouldn’t be any problems, and let’s face it—these tiny fish are really cute!
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