Shrimp is undoubtedly one of the most delicious seafood presents globally; it is almost impossible not to find it in the restaurant. It practically goes well with every dish that we can imagine, and it is used in sushi too.
Leaving out the fact that it can be used almost everywhere, it is important to consider the condition of the shrimp before purchasing it or eating it, because eating a shrimp that has gone bad can cause food poisoning.
So, how to tell if shrimp is bad? To understand if a shrimp has gone bad, you have to perform 3 actions: 1. check the shrimp’s color by ensuring that the color range is between brown and pink (depending on the typology), 2. Check the smell; if you feel that it is too fishy smelly, it means it is bad. 3. Checking the consistency of the shrimp.
Due to the importance of the argument, we have to look at the common characteristics that can help you understand and distinguish a shrimp that is bad from a fresh one.
3 Things to Check To Recognize when a shrimp is gone bad
Depending on the situation, there could be different causes, and you might face different scenarios to evaluate the quality of your shrimp. The most common scenario when we will arise in our mind the question about the quality of the shrimp is when:
- We are purchasing the shrimp fresh
- We are buying the shrimp frozen
- We are eating the shrimp
Depending on the situations where you will find yourself, there could be different methods of valuations regarding the conditions of the shrimp. But do not worry because now we will see every aspect in detail.
How to understand if the shrimp is bad when purchasing it fresh
If you live in cities near the sea, with a high probability of chance, you can purchase fresh shrimp just by walking on the port, directly from the fisherman.
In that case, it is very uncommon to find bad shrimp because they are usually caught during the day and sold immediately during the same day.
But in today’s life, there could be some possibility of a scam, and recognizing a fresh shrimp from a bad one is an important skill that will help you evaluate its condition when you are purchasing it fresh.
The most important thing to check is the color of the shrimp. Since there are different types of shrimp, it is important to recognize which one of them you have in front; because of the different varieties, you might purchase pink, brown, very red shrimp.
If it is difficult to understand which types of shrimp you have in front, you have to consider that every fresh type of shrimp will share the same characteristic, one of being almost transparent.
Another indication that could make you understand that the shrimp has gone bad is the presence of black spots.
Once you have taken a look at it, you can evaluate the state of the shrimp by simply smelling it. Since we are speaking of shrimp that was just caught, you will probably not understand it very well, but if you notice that the smell is too fishy and annoying, you stay away and do not purchase it.
The last thing that you should check is the consistency of the shrimp. I can imagine that if you are just walking and you are appropriately dressed, you would not like to smell fish, and in that case, you can skip that part.
If you are purchasing fresh shrimp in large quantities and want to take it in your hands, you have to check that the consistency of the shrimp is not mushy; if you notice that the shrimp are mushy, with a high possibility is already gone bad.
How to understand if the shrimp is bad when frozen
Depending on the period of the year and to your necessity, it could happen that you bought or you have frozen shrimps some time ago, with the purpose to consume it after some time.
Anyway, if it was passing a long time from when you have frozen it, some questions may arise in your mind, especially regarding the quality of it.
Being frozen doesn’t mean that the shrimp will keep high quality forever. The most important things to check are :
- Expiration date if the shrimps were bought on the supermarket
- bad smell after de-freezing them
How to understand if the shrimp is bad when you eat it
If you are eating in a seafood restaurant, the chances are that the shrimp is present on the menu.
If you decide to take it, something that you want to avoid, it is for sure getting some food poisoning from it.
The essential things to check to evaluate its quality are related to its smell and taste.
It is hard to understand if the shrimp has gone bad by looking at the color when cooked since it is mixed with other ingredients and sauces.
But you can always check the quality of it by tasting it. If the taste is not close to fishy, and the taste doesn’t tell you anything, it probably is not fresh.
see also: Can You Eat Raw Shrimp?
What happens if you eat bad shrimp?
The most common causes associated with eating spoiled shrimp are usually manifested after 4-8 hours, and they are related to diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and cramps.
The shrimps and other types of shellfish must be consumed with particular attention, and only after being sure that they are fresh and have not gone bad.
The causes that may make the shrimp go bad are are mainly related to the storage method.
If shrimps are left for more than 2 hours in a temperature room, you will increase the chance of arising of virus and bacteria, and the shrimps start to go bad.
The best thing to avoid eating bad shrimp by simply observing their appearance and smelling it.
How long does shrimp last in the fridge?
You should try to leave the shrimp in the fridge for a maximum of 2-3 days; if you let it for more time, you will increase the chance of bacteria and viruses.
If you just bought the shrimp fresh, you can quietly let it for a few days, but only do it if you know that you will cook them soon. If it is not in your plan to prepare it in 2-3 days, you can already think about freezing it.
The safety option that will prevent the shrimp from going bad is to freeze them. Long-time conservation of shrimp is achievable only by freezing them. In fact, in the refrigerator, they can last for a period that goes from 8-12 months.
Can you cook spoiled shrimp?
No, you must avoid cooking shrimp that are spoiled for the simple reason that they could contain viruses and bacteria dangerous for your health.
Spoiled shrimp contain bacteria and viruses dangerous for us. If you notice any of the signs you already saw in part before, you must avoid cooking them.
You may be wondering if the cooking process will eliminate the bacteria present on the spoiled shrimp? The answer is not.
Once the shrimp has gone bad, the next step you have to do should be throwing it in the garbage.
What color is bad shrimp?
To fully understand when a shrimp has gone bad, you have to understand which types of shrimps you have in front of you.
This is because you might have a brown type of shrimp in front of you, and you can exchange it by thinking that it is a pink type gone bad and throwing it.
The step to follow to evaluate exactly if the shrimp has gone bad is by observing the color and following these steps:
- Identify the type of shrimp that you have in front
- Do in-depth research about the most common color that they can assume
- Check the corresponding color
For a fast evaluation, you can check that the color is vivid and that it is not discolored; most of the shrimp that are bad looks discolored.
What does it mean when shrimp is mushy?
Mushy shrimp bought fresh means that they are bad, while if cooked, they could mean that they were cooked for a long time in boiling water.
If you notice during the purchase phase that the shrimp is mushy, you have to stop purchasing it because, with a high probability, it means that the shrimp has gone bad.
When fresh, the shrimp body must stay in position when lifted. Mushy shrimp means that it is not fresh.
What does bad frozen shrimp look like?
It is well imaginable that purchasing fresh shrimp is impossible for most people. The only option available could be of buying it already frozen.
The first and usually always present thing to check is the expiration date present on the box. But if it is not present for some reason, you can always open it and look at the shrimp.
A bad frozen shrimp looks like a discolored color, opaque, and with different coloration among the body.
In case you notice any of those signs, do not defrost them. Instead, throw them.
We already saw that the lasting period of shrimps in the refrigerator is around one year. But sometimes, they might go bad before the expiration or before that period.
Understanding the look of a good frozen shrimp from a bad one will make the difference and will make you avoid getting some food poisoning.
Final thoughts
Telling if a shrimp has gone bad is a necessary process that we should know. Depending on the types of shrimp, there could be different indications that may help you understand if the shrimp is bad or not. I hope this guide was helpful and that you have all the tools available to see when a shrimp is bad.