6 Store-Bought Frozen Shrimp To Avoid And 6 To Buy
Lately, I’ve been diving deep into the world of frozen seafood—and trust me, shrimp are a slippery bunch.
After more trial and error than I care to admit (including one memorable shrimp curry fail), I’ve unofficially earned the title of Frozen Shrimp Snob.
Turns out, what’s in that frosty bag can either elevate your dinner or leave you questioning your life choices.
So whether you’re prepping a weeknight stir-fry or showing off at your next dinner party, here’s my no-nonsense guide to the frozen shrimp worth buying—and the ones better left behind icy glass.
1. Walmart Great Value Shrimp – Budget Buy With Hidden Costs
My wallet seemed happy when I grabbed Walmart Great Value Shrimp during a penny-pinching phase last year, but my taste buds filed a formal complaint at dinner. The suspiciously low price tag comes with consequences you’ll notice immediately upon thawing – excessive water release that turns any dish into an unintended soup! The texture left much to be desired, with an oddly soft, mushy consistency that no amount of cooking technique could salvage.
When I examined the ingredient list more carefully, I discovered why: these shrimp are pumped full of sodium tripolyphosphate to increase water weight and extend shelf life. Environmental concerns also plague this budget option. Sourcing information is vague at best, with questionable harvesting practices that environmentally conscious consumers should think twice about.
The momentary savings simply aren’t worth the culinary disappointment and ethical question marks that come with each bite.
2. Kroger Cooked Shrimp – Rubbery Disappointment
My impromptu dinner party last month nearly ended in tears when I served Kroger Cooked Shrimp as a last-minute appetizer. The convenience factor initially seemed appealing – just thaw and serve, right? Wrong! These pre-cooked crustaceans have all the texture appeal of pencil erasers.
The flavor profile falls flatter than week-old soda, with a strange chemical aftertaste that no amount of cocktail sauce could mask. My seafood-loving uncle actually asked if they were “the real thing” – a devastating question for any host!
The unnatural pink hue should have been my first warning sign – these shrimp are clearly over-processed and likely frozen multiple times before reaching your table. Despite aggressive sale pricing, they represent false economy at any cost.
Save your reputation and your taste buds by steering clear of this rubbery disappointment masquerading as seafood.
3. Gorton’s Beer Battered Shrimp – All Batter, No Better
Football Sunday at my place took an unexpected turn when I served Gorton’s Beer Battered Shrimp during the playoff game. My buddy Jake, never one to mince words, asked, “Where’s the shrimp in these hush puppies?” That pretty much sums up the experience – microscopic shrimp imprisoned in fortress-thick batter.
The flavor profile is dominated by greasy, artificial notes that leave an unpleasant film on your palate. Any whisper of actual seafood taste is brutally smothered by aggressive seasoning trying desperately to compensate for subpar ingredients.
Nutritionally speaking, these are basically deep-fried red flags. The ingredient list reads like a chemistry experiment, packed with preservatives, artificial flavors, and enough sodium to make your blood pressure spike just from reading the package. Even my not-particularly-picky teenage nephew left most of his portion untouched – a damning indictment from someone who typically inhales anything breaded.
4. Safeway Signature Select Shrimp – Inconsistent Quality Gamble
Rolling the dice on Safeway Signature Select Shrimp for my anniversary dinner was a mistake I won’t repeat. The wildly inconsistent sizing within a single bag turned my carefully timed seafood pasta into a frustrating mix of overcooked tiny bits and undercooked jumbo pieces.
Opening the package released a distinctly fishy aroma – never a good sign with shrimp, which should smell subtly sweet or like nothing at all. After rinsing, the texture revealed another red flag: some pieces were suspiciously mushy while others had an unpleasantly tough, stringy quality. The flavor profile further confirmed my disappointment, with several guests detecting a metallic aftertaste that no amount of garlic could disguise.
Package labeling provides minimal transparency about harvesting methods or country of origin, raising ethical questions alongside the quality concerns. Even at their frequent sale price, these represent a culinary gamble not worth taking.
5. Chicken of the Sea Cooked Shrimp – Seafood Identity Crisis
My curiosity got the better of me when I spotted Chicken of the Sea Cooked Shrimp on a deep discount. Turns out, there’s a reason for those perpetual sales! Despite the brand’s reputation for tuna, their venture into shrimp territory is a seafood identity crisis of epic proportions. The texture immediately triggers alarm bells – unnaturally soft with none of the signature “snap” that quality shrimp should deliver.
After thawing, they release an alarming amount of milky liquid, suggesting excessive processing and preservatives. Flavor-wise, these pink imposters taste like they’ve been stripped of their natural essence and artificially reconstituted.
The ingredient list confirms my suspicions, featuring multiple preservatives and flavor enhancers attempting to compensate for poor quality. Even my cat, who normally goes crazy for seafood scraps, gave these a suspicious sniff before walking away – animal instincts we humans would be wise to heed!
6. Best Choice Raw Shrimp – Worst Choice For Your Table
My grocery budget was tight last month, which led to the regrettable experiment with Best Choice Raw Shrimp. The bargain price tag quickly revealed itself as fool’s gold when I began peeling these disappointing crustaceans for my curry recipe.
First came the troubling smell – not the mild ocean scent of fresh shrimp, but an aggressive ammonia-like odor that persisted even after thorough rinsing. The texture was equally concerning, with a mushy consistency suggesting improper freezing or multiple thaw-refreeze cycles before reaching my kitchen. The deveining process uncovered another unpleasant surprise – several specimens still contained significant portions of digestive tract (gross!).
Environmental red flags abound with this brand, offering zero transparency about harvesting methods or sustainability practices. The rock-bottom price simply isn’t worth the combination of poor eating experience and questionable sourcing ethics that come with every frosty bag.
7. Whole Foods 365 Shrimp – A Sustainable Seafood Star
Last Tuesday, I stumbled upon Whole Foods 365 Shrimp while planning a last-minute dinner party, and boy, was that a happy accident! These plump little crustaceans are responsibly sourced with transparent harvesting practices that won’t keep your conscience up at night. The flavor profile knocked my socks off – clean, sweet, and oceany without that funky chemical aftertaste that haunts lesser brands.
My guests couldn’t stop raving about my garlic butter shrimp skewers! The texture seals the deal here – firm but not rubbery, these shrimp maintain their snappy bite even after cooking. While they’re pricier than some competitors, the consistent quality and eco-friendly certification make every penny worthwhile for both everyday meals and special occasions.
8. Kirkland Signature Tail-On Shrimp – Costco’s Hidden Treasure
Who knew my Costco membership would revolutionize my shrimp game? Kirkland Signature Tail-On Shrimp has become my freezer’s MVP, saving countless dinners when I’m fresh out of ideas. The two-pound bag might seem excessive for singles, but trust me – you’ll blow through these faster than you think! Size consistency is what sets these beauties apart. Unlike other brands where you play shrimp roulette, every
Kirkland crustacean is remarkably uniform, making cooking times predictable and presentation Instagram-worthy. My brother-in-law, a former seafood restaurant manager, actually mistook these for fresh-caught during our family cookout last summer! The clean, briny flavor works in everything from paella to stir-fry, and the price-to-quality ratio is simply unbeatable in the frozen shrimp universe.
9. Trader Joe’s Red Argentinian Shrimp – The Lobster Impersonator
Holy flavor explosion! The first time I tossed Trader Joe’s Red Argentinian Shrimp into my seafood pasta, my dinner guests were convinced I’d splurged on lobster. These ruby-hued beauties pack a naturally sweet, buttery punch that ordinary shrimp can only dream about. Harvested from the icy waters of Argentina, these wild-caught treasures cook up with a distinctive reddish hue and tender texture that borders on decadent.
The packaging is refreshingly honest too – minimal additives and no sneaky sodium tripolyphosphate that bloats inferior brands with water weight. My pro tip? Don’t overcook these delicate morsels! Their higher sugar content means they caramelize faster than typical shrimp. Thirty seconds too long in the pan can transform them from luxurious to lackluster. When treated right, they’ll outshine shrimp costing twice as much.
10. SeaPak Jumbo Butterfly Shrimp – Convenience Without Compromise
Game nights at my place got a serious upgrade when I discovered SeaPak Jumbo Butterfly Shrimp in the freezer aisle! These golden-crusted beauties go from freezer to table in under 15 minutes, which saved my reputation when friends dropped by unexpectedly last month. Unlike other breaded options that taste like you’re eating more coating than seafood, SeaPak nails the perfect shrimp-to-breading ratio.
The butterfly cut exposes more of that sweet shrimp meat, while the light, crispy coating adds just the right textural contrast without overwhelming the star ingredient. The included cocktail sauce packet is surprisingly decent, though I usually jazz things up with my own spicy aioli. For a pre-breaded option, these contain remarkably few unpronounceable ingredients and actually taste like real food – a rare win in the convenience category!
11. Wild Fork Raw Shrimp – Flash-Frozen Perfection
Remember that shrimp cocktail I brought to your housewarming that everyone went nuts over? Wild Fork Raw Shrimp was my secret weapon! These babies are flash-frozen within hours of harvest, preserving a just-caught freshness that’s downright revolutionary for supermarket seafood. The texture tells the quality story here – firm, snappy, and never mushy, even after thawing.
Most impressively, they don’t shrink to sad little nubs when cooked, maintaining their plump dignity through any cooking method you throw at them. Wild Fork’s transparency about sourcing practices sealed my loyalty. Each package includes traceable harvest information, and they prioritize farms with responsible environmental practices.
While slightly pricier than generic options, the consistent quality and ethical sourcing make these my go-to for any recipe where shrimp plays a starring role.
12. Aqua Star Raw Shrimp – The Restaurant-Quality Choice
Confession time: I served Aqua Star Raw Shrimp at my sister’s engagement dinner and passed them off as “fresh from the fish market.” Nobody suspected a thing! These premium crustaceans deliver that elusive restaurant-quality experience that most frozen seafood only promises. The clean, sweet flavor profile speaks to minimal processing and careful handling.
Unlike competitors that smell suspiciously ammonia-like when thawed (yuck!), these beauties release only a mild, pleasant ocean aroma that signals proper freezing techniques.
My favorite feature is their versatility – whether grilled, sautéed, or quickly poached for shrimp cocktail, they maintain their integrity beautifully. The resealable packaging is a thoughtful touch for those of us who don’t cook the entire bag at once. For special occasions when you want to impress without breaking the bank, Aqua Star consistently delivers five-star results.