Welcome to the world of delectable seafood delights! This article delves into Costco frozen shrimp, where convenience meets exceptional taste. Costco, renowned for its quality products, brings you a selection of frozen shrimp that will leave your taste buds longing for more.
Whether you’re a seafood lover or simply looking to elevate your culinary experience, Costco’s frozen shrimp offers a convenient and affordable solution. Join us as we explore the journey from the ocean to the freezer and uncover the best frozen shrimp at Costco. Want to know which shrimp to buy at Costco? Read this before heading to the warehouse.
Does Costco Carry Shrimp?
During a recent trip to the warehouse, we found 12 different types of shrimp. The contents of the low freezers rotate often, but those in the larger freezers are standard. Whether you are looking for farm-raised or wild-caught, small or large, they’ve got you covered.
| Type | # Pieces Per Pound | Price Per Pound | Country of Origin | Ingredients | Seafood Watch Rec?Y/N |
| Kirkland Signature Whole Head On FarmedWhite Shrimp | 9-14 | $5.99 | Ecuador | Shrimp, Metabisulfite | YES |
| Kirkland Signature U-15 Farm Raised White Shrimp | Under 15 | $9.99 | Thailand | Shrimp, Water, Salt | YES |
| Kirkland Signature U-15 Farm Raised White Shrimp | Under 15 | $9.50 | Vietnam | Shrimp, Water, Salt | YES |
| Dine Well Whole Head On Farmed Raised White Shrimp | 9-14 | $5.50 | Ecuador | Shrimp, Sodium Metabisulfite | YES |
| Wild Under 15 Shrimp Headless Shell On | Under 15 | $15.50 | Mexico | Shrimp | NO |
| COSTCO SHRIMP IN DEEP FREEZER SECTION | |||||
| Kirkland Signature Cooked Shrimp | 50-70 | $7.49 | Vietnam | Shrimp, Water, Salt | YES |
| Pacific Ocean Harvest Wild Caught Mexican Shrimp | 16-20 | $11.49 | Mexico | Shrimp | NO |
| Kirkland Signature Farm Raised Tail On | 11-15 | $11.38 | Vietnam | Shrimp, Water, Salt | YES |
| Kirkland Signature Farm RaisedTail On | 31-40 | $6.99 | Thailand | Shrimp, Water, Salt | YES |
| Kirkland Signature Farm-Raised Raw Tail On | 21-25 | $7.99 | India | Shrimp, Water, Salt | NO |
| Kirkland Signature Wild Gulf Shrimp | 30-40 | $14.00 | United States | YES | |
| Kirkland Signature Wild Argentine Red Shrimp | 30-50 | $10.75 | Argentina | Shrimp | NO |
Costco Frozen Shrimp Price
We found 12 varieties of shrimp at the warehouse, and prices range from $5.50 to $15.50 per pound. Packages went from two to four pounds.
| Type | # Pieces Per Pound | Price Per Pound | Package Size | Total Price |
| Kirkland Signature Whole Head On Farmed White Shrimp | 9-14 | $5.99 | 2.75-3 lbs. | $16-$18 |
| Kirkland Signature U-15 Farm Raised White Shrimp THAILAND | Under 15 | $9.99 | 3-3.25lbs | $29-32 |
| Kirkland Signature U-15 Farm Raised White Shrimp VIETNAM | Under 15 | $9.50 | 4lbs | $37.99 |
| Dine Well Whole Head On Farmed Raised White Shrimp | 9-14 | $5.50 | 4lbs | $21.99 |
| Wild Under 15 Shrimp Headless Shell On | Under 15 | $15.50 | 4lbs | $61.99 |
| COSTCO SHRIMP IN DEEP FREEZER SECTION | ||||
| Kirkland Signature Cooked Shrimp | 50-70 | $7.49 | 2lbs. | $14.99 |
| Pacific Ocean Harvest Wild Caught Mexican Shrimp | 16-20 | $11.49 | 2lbs. | $22.99 |
| Kirkland Signature Farm Raised Tail On | 11-15 | $11.38 | 1.5lbs | $16.99 |
| Kirkland Signature Farm-Raised Raw Tail On | 21-25 | $7.99 | 2lbs. | $15.99 |
| Kirkland Signature Farm RaisedTail On | 31-40 | $6.99 | 2lbs. | $13.99 |
| Kirkland Signature Wild Gulf Shrimp | 30-40 | $14.00 | 2lbs. | $27.99 |
| Kirkland Signature Wild Argentine Red Shrimp | 30-50 | $10.75 | 2lbs. | $21.49 |
Where Does Costco Get Their Frozen Shrimp?
Costco gets its frozen shrimp from the U.S., Ecuador, Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam, Argentina, and India. The U.S. Government requires retailers to notify their customers of the country of origin of covered commodities, including farm-raised and wild-caught shrimp.
Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to find. You need to scour packages for the information. We’ve seen it on the front and back of the bags, sometimes in tiny print.
Costco’s farmed shrimp comes from some of the world’s largest crustacean producers. According to the World Wildlife Fund, farmed shrimp accounts for 55% of global shrimp. Most shrimp aquaculture occurs in China, followed by Thailand, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Brazil, Ecuador, and Bangladesh. This industry has generated substantial income for these developing countries.
Fishermen caught the wild varieties in the United States and Mexico.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium program, Seafood Watch, helps consumers navigate purchasing sustainable seafood with its rating system. According to its Sustainable Shrimp Guide, the organization recommends farmed shrimp from Ecuador, Honduras, Thailand, and Vietnam. The organization cautions consumers of shrimp farmed in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, or Vietnam (intensive pods). The group also recommends wild-caught U.S. shrimp.
Costco Frozen Shrimp Sizes
Every shrimp package has a number indicating how many pieces there are per pound. Sometimes it’s clear; other times, it simply states, “U-#,” meaning there are under that number of shrimp per pound.
Costco carries frozen shrimp that are very large (9-14 per pound) and small (50-70 per pound), and everything in between.
Larger shrimp sizes equal a lower number in a pound. These are excellent for the grill since they won’t fall through the grates. They also are great for appetizers or dishes where shrimp stand alone.
Medium sizes are perfect for pasta, soups, and stews. Smaller-sized shrimp are excellent for salads, rolls, and fried rice. Due to their petite size, they often don’t require chopping.
Adjectives like jumbo and colossal mean nothing. They are simply marketing terms.
| COSTCO SHRIMP IN LOW FREEZER SECTION* | ||
| Type | # Pieces Per Pound | Best Uses |
| Kirkland Signature Whole Head On Farmed White Shrimp | 9-14 | Grilling, Stuffed Shrimp |
| Kirkland Signature U-15 Farm Raised White Shrimp THAILAND | Under 15 | Grilling, Stuffed Shrimp |
| Kirkland Signature U-15 Farm Raised White Shrimp VIETNAM | Under 15 | Grilling, Stuffed Shrimp |
| Dine Well Whole Head On Farmed Raised White Shrimp | 9-14 | Grilling, Stuffed Shrimp |
| Wild Under 15 Shrimp Headless Shell On | Under 15 | Grilling, Stuffed Shrimp |
| COSTCO SHRIMP IN DEEP FREEZER SECTION | ||
| Kirkland Signature Cooked Shrimp | 50-70 | Shrimp Salad, Shrimp Rolls |
| Pacific Ocean Harvest Wild Caught Mexican Shrimp | 16-20 | Fried Shrimp |
| Kirkland Signature Farm Raised Tail On | 11-15 | Fried Shrimp |
| Kirkland Signature Farm-Raised Raw Tail On | 21-25 | Fried Shrimp |
| Kirkland Signature Farm RaisedTail On | 31-40 | Pasta, Soups, Stews |
| Kirkland Signature Wild Gulf Shrimp | 30-40 | Pasta, Soups, Stews |
| Kirkland Signature Wild Argentine Red Shrimp | 30-50 | Pasta, Soups, Stews |
* This stock often changes
Costco Wild Caught Vs. Costco Farm-Raised Shrimp
Wild-caught shrimp come from oceans where farm-raised shrimp grow in large tanks.
Many consumers believe that wild-caught is good and farm-raised is terrible. Unfortunately, things aren’t that simple.
The nutritional quality of shrimp is mainly based on what they consume. Fish in the wild tend to eat a natural diet and have a slightly lower amount of saturated fat. Farmed fish provide more Omega threes, likely due to their fortified feed. Some consumers say that wild-caught fish taste better.
According to Colorado State University, some studies have shown how farm-raised varieties can be higher in contaminants.
As for sustainability, some wild-caught shrimp is overfished, and the nets can affect other wildlife. There are also aquaculture issues, although many countries are making strides to become more sustainable.
As for price, wild-caught is almost always going to be more expensive. It’s a more labor-intensive way of fishing, and the costs are passed on to the consumer.
Which Costco Shrimp Is Best Tail On Or Off? Head On Or Head Off?
Costco sells shrimp with heads, heads off, shells on, shells off, tails on, and tails off. Here are the pros and cons of each.
Shrimp with the heads on have much more flavor but require more work to prepare. For most people, headless varieties are best.
Keeping the shells on helps to protect the meat and keep it moist, which is great if you make a shrimp cocktail. The leftover shells also make an outstanding seafood stock. But this comes with more work to remove the shells, so for the average home cook, shell off is fine.
The biggest choice for consumers is tail-on or tail-off. If you are making appetizers or dishes where you eat with your hands, then buy tail on. For all other uses, tail-off is preferred. In case you were curious, you can eat the shrimp tails.
Costco Cooked Shrimp Vs. Costco Raw Shrimp
We don’t recommend buying cooked shrimp. Even a quick reheat of Kirkland Signature Cooked Shrimp can make it rubbery. Since shrimp is so delicate and quick to cook, it only takes a few minutes.
It’s worth spending 3-5 minutes to cook raw shrimp. It yields excellent results.
What Ingredients Are In Costco Shrimp?
It may seem silly to ask what ingredients are in shrimp since it’s such a basic food, but some Costco frozen shrimp varieties have additives while others are brined.
Often shrimp are placed in a water and salt solution immediately after being caught to lower the temperature. Brining helps ensure freshness and prevents product degradation while increasing the sodium content. If you are trying to limit your salt intake, look at the ingredient list, as you may want to avoid ones that list water and salt.
A few products in the rotating stock of Costco shrimp contain sodium metabisulphite. This agent is an antioxidant extensively used as a food preservative and disinfectant.
Costco Frozen Shrimp Review — What Is The Best Costco Frozen Shrimp?
We recommend Kirkland Signature Wild Caught Gulf Shrimp. It has an edge in flavor thanks to being wild-caught, and Seafood Watch recommends shrimp from the US (specifically this region). The size is perfect for most uses.
Kirkland Signature Wild Caught Gulf Shrimp checks almost all the boxes we look for for a great shrimp. The taste is incredible, perhaps because it is wild-caught and feasts on its natural environment.
As for sustainability, Seafood Watch recommends shrimp caught in the Gulf. We love that Costco provides the name of the fishing vessel on the back right of the package.
Kirkland Signature Wild Caught Gulf Shrimp only contains shrimp, unlike other options that contain additives or brines. The sodium content is lower, thanks to the lack of other ingredients.
Our one gripe is that it is too small for some uses, like grilling and stuffing, but it works well for most recipes, including pasta, soups, and stews. Place them on a skewer so they don’t fall through the grates if you want to grill. Since they are small, we wouldn’t use them for deep frying, but Kirkland Signature Panko Shrimp are an excellent alternative. We wish they were 21-25 pieces per pound.
As for ease of use, they are sold ready to cook; the tails are off and fully deveined.
Costco Frozen Shrimp Cooking Instructions
For best results, it’s best to defrost the shrimp before cooking. Since they are small and don’t have much fat, they overcook easily, which equals rubbery.
How To Defrost Costco Frozen Shrimp
If you have the time, place the frozen shrimp in a bag in the refrigerator overnight to defrost.
This is the simplest method but not the only way.
If you are short on time, you can defrost them in water. DO NOT USE RUNNING WATER. Shrimp are delicate; running water makes them waterlogged and breaks them down. Instead, place shrimp in a large Ziploc bag and put that bag in a large bowl filled with cold water. Do not use hot water as that will cook them. This process should take about 20-30 minutes.
After you defrost, pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel. Drying helps any seasoning adhere better, and too many leftover water droplets will steam the shrimp, making them soggy.
How Long To Cook Costco Frozen Shrimp
Use this chart to guide how long to cook Costco Frozen Shrimp. Remember to defrost first.
| Pieces Per Pound | Total Cooking Time |
| 36-40 | Minutes or two – watch very closely |
| 31-35 | 3 Minutes |
| 26-30 | 4-5 Minutes |
| 21-25 | 6-7 Minutes |
What Costco Shrimp Tastes Like Lobster?
Kirkland Signature Wild Argentine Red Shrimp tastes like lobster. It’s not exactly like the famed red crustacean, but it’s pretty close with its red hue and meaty consistency. Wild Argentine Shrimp stand out from the crowd with their bright color and sweet flavor. They are caught in the cold waters in the South Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Patagonia.
Costco sells a two-pound bag of 30-50 Wild Argentine Shrimp for $21.49.
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