How are your shrimp offered at the store?

In stores you can find shrimp raw, blanched, or cooked. Blanched shrimps are still raw, however, they are quickly run under scalding water, turning them a light pink color. Raw and blanched shrimps are great for frying, grilling, or steaming. The pre-cooked shrimps can either be eaten right after defrosting, or further incorporated into any hot dish.

Why is the shrimp red?

Raw shrimp are grey in color. When they are heated up their color changes from grey to red. The color change is due to a pigment inside the shrimp. In living, or raw shrimps the pigment is attached to a certain protein within. When the shrimps are cooked the pigment breaks away and becomes an independent red substance.

Why are the products glazed with ice?

Our frozen fish and seafood are coated with a layer of ice. This glazing protects the product from drying out. Although the allowance of protective glazing counting toward the entire weight of the product is 20% or more, we've reduced this number to 10% where possible. For a true price comparison you'll want to focus on the net weight of the product.

What does IQF mean?

IQF stands for "Individually Quick Frozen." When freezing food, one has the decision between individually freezing each piece and freezing the individual pieces into one block. Individual freezing allows every piece to be quickly frozen within a matter of minutes. Block freezing requires the grouping together of individual pieces into one big mass, freezing them together; this process can last a couple of hours. As opposed to the quick individual freezing process, block freezing allows for the formation of ice cristals within the product's cells, in effect destroying them. Besides retaining product's quality, individual freezing allows for ease in use, making it possible to remove individual pieces from the package. With block frozen products one is left at a disadvantage, forced to defrost the entire package in order to prepare any number of smaller portions. Individually frozen products are often marked with IQF, "Individually Quick Frozen."

How are your shrimp counted?

Shrimp are offered in different sizes at the store. The shrimp size is provided per pieces per pound (lb). One pound is equal to 454 grams (g). A shrimp package with a weight of 51/60/lb means that one pound will yield 51-60 pieces of shrimp (one shrimp will weigh 8-9 g). A shrimp package with a weight of 16/22/lb means that one pound will yield 16-22 pieces of shrimp (one shrimp will weigh 21-28 g). In other words: the higher the shrimp count, the smaller the individual shrimp.

How are the shrimp's intestines removed/deveined?

Shrimp intestines are edible, but they can add a bitter taste to the meat. Thus, as a rule the intestine is removed during production. You'll see at the store that these shrimp are labeled "deveined”. The removal of the intestine can be achieved using two different methods. The first method, called "cut-deveined," entails cutting the shrimp's back and pulling out the intestine. The second method, called "pin-deveined," consists of removing the intestine with a needle. "Pin deveining" maintains and retains both the firm texture and freshness of every shrimp.