How Long Does Shrimp Actually Last In The Fridge?

Every animal protein has a finite shelf life. We've previously covered how long ground beef lasts in the fridge, which did not prepare us for just how brief a time you can safely store shrimp in your refrigerator. If you have your fridge set to the correct temperature and otherwise ideal storage conditions, you still can only safely store shrimp for a day or two, says chef Maricel Gentile of Maricel's Kitchen, a catering business and cooking school. Shrimp will stay safe in the freezer for as long as three months, assuming they're in an airtight container.

As for cooked shrimp, the rules are almost exactly the same. They're only good for one to two days in the fridge, as chef Gentile advises. Cooked shrimp can freeze for two months, but be warned, says Gentile: "they won't be as firm as when they went in — so use them in recipes where they can be stir-fried or in soups." She cautions Foodie readers to "never let cooked shrimp sit at room temperature over an hour, [as] they are very perishable." So, serving shrimp cocktail over an ice bowl doesn't just look cool; it's also a serious matter of food safety.

Your nose knows if fresh shrimp are good, chef Gentile tells us. They "[s]hould smell like the ocean, not ammonia or chemicals." Unpleasant odors are a pretty undeniable sign that the shrimp might have gone bad. When you can, she recommends that you buy shrimp with intact shells. "[The shell] protects the meat and keeps the moisture in," she says, plus, "you can use the shells to make a stock." Wild-caught shrimp in particular have a firm texture and stronger flavor that chef Gentile prefers, but she states that farmed varieties are fine as well, provided they are labeled with "certifications like ASC or BAP." Both of these certification programs promote sustainable seafood production.

IQF, or Individually Quick Frozen shrimp is no slouch in the culinary department, either, she opines. In fact, Gentile argues that "frozen is sometimes better." For safety, make sure you check the bag thoroughly to look out for "big icy clumps or freezer burn — which means they probably have been stored improperly and even unfrozen and frozen again." Eating bad shrimp can induce shellfish poisoning, a severely unpleasant illness that can cause major gastrointestinal upset that might, in the very worst of cases, require hospitalization. When it comes to shrimp, "better safe than sorry" are great words to follow.