Shrimp is a favourite on many Indian plates—whether it’s in a spicy prawn curry from Kerala, Goan balchão, Bengali chingri malai curry, or Andhra-style roast. But to make your seafood dish truly shine, the quality of shrimp you use makes all the difference. The next time you visit your local fish market, don’t rely just on the vendor’s word. Here’s a quick guide from Megaa Moda to help you identify good quality shrimp with confidence.
1. Look at the Shell
Fresh shrimp should have a firm shell that’s slightly translucent and glossy. Avoid shrimp with broken, cracked, or yellowing shells. A yellowish tint may indicate the use of chemicals like sodium bisulfite, used to preserve older shrimp. If the shell is slimy or feels sticky, that’s a red flag—it means the shrimp may have started to spoil.
2. Check the Colour
Good quality raw shrimp come in shades of grey (white or pink shrimp), slightly blueish or light green depending on the species. Black spots or discolouration on the shell could indicate age or decomposition. Cooked shrimp should be a vibrant orange-pink with opaque white flesh. If it looks dull, it may not be fresh.
3. Smell Matters
Give it a gentle sniff. Fresh shrimp should smell like the sea—clean and slightly salty. A strong “fishy” or ammonia-like smell is a sure sign that the shrimp has gone bad. Trust your nose—it’s often your best friend in the fish market.
4. Examine the Eyes and Legs
If you’re buying head-on shrimp, check the eyes. They should be full, glossy, and black—not dried out or sunken. Legs should be firmly attached and not falling off. Loose legs are often a sign of poor handling or age.
5. Texture Tells a Story
When touched, good shrimp should feel firm and spring back slightly. If it feels mushy or leaves an indentation, it’s not fresh. Also, avoid shrimp that feel gritty or have ice crystals (if they were previously frozen and thawed multiple times).
6. Buy from a Trusted Vendor
Where you buy your shrimp matters just as much as what you buy. Choose a vendor known for hygiene, cleanliness, and regular stock turnover. In metros and tier-1 cities, many people are turning to seafood brands like Megaa Moda, which offer frozen, hygienically packed, ready-to-cook shrimp sourced fresh from Indian waters and processed with international standards.
7. Size and Uniformity
When buying shrimp by count (like 26/30 or 40/50), check if the pieces are uniform in size. Inconsistent sizes in one lot may mean mixing of different grades, which can affect cooking times and dish presentation.
In Conclusion
Good shrimp isn’t hard to find—you just need to know what to look for. With these simple tips, you can walk into your local fish market with confidence and pick the best of the lot. And if convenience and hygiene are your top priorities, you can always count on Megaa Moda’s ready-to-cook shrimp, which bring the taste of the sea straight to your kitchen—fresh, safe, and full of flavour.
Because when it comes to shrimp, quality isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity.
