If you have some raw shrimp leftover from a dish that you were preparing, then you might be left wondering what you should do with it. Thankfully, it can be stored in the refrigerator, so you don’t have to see it go to waste.
Shrimp is absolutely deciduous when it has been prepared and cooked correctly, but it is also a high risk food, which means that you have to be careful when it comes to storing it. We are going to provide you with all of the information that you need to know about this here.
It is really important to be aware of the shelf life of raw shrimp, and this is something that we are going to explore in more detail in this article. This will ensure that you can keep your raw shrimp fresher for longer, while making sure that you are following safe practices.
How Long Can I Keep Raw Shrimp in the Fridge?
If you have some leftover raw shrimp, you can keep it in the fridge for between 1 and 2 days before it needs to be cooked and eaten. This should minimize the risk of microbial contamination as long as you are following the safety precautions that come with handling raw shrimp.
If you didn’t already know, shrimp is part of the meat food group, which means that it is highly perishable. It has a higher risk of bacterial contamination if it is not cooked or stored properly.
Something that you should always keep in mind is that you should always read the label to find the best before date or expiry date of the shrimp. You should not consume any shrimp that has passed the expiry date.
How Long Can I Keep Cooked Shrimp in the Fridge?
Cooked shrimp can last for up to 3 days in the refrigerator, as long as you have kept it in an airtight container, or a sealable bag. If you refrigerate the shrimp, then you will be slowing down bacterial growth, but you should know that it does not stop bacteria growing altogether.
This is why you shouldn’t eat any cooked shrimp that has been in your refrigerator for more than 3 days.
Can I Leave My Shrimp At Room Temperature?
No, you shouldn’t keep your shrimp at room temperature unless it is for a short amount of time. Uncooked shrimp should not be eaten if it has been left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Any raw shrimp that has been left on the side for more than 2 hours should be thrown away, as there is a high chance that it is full of bacteria.
How Long Can I Keep Raw Shrimp in the Freezer?
You will be able to keep raw shrimp in the freezer for between 3 and 6 months as long as you have kept it in either an air tight container or a sealable freezer bag.
If your shrimp has been cooked before freezing, then you can keep it in the freezer for up to 4 months as long as you follow the storage methods that we have just mentioned.
How Long Do I Have to Eat My Shrimp After Defrosting it?
As long as you store your shrimp in the refrigerator while it is defrosting, you can keep it in there for between 1 and 2 days before it needs to be cooked.
Alternatively, you can cook the shrimp from frozen and enjoy it straight away. You can use other defrosting methods, but you will need to eat the shrimp straight away.
What is the Best Temperature for Storing Uncooked Shrimp?
You will need to always store your uncooked shrimp at 40 degrees fahrenheit or below. This is because bacterial growth will occur at a faster pace between the temperatures of 40 and 140 degrees.
This is why you should always store your raw shrimp at a lower temperature than this.
How to Tell If Your Shrimp Has Gone Off?
You will be able to tell if your shrimp has gone off by looking at its appearance, texture, and smell. Fresh raw shrimp should have a color that ranges from white to shades of gray and light blue.
It should also contain patterns of red and pink. If the color of the shrimp is now dull, discolored, or tainted by dark spots on the surface of it, then it is likely that your shrimp has gone bad.
As well as this, if this shrimp smells sour or it has a strong odor of ammonia, then it has gone off. Finally, if the shrimp feels slimy when you touch it, then the shrimp has gone off, and you should throw it away.
You should always keep in mind that rising shrimp that has gone off will not make a difference, because it won’t get rid of the bad bacteria.
Instead, you are risking cross contamination, as the bacteria can spread to other surfaces, foods, and utensils. This is something that you should avoid at all costs.
What to Do if You Have Eaten Bad Shrimp?
If you have eaten shrimp that has gone off, you could be at a high risk of developing various food-borne illnesses, including food poisoning.
If the shrimp has gone bad, then it is likely that it contains things like salmonella, E.coli, vibrio, or bacillus, and these are things that are responsible for around 90% of food poisoning cases around the world.
If you have eaten shrimp that has gone bad, then you may experience vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps. Severe food poisoning can lead to you being hospitalized, so if you are ever unsure, then you should avoid eating the shrimp, just to be on the safe side.
Summary
Shrimp is a high risk food, which is why it is really important to be careful when it comes to storing it for the right amount of time. You can store raw shrimp in the refrigerator for between 1 and 2 days.
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
- Top Main Differences Between Tagliatelle And Fettuccine Pasta - March 10, 2023
- The Main Differences Between Red And Green Jalapeno Peppers - March 10, 2023
- Perfect Griddle Cakes To Make Simply Delicious Recipes For The Meal - March 9, 2023