Types of U.S. Wild-Caught and Farmed Shrimp

The majority of the U.S. domestic catch of shrimp are brown shrimp. They have a slightly brown tinge when they're raw (no surprise there!), but don't worry, they turn bright, shrimp-like pink when cooked. They have an earthier flavor than other varieties.

Pink shrimp are caught mainly off Florida's Gulf Coast. They are plump, meaty, and versatile. Look for them, usually frozen, throughout the U.S.

Frozen shrimp can be a great choice that gives markets and consumers wonderful flexibility—look for flash-frozen varieties for the best quality.

Most Maine shrimp are small cold-water shrimp, much like Oregon Pink Shrimp. They are perfect for shrimp salads, shrimp cocktails, and in soups.

Others, like those pictured, are a brighter red—prized by locals.

Oregon pink shrimp are wonderful flavorful shrimp from a very well managed fishery off the coast of Oregon. Like the shrimp fisheries in Florida and Maine, the one in Oregon follows environmentally sustainable practices and strict seasonal and catch limits.

Royal red shrimp are caught out of the Gulf of Mexico. They are a deep water shrimp that taste rather like lobster. Highlight their rich flavor with simple preparations, or take advantage of it by using royal red shrimp in richly flavored dishes like etouffées, gumbos, and chowders.

Despite their name, spot prawns are biologically shrimp. Caught along the West Coast from Santa Barbara on up to British Columbia, spot prawns are a limited but well-managed fishery. They are sweet, buttery and terribly (although justifiably) expensive. They can be difficult to find since restaurants tend to swoop up all the spot prawns that they can find.

Look for spot prawns sold alive for the best quality. If they are sold not alive, good fishmongers will have removed their heads to slow or limit decomposition.

White shrimp have a clean and classic shrimp flavor, with that perfectly nutty edge. I like to cook larger white shrimp on the grill, with a brush of butter and a squeeze of lemon.