How to differentiate sea prawns from farmed ones?
Is there a way to differentiate sea prawns from farmed ones based on appearance? Can we differentiate it based on Color of prawn, structure etc?
Best Answer
"Farm Raised" vs "Wild Caught"? There's a difference, just not a visual one. Because wild caught seafood is dependant on their ecosystem, they are ultimately going to have an, ever so slightly, different flavor than the exact same species that is farm raised in a controlled environment. But, I'm not sure anyone short of a connoisseur would be able to tell. Either way, it's going to taste good. (But read the articles I linked to, below.) Push comes to shove, most of us buy what we can get, even if we have to "settle". Geographic location can make a difference, then again... it might not matter.
If you are in a landlocked state, local grocers probably offer farm-raised fresh-frozen. But even coastal communities don't always get fresh-caught seafood. My favorite grocer sells shrimp from Thailand. And I live (literally) 6 miles from the ocean, in a coastal NC (USA) town where local families have been shrimp fishing for generations. Go figure. I don't buy the stuff from the grocer. (Oddly enough, tourists assume it's local shrimp.)
So, how can you be sure you are getting fresh wild caught shrimp?
- You can consider having it shipped to you. Shop local fisheries online. Most suppliers will pack it in dry ice to maintain freshness enroute, or
- You could plan a vacation along the coast. Many of those fishing families have local restaurants, so enjoy as much seafood as possible. Then pack some up to take home. yum!
What You Need to Know About Farmed Shrimp
Not All Shrimp are Equal
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How can you tell the difference between farmed and wild prawns?
If they are small (say 55 or higher count) they are probably wild. If they are large (20 and lower) they are probably farmed. If they are \u201cfreshwater prawns\u201d they are farmed. More than 80% of the world's production of prawns (35 count or smaller) are farmed.How do you identify sea prawns?
Prawns have branching gills while shrimp have lamellar (plate-like) gills. Shrimp have shorter legs and claws only on two pairs of legs, while prawns have longer legs and have claws on three pairs of their legs. The front pincers are usually the largest on shrimp, whilst the second pincers are larger with prawns.How can you tell if prawns are fresh?
They've got a soft exoskeleton that is easily peeled away, and a head that is easily popped off (and sucked out, if you're so inclined). The flavor of shrimp varies by where they were caught or raised. As most farm-raised shrimp have little variation in their diets, their flavor is more consistent.Difference between Sea shrimp \u0026 Culture shrimp/NeithalSelva/Tamil கடல் \u0026 வளர்ப்பு இறால் வித்தியா
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.