How long does fresh shrimp last in the fridge and freezer?

In short: fresh shrimp keeps 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below. Frozen at 0°F (−18°C), food stays safe indefinitely, and the best quality lasts 6 to 18 months.

Storage times at a glance

Type	Fridge (40°F / 4°C)	Freezer (0°F / −18°C)
Shrimp and crayfish	3 to 5 days	6 to 18 months

Most fresh shrimp was frozen first

Much of the shrimp sold at the fish counter was frozen and thawed for display. Ask whether it was previously frozen: thawed shrimp should be cooked within the 3 to 5 days and is best not refrozen raw. Buying it frozen and thawing it yourself gives you more flexibility.

How to thaw shrimp

Thaw frozen shrimp overnight in the refrigerator, or put them in a sealed bag under cold water for about 30 minutes for a quick dinner. Shrimp keeps its best quality in the freezer for 6 to 18 months when it is tightly sealed.

Signs shrimp has gone bad

Throw shrimp out if they smell of ammonia or bleach, feel slimy, or the flesh is mushy. Cook raw shrimp until they turn pink and the flesh is opaque, which usually takes only a few minutes.

How to store fish and seafood

• Keep fresh fish and seafood in the coldest part of the refrigerator and use it quickly.
• Store live shellfish in a container covered with a damp cloth, never in an airtight bag or in water.
• Discard live shellfish whose shells are broken or stay open when tapped.
• Thaw frozen fish in the refrigerator overnight, or sealed in cold water if you need it sooner.
• Cook fish to 145°F (63°C), until the flesh is opaque and separates easily.

Freezer times are about quality, not safety

Food kept continuously frozen at 0°F (−18°C) stays safe indefinitely; the freezer times above are about flavor and texture. Label packages with the date you froze them.

Avoid freezing, thawing and refreezing the same food. Every cycle damages texture and flavor, and food that thawed outside the refrigerator gives bacteria a chance to grow. Raw food thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen, with some loss of quality. Food thawed in cold water or in the microwave must be cooked before it goes back in the freezer. Never refreeze food that thawed on the counter or stayed out more than 2 hours. Freeze in small portions so you only thaw what you need.

When in doubt, throw it out

These times assume food was handled safely and refrigerated promptly. If the package shows a use-by date that comes sooner, follow the label. Trust your nose too: if food smells sour, rancid or simply off, or looks slimy or moldy, throw it out, even within these times. The reverse is not true: the bacteria that cause food poisoning usually do not change the smell or appearance, so food that smells fine past these times is not safe either. Never taste food to check whether it is still good.

Never lose track of the date again

The hard part is rarely knowing the rule; it is remembering when you put the food away. FridgeBuddy lets you scan the barcode and printed date, choose how early you want a reminder, and see what to use first across your fridge, freezer and pantry.

Frequently asked questions

How long does fresh shrimp last in the fridge?

3 to 5 days at 40°F (4°C) or below, according to the USDA cold food storage chart.

Can you freeze fresh shrimp?

Yes. Kept frozen at 0°F (−18°C), food stays safe indefinitely; for the best quality, use it within 6 to 18 months.

Related FridgeBuddy guides

• Raw salmon and fatty fish — Fridge and freezer storage times.
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• Crab and lobster — Fridge and freezer storage times.
• Mussels, clams and oysters — Fridge and freezer storage times.
• Food storage chart — Fridge and freezer times for every food in this guide.
• Food expiration tracker — Get reminded before food in your kitchen expires.