How long does Raw Shrimp last?
Raw Shrimp lasts 1–2 days in the fridge, 3–6 months (quality) in the freezer. Spoilage signs to check, storage tips, and cited food-safety sources.
Quick answer
Can I still eat it?
Use this as a conservative screen before you rely on the storage window. If anything seems unsafe, discard it.
Raw Shrimp is within the fridge window if it stayed cold/dry as required and shows no discard signs.
Sealed / unopened: N/A
Signs Raw Shrimp has gone bad
- Ammonia smell.
- Slimy or mushy texture, gray-pink discoloration.
- Black spots alone can be melanosis (quality), not automatic spoilage — use other spoilage signs together.
Discard immediately if
- Slimy or mushy texture
- Ammonia or strongly sour smell
- Gray discoloration with other spoilage signs
Why guidance varies
FDA cold-storage charts list fresh shrimp and shellfish at 1–2 days refrigerated. Some FoodSafety.gov product rows list longer windows; this entry follows the more conservative 1–2 day safety limit. Continuous cold storage and whether the shrimp was previously frozen also affect quality.
Get a heads-up before it expires. Search the full database instead.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Raw Shrimp last?
In the fridge: 1–2 days. In the freezer: 3–6 months (quality). Sealed / unopened: N/A. Keep raw shrimp refrigerated at 40°F (4°C) or below. Use within 1–2 days or freeze promptly.
How can you tell if Raw Shrimp has gone bad?
Signs that Raw Shrimp has gone bad: Ammonia smell; Slimy or mushy texture, gray-pink discoloration; Black spots alone can be melanosis (quality), not automatic spoilage — use other spoilage signs together.
What does the date label on Raw Shrimp mean?
Raw Shrimp usually carries a "Use By" date. The last date the manufacturer recommends for peak quality — for most foods this is still quality-based, not a safety cutoff (infant formula is the one exception). See our date-labels guide for the full breakdown.
Sources for this answer
- A FDA — Refrigerator & Freezer Storage Chart — Fresh shrimp, scallops, crawfish, squid: refrigerator 1–2 days; freezer 3–6 months.
- A FoodSafety.gov — Cold Food Storage Charts — Conflicting category guidance lists longer refrigerated windows for some shrimp rows; this entry uses the shorter FDA range.