Shrimp Question: How do you know if it's bad?
I bought cooked, frozen shrimp on Saturday from the fish counter at a reputable grocery store in my neighborhood. It has been in the fridge since then. I just cooked it up tonight. I've already eaten some, so it may be too late, but how long does cooked shrimp stay OK to eat in the fridge? My web research found everything from 2 to 7 days, with the average being around 3-4 days. Will I be puking my guts out in a few hours?? The shrimp did not smell bad, nor was it overly slimey. Should I throw the rest away or do you think it's ok for lunch tomorrow? As a cubicle drone who brings her lunch everyday, this is a very important question!Thanks!!
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15 Comments:
If it was fresh when cooked & frozen and you thawed it in the fridge, that should buy you an extra day. I'd think it should be fine, except for your use of the words "overly slimy". It should only smell like the sea and should not be even the slightest bit slimy. I'm assuming the shells are already removed? How did it feel and taste? If it truly has slime, I'd toss it pronto.
PerkyMac at 7:17PM on 04/15/08
You should toss it right away!! Period.
izatryt at 8:28PM on 04/15/08
The smell should be a dead give away. Shrimp (or any seafood) should not have a "fishy" smell. Any slime--it's past it's prime. As for uncooked shrimp, store it in a sealed bag. Place the sealed bag in a container of ice in the fridge. If the shell turns pink and there is a "fishy" smell, throw it out.
beth1 at 8:49PM on 04/15/08
OP said it was NOT overly slimy. It wasn't clear though... was it cooked and STILL frozen when you bought it? If so, and assuming that it was not slimy at all, it should be fine. If it was cooked PREVIOUSLY frozen, but already thawed when purchased, I'd say it's borderline. Except that you say you cooked it. Does that mean REcooked it? If so, almost certainly safe.
Either way, if it looks, feels, smells OK, it's probably fine, but it's a personal judgment call. I'm not usually overly paranoid about stuff like that... I'd likely go ahead and eat it.
BTW, in future, if you're going to cook the shrimp, you should never, ever buy it already cooked if you want good results. Actually, IMHO, just don't buy it cooked at all. So quick to cook yourself, even if you have to thaw it (only takes a few minutes).
LoCo at 9:07PM on 04/15/08
usually it has an ammonia smell when it's bad
onepercent99 at 9:15PM on 04/15/08
Yeah, the smell is a hmmm dead giveaway. Any kind of meat that has a slimy film feel (overly or remotely) should be tossed.
With fresh shrimp, the longest I'd keep it is 3 days. As for cooked shrimp, I tend to give it a week, but that's cooked-in-a-dish cooked. Guess your mileage may vary depending on how cold your fridge is / how often it is opened. :P Our fridge may open 3 times in an entire day.
Cassaendra at 7:39AM on 04/16/08
Seafood is one of those foods (like deviled eggs, for example) that I never risk eating if there is the slightest chance it's bad.
Label and date your containers - it's a habit that's not just for professional kitchens!! It will cut down on waste because if you know something is a day old and won't last, you'd be more apt to use it vs. discovering it as a molded or foul smelling science project a week later.
chiff0nade at 10:31AM on 04/16/08
It varies depending on the quality of the shrimp, but you should be fine, provided it both looks and smells okay. Cooked shrimp lasts awhile in the fridge, even though fresh shrimp can turn within a day or so.
When it comes to leftovers, the nose knows! </corny>
jenilowrance at 11:22AM on 04/16/08
With certain foods I go with "when in doubt, throw it out."
Shellfish is one of those foods. There should not be slime on cooked shrimp, ever.
The smell of ammonia indicates advanced spoilage.
wookie at 2:23PM on 04/16/08
it's easy, if it smells like shrimp get rid of it. don't throw it in the trash, shrimp is a wonderful fertilizer, bury it in a pot or in the ground and whatever plant you put in with the shrimp will thank you many times over.
olddad at 2:38PM on 04/16/08
@olddad--Bad shrimp makes good fertilizer? I like your suggestion. But what about critters and varmints coming to dig up my "fertilizer?" I already have a problem with squirrels digging up my bulbs and their stash of acorns.
wookie at 3:12PM on 04/16/08
@wookie - I am curious about this, too. When I was growing up, I remember family member grinding up shells that were the garbage from the crawfish/shrimp boils and using those as fertilizer. I don't recall the flesh of the shrimp or crawfish in the mix, though.
GumbeauxGal at 8:28PM on 04/16/08
A hint -- most "fresh" shrimp you buy at a seafood counter has been previously frozen. They just thaw it out and put it under the glass where you can see it.
It is extremely rare to get fresh, never-been-frozen shrimp anywhere except at the dock! Be very leery if someone in a landlocked area tells you their shrimp is absolutely fresh, never frozen!
If you buy them "fresh," cook them within a day or two. If you don't want to cook them right away, you can probably refreeze them within a day, but no longer. Make sure they're frozen in water, not dry.
BTW, put the seafood counter people on the spot and ask them how long their fresh shrimp has been thawed!
Editmom at 12:56AM on 04/17/08
Hi everyone - thanks for chiming in! I'm happy to report I ate all the shrimp without incident, however, I will try not to press my luck with shrimp ever again! And I will also try to give fresh shrimp a try (not precooked).
K at 10:41PM on 04/19/08
When I buy fresh shrimp, I use them in a day or, at the most, two. Usually immediately. I salt them quite heavily just before cooking, let them sit for five minutes and then rinse them well in COLD water. I love shrimp cooked in beer with a touch of Old Bay and then chilled.
It's not an insult to ask the fish monger to let you smell them before buying.
If he's a good one, he'll be proud of what he's selling.
suegsf at 1:19AM on 04/20/08