Are prawns freshwater shrimp or saltwater shrimp? Explained clearly in one article

The prawn is a common edible shrimp in daily life, with high nutritional value, and is very popular among people. Its appearance is very similar to that of the greasyback shrimp. So are prawns freshwater or saltwater shrimp?

1. Are prawns freshwater or saltwater shrimp?

Prawns are saltwater shrimp. They are mostly distributed in the Yellow Sea, the Bohai Sea and the various sea areas north of the Yangtze River. They have high requirements for the farming environment, so the cost of farming them is relatively high, and the price is therefore relatively expensive. But their nutritional value is high and their taste is delicious, so many people are still willing to buy them.

2. What is the difference between prawns and greasyback shrimp?

1. Species and genus differences

Essentially, they are not the same variety. The prawn's scientific name is Penaeus chinensis, also known as the Oriental prawn, green shrimp, yellow shrimp, etc., and it belongs to the family Penaeidae, genus Penaeus. The greasyback shrimp's scientific name is Metapenaeus ensis, with common names such as flower shrimp, tiger shrimp, red-claw shrimp, etc., so its farming method is commercially referred to collectively as greasyback shrimp.

2. Appearance differences

Prawns are relatively large, generally 16-22 cm long, with a maximum length of up to 30 cm, and a body weight between 30-80 grams, with heavier ones weighing half a jin. Their abdomen is relatively long, their muscles are well developed, and their body is long and cylindrical, flattened on the left and right sides. Generally, adult female prawns are larger than male prawns, and their body colors also differ: female prawns are grayish-blue, while male prawns are yellowish. Greasyback shrimp are somewhat smaller than prawns, with a body length generally of 10-15 kg. The tip of their shrimp rostrum is slightly red, which is the biggest difference from prawns, and they can be distinguished by this when purchasing.

3. Taste differences

Both are relatively popular varieties among consumers on the market. The meat of prawns is relatively firm and elastic, with a chewy texture when eaten. Common cooking methods in daily life include salt-baked, braised in oil, grilled, deep-fried, etc. The biggest characteristic of greasyback shrimp is their thin shell and plump meat. Their shrimp shell is relatively thin and their meat is relatively tender, making them suitable for blanching, making soup, grilling, etc.

4. Farming environment differences

The prawn is a kind of sea shrimp and has relatively high requirements for the farming environment. There are certain requirements for water quality, bottom sediment and farming density. The cost of farming them is relatively high, so the price is also relatively high. Although the greasyback shrimp is also a kind of sea shrimp, it has lower requirements for the salt content of the water body and can also be farmed in freshwater. It is suitable for inland farming, and its farming scale is also relatively large. In terms of price, it is also somewhat cheaper than prawns.