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Flash Frozen for Freshness: Why Naked Shrimp Is Superior

bowl of raw shrimp with tails on

TL;DR: Naked Shrimp stands out as a superior, chemical-free, and sustainably sourced seafood option. Flash-frozen to achieve peak freshness and quality, it offers a pure, natural taste unmatched by conventional supermarket shrimp.

Main Points:

  • Naked Shrimp is free of chemicals, antibiotics, and artificial preservatives.
  • Flash freezing preserves freshness, texture, and flavor.
  • Strict quality standards and sustainability are prioritized.
  • Sustainably sourced with 4-Star BAP certification.
  • Enjoy pure shrimp flavor with unmatched texture and freshness.

After years of being called “shrimpy” by the masses, the prawns at the supermarket must’ve started feeling insecure. They began to compensate with added water, artificial preservatives, phosphates, and all sorts of other chemical junk. 

That’s probably why the average “seafood counter shrimp" barely tastes like shrimp at all, and the average home cook doesn’t know what shrimp should even taste like! 

We believe true food lovers deserve better than insecure seafood. Enter Naked Shrimp. These tasty prawns are fresh, bold, and confident in their flavor.

Simply put, flash-frozen Naked Shrimp is the chemical-free superhero of the seafood world. “Naked” represents the highest quality, sustainable seafood you can trust – natural, pure, and delicious. 

We’ve whipped up this guide to “bare all” about this stripped-down shrimp! Keep reading to learn why the best tasting shrimp dishes begin with delicious jumbo Naked Shrimp. 

What Is Naked Shrimp?

Naked Shrimp is the purest frozen shrimp available on the market and has been elevating the plates of home cooks and restaurant chefs alike.

We call it “naked” because it isn’t being “covered up” by the chemicals you often find in other frozen seafood products. Naked Shrimp is always free of chemicals, antibiotics, phosphates, and artificial preservatives. In other words, all you’re getting is shrimp, pure and simple. We know this shrimp is exceptional, and we want you to taste the difference!

Plus, with Naked Shrimp, our flash-freezing methods are a gamechanger. They allow us to lock in peak flavor and texture so your shrimp tastes fresh from the ocean every time. If you’ve ever had mealy, half-defrosted shrimp that tastes like the bottom of the ice box, you know that fresh flavor matters. 

jumbo naked shrimp cocktail with cocktail sauce and lemon on a white plate

Naked Shrimp Has Higher Quality Standards

Many people ask us why so many other shrimp brands just don’t taste as good as Naked Shrimp. The story begins on the farm. Yes, the shrimp farm.

Naked Shrimp are farm raised without the use of antibiotics or artificial additives in the nutrient-rich, waters of the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean, the largest single bay in the world. These nutrient-rich, high-salinity waters are the ideal environment for responsibly raised shrimp.

North Coast maintains total control of how our shrimp is raised from beginning to end. In addition, our Naked Shrimp have achieved the highest possible rating of 4-Star Certified Sustainable by the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP), which ensures that each step of the process follows their strict standards for environmental responsibility and product quality.

Once the shrimp are fully-grown, they are harvested and flash-frozen to lock in peak freshness, texture, and flavor.

The result? Absolutely chemical free shrimp with no artificial preservatives, antibiotics, additives, or phosphates; nothing but 100% natural shrimp in every bag.

Naked Shrimp is Chemical Free

Not all shrimp are created equal. 

Most people don’t know that shrimp is the most popular seafood in the United States and one of the most popular in the world. Because of its popularity, shrimp is also one of the most chemically treated seafoods, most commonly with sodium tripolyphosphate.

Originally, the primary purpose was to help shrimp retain moisture when frozen. However, this ultimately led to some shrimp processors using more phosphates and adding water to make small shrimp appear larger.

The result is a lower quality shrimp with an inferior texture and flavor, which does not “perform” as it should in the kitchen.

When buying shrimp in the grocery store, we recommend you take a peek at the ingredient label to check for phosphates, which are required to be disclosed.

Once you experience a truly chemical free shrimp with no added water, you will absolutely taste the difference of the natural, clean shrimp flavor and crisp, meaty texture.

hands holding several fresh shrimp pawns

Naked Shrimp Tastes Better

When it comes to the freshest shrimp flavor, the proof is in the paella. 

Naked Shrimp emulates a wild shrimp flavor profile with a clean taste and crisp, snappy texture. Here’s what you can look forward to when you cook with this pristine protein: 

  • No chemical aftertaste. We don’t think it’s a revolutionary idea that shrimp should taste like, well, shrimp. You won’t experience that tinny aftertaste or chemical smell you find in lower quality shrimp. The result is a cleaner flavor and a better overall eating experience.
  • A crisp, tender texture. Frankly, rubbery and mushy shrimp offends us. Both our commitment to chemical-free seafood with no water added and our flash freezing methods ensure your shrimp stays tender with a nice “bite” to it. It may seem like a small detail, but it makes all the difference in the world.
  • Natural caramelization: When shrimp have chemicals and added water, you will not be able to properly sear them in the pan. Instead, the chemically treated shrimp will purge all the added water into the pan, causing them to steam rather than sauté, making it impossible to achieve the golden-brown caramelization from the natural sugar present in the shrimp. In contrast, our chemical free shrimp will caramelize beautifully, allowing you to make a delicious pan-sauce with the remaining flavor, known as the “fond”.
  • Speedy cooking time: Again, no added water means a faster cooking time. That reduces the odds of overcooking and basically ensures culinary success. Plus, it means you get to enjoy your shrimp quicker! Yum!

The bottom line? When you cook Naked Shrimp, you can look forward to a natural, clean shrimp taste. It doesn’t get any better than that. 

Check out some of our favorite shrimp recipes here!

shrimp scampi in a white dish

Naked Shrimp Is Flash Frozen

We realize that “frozen seafood” might come with negative connotations. After all, isn’t fresh seafood the gold standard?

Not necessarily – fresh and frozen seafood can be equally misunderstood. Flash freezing is a technologically advanced method that allows frozen seafood to sometimes be even fresher than fresh!

Flash-freezing seafood may sound like a new phenomenon, but it’s not. In fact, it’s a traditional Inuit practice that has been keeping fish fresh for centuries. The Inuit discovered that you could preserve seafood's texture by preventing the formation of large ice crystals. This meant acting fast and using the coldest temperatures possible. 

This process has been in use in the United States since the early 1920s and has only evolved from there. Today, we can flash-freeze shrimp at cryogenic temperatures, often in just a few minutes. Sounds pretty cool to us! 

How We Flash Freeze Naked Shrimp

Naked Shrimp are flash-frozen at -160°F within hours of harvest. These frigid temperatures immediately halt cellular degeneration in its tracks. This preserves the peak freshness of that exact moment, preventing any spoilage, extending shelf life, and even locking in nutritional value.

Flash-frozen shrimp deliver a few key benefits to the home cook, including:

  • Confidence. You’ll know your shrimp is pristine from the moment it was harvested to the moment it hits your plate.
  • Convenience. No need to worry about cooking your shrimp before it spoils. Your shrimp will be waiting whenever you’re ready to get cooking.
  • Freshness. Your thawed seafood will be just hours out of the water. That’s about as fresh as it gets!

Need a little help achieving that perfect thaw? Make sure to check out our guide on how to thaw shrimp!

Naked Shrimp Is Sustainably Sourced

We also tend to think that shrimp tastes better when you are confident that it was responsibly sourced. At North Coast, sustainability is more than just a buzzword, and we go above and beyond to ensure our shrimp is 4-Star Certified Sustainable by BAP, the Best Aquaculture Practices

BAP is the only aquaculture certification program in the world that certifies every step of the production chain. They prioritize environmental responsibility, animal welfare, food safety, and social accountability.

best aquaculture practices sustainability logo
Naked Shrimp hits the highest possible 4-star rating from BAP, which means that our entire supply chain meets BAP's strict and exacting standards. This 3rd party certification verifies that our shrimp is produced with safe and environmentally and socially responsible practices.

Get Dressed Up & Enjoy Some Naked Shrimp

Plain and simple, Naked Shrimp represents the gold standard of texture, flavor, and freshness. It is pure and natural and tastes that way. 

We don’t need to dress our shrimp up in spats and a top hat to impress our customers. Instead, we leave the fine dining attire to those lucky enough to consume this quality seafood. Put on your finest ensemble and enjoy the luxurious shrimp dinner you deserve.

Are you ready to dive into the world of naked shrimp and other seafood? Order sustainable seafood like shrimp, salmon, crab, & more!

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Raw Naked Shrimp

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