How long does cooked shrimp last?

Checked 24 Oct 20264 official publishers, 7 sources

Cooked: 3-4 days in the fridge and 1-3 months in the freezer for best quality.

Storage times for cooked shrimp by state and place
StateCounterFridge 40 °FFreezer 0 °F
Cooked 2 hours max CDC 3-4 days FoodKeeper FoodKeeper 1-3 months best quality FoodKeeper Sources disagree: 3 months Extension
Raw 2 hours max CDC 1-2 days safety FDA Sources disagree: 1-3 days FoodKeeper 3-6 months best quality FDA Sources disagree: 6-18 months FoodKeeper
Bought frozen Not stated Not stated 12-18 months best quality FoodKeeper
Times assume continuous refrigeration at 40 °F or below. When in doubt, throw it out. Freezer times are for quality: “Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.” FDA

Signs it has gone bad

  • “Shrimp, scallop, and lobster flesh should be clear with a pearl-like color and little or no odor.” FDA

Sources compared

SourceStateCounterFridgeFreezer
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Cooked-3-4 days-
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Cooked-3-4 days1-3 months
University of Illinois ExtensionCooked--3 months
CDC 2025Cooked2 hours--
CDC 2025Raw2 hours--
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Raw-1-3 days6-18 months
FDA 2018Raw-1-2 days3-6 months
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Bought frozen--12-18 months

A dash means that source gives no time for that place.

Handling and freezing notes

  • Recommendation is for storage after cooking. FoodKeeper
  • Keep frozen. For safety, cook as directed. FoodKeeper
  • “Shrimp, Scallops, Crab, and Lobster: The flesh becomes firm, pearly, and opaque” FDA
  • “When buying unpackaged cooked seafood, make sure it is physically separated from raw seafood.” FDA

What the sources say

FoodKeeper gives shrimp 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator after cooking, the same time it lists for all cooked shellfish.12

Frozen cooked shellfish keeps 1 to 3 months in FoodKeeper, and the University of Illinois Extension gives 3 months for cooked, commercially frozen seafood.23

Raw shrimp has a shorter refrigerator window: 1 to 3 days from purchase in FoodKeeper and 1 to 2 days in the FDA storage chart, which lists fresh shrimp with scallops, crawfish and squid.56

For frozen raw shrimp the FDA chart gives 3 to 6 months, while FoodKeeper allows 6 to 18 months, so the FDA time is shown first.65

Shrimp bought frozen keeps 12 to 18 months in the freezer in FoodKeeper, which adds to keep it frozen and, for safety, cook it as directed.1

When buying, the FDA says shrimp flesh should be clear with a pearl-like color and little or no odor.7

Shrimp is done when the flesh becomes firm, pearly and opaque, according to the same FDA page.7

If you buy unpackaged cooked shrimp, the FDA advises making sure cooked seafood is physically separated from raw seafood, in its own display case or behind dividers.7

Rules that apply here

The 2-hour ruleFridge and freezer temperatureFreezing and refreezingThawing safely
Cooked salmonSalmon

Sources

  1. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 325: Shrimp, shellfish. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Shrimp, shellfish. Refrigerate: 3-4 Days (Recommendation is for storage after cooking.); DOP_Freeze: 12-18 Months (Keep frozen. For safety, cook as directed.)
  2. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 162: Cooked shellfish, all. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Cooked shellfish, all. Refrigerate: 3-4 Days; DOP_Freeze: 1-3 Months
  3. Freezer Storage | Food Safety | Illinois Extension | Illinois. University of Illinois Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Cooked, Commercially Frozen Seafood 3 months
  4. Preventing Food Poisoning | Food Safety | CDC. CDC. Dated 2025-11-24. Checked 2026-10-24. Never leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if exposed to temperatures above 90°F).
  5. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 151: Shrimp, crayfish. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Shrimp, crayfish. DOP_Refrigerate: 1-3 Days; DOP_Freeze: 6-18 Months
  6. REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Fresh shrimp, scallops, crawfish, squid 1 - 2 days 3 - 6 months
  7. Selecting and Serving Fresh and Frozen Seafood Safely | FDA. FDA. Dated 2024-03-05. Checked 2026-10-24. Shrimp, scallop, and lobster flesh should be clear with a pearl-like color and little or no odor.Shrimp, Scallops, Crab, and Lobster: The flesh becomes firm, pearly, and opaqueWhen buying unpackaged cooked seafood, make sure it is physically separated from raw seafood.