Can You Freeze Raw Prawns?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against USDA FoodKeeper · Last updated 28 October 2026
Yes, you can freeze raw prawns. Best quality within 6–18 months; it stays safe beyond that at a constant -18°C.
What freezing does to raw prawns
Raw prawns have the widest window of any food on this site: FoodKeeper gives a 6–18 month range for shrimp and crayfish. Treat the shorter end as the safer guide for quality. Many shop-bought raw prawns have already been frozen once, so check the pack before freezing them again. Raw fish and shellfish keep well in the freezer but not as long as red meat: the oils in fish go rancid faster, and the delicate flesh dries out and goes mushy if it is ever partly thawed and refrozen. Lean white fish gets a longer FoodKeeper window than oily fish like salmon, which is why the numbers differ between these pages. FoodKeeper gives raw prawns a best-quality freezer window of 6–18 months. For comparison, the same database gives cooked fish 1–2 months, raw steak 4–12 months, a whole chicken 12 months.
You can also check the calorie content of raw prawns alongside their safety information.
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Raw Prawns next to similar foods
| Food | Freezer window |
|---|---|
| Cooked Fish | 1–2 months |
| Cooked Prawns | 1–3 months |
| Fresh Salmon | 2–3 months |
| Raw Fish | 6–8 months |
| Raw Prawns | 6–18 months |
Of the 6 fish and seafood foods in the freezing guide, raw Prawns have a best-quality window that is longer than 5.
Raw Prawns: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| In the fridge | 1–3 days in the fridge |
Common questions
How long can you freeze raw prawns?
For best quality, up to 6–18 months (USDA FoodKeeper). It stays safe beyond that, because bacteria cannot grow at a constant -18°C; the time limit is about taste and texture, not safety. Label the pack with the date so you can use the oldest first.
How should I freeze raw prawns?
Freeze it as fresh as you can, in sealed freezer bags with the air pressed out (or vacuum-sealed). Portion before freezing, and glaze or wrap each fillet if you can so the surface does not dry out.
How do I defrost raw prawns?
In the fridge, overnight, in a covered dish. Cook it within 24 hours of defrosting. Do not defrost at room temperature; fish spoils fastest of all the foods on this site once it warms up.
Can you refreeze raw prawns?
UK guidance (FSA/NHS) is not to refreeze food that has been defrosted raw unless it has been cooked first — freeze the cooked dish instead. The USDA is more relaxed: raw food defrosted in the fridge can be refrozen safely, with a loss of quality. Food defrosted in cold water, in the microwave or on the counter should be cooked before it goes back in the freezer.
Fridge or freezer for raw prawns?
The fridge window for raw prawns is 1–3 days (USDA FoodKeeper). If you are not going to finish it inside that window, freeze it while it is still fresh, ideally in the first day or two, since freezing only pauses the clock and anything frozen late goes in with less life left.
Is raw prawns with freezer burn safe to eat?
Yes. Freezer burn is dried-out, greyish patches where air has reached the surface; it affects texture and flavour, not safety (USDA). Cut away badly affected areas if you like, and prevent it by wrapping tightly and pressing out the air.
Related answers
Primary source: USDA FoodKeeper.
General information only, not medical advice: see the medical disclaimer. Feeling unwell after eating something? Contact NHS 111 or your GP.