Frozen headless shell-on vannamei shrimp (HLSO)
Litopenaeus vannamei
Headless, shell-on vannamei shrimp (HLSO) in sizes from 16/20 to 41/50. It delivers more meat per kilo than whole shrimp and keeps the shell that protects the tail during freezing and cooking. A core format for distribution, processing and foodservice.
- Presentation
- 16/20 to 41/50
- State
- Frozen
HLSO shrimp: headless, shell-on
HLSO stands for headless, shell-on: the vannamei shrimp is beheaded and kept in its shell. Removing the head, which accounts for a large share of the weight, means the buyer pays mostly for the tail, the edible part, and the product takes up less cold store and freight space.
The shell protects the meat against dehydration during freezing and helps it stay juicy when cooked. HLSO sits between whole HOSO shrimp and peeled formats, which is why it works across so many channels.
Sizes 16/20 to 41/50 per pound
Headless shrimp are usually graded by the number of tails per pound (453.6 g). A 16/20 means 16 to 20 tails per pound: a large tail suited to grilling, skewers or plated dishes. At the other end, 41/50 is a versatile medium size for stir-fries, rice dishes and volume cooking.
Always confirm the count unit in the specification, as some markets also grade per kilo. If you need a ready-to-use tail with no peeling work, consider our peeled and deveined shrimp (PD).
Freezing, glazing and packing to specification
HLSO is traded both block frozen and IQF, with different glazing levels and pack formats depending on destination. Processors often prefer block for further handling, while foodservice and retail value taking out only the pieces they need.
We do not work with a single fixed presentation: freezing, glazing and packing follow each customer specification. Send us the size and intended use through our contact form and we will reply with a proposal.
Frozen shrimp wholesaler in Vigo, Spain
From Vigo, Tunatunes supplies frozen seafood to distributors, retail chains, importers, processors and foodservice operators in more than 15 countries. We have more than 20 years in the trade and control the cold chain along the whole route.
HLSO is part of a frozen shrimp range designed so that each customer can choose the level of processing that pays off best, from whole shrimp to peeled tail-on.
Uses of headless shell-on (HLSO)
- Grilling, barbecue and skewers with large tails
- Garlic shrimp and stir-fries
- Boiled for cocktails and salads
- Rice dishes and stews
- Raw material for peeling or breading in processing
Frequently asked questions
What is HLSO shrimp?
HLSO is headless, shell-on shrimp. It gives more edible yield per kilo than whole shrimp, and the shell protects the meat during freezing and cooking.
What does a 16/20 size mean?
It means 16 to 20 tails per unit of weight, usually one pound for headless shrimp. The lower the number, the larger the shrimp. Please confirm the unit in your order specification.
When is HLSO better than whole shrimp?
When yield and cold store space matter more than head-on presentation. If you want the complete piece, whole HOSO shrimp is the right format.
Can you adapt glazing and packing?
Yes. Freezing method, glazing and packing are defined by the customer specification. Tell us your requirements and we will prepare a proposal.
More frozen shrimp
Need frozen headless shell-on vannamei shrimp (HLSO) for your business? We will prepare an offer with the size, format and volume you work with.
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