Fresh vs Frozen Prawns
What you are actually buying
Short answer: King Prawns bought in the UK were frozen at some point, sometimes for 18 months. Ours are delivered fresh, within hours of harvest, and have never been frozen.
In the UK, the word fresh is often used for prawns that were previously frozen and later thawed for sale. This causes confusion and makes comparing products difficult.
This page explains the practical difference between genuinely fresh prawns and frozen prawns, so you can decide which matters to you.
What frozen prawns are
Most prawns sold in the UK are harvested overseas, frozen shortly after harvest, shipped long distances, stored for months or years, and then thawed before sale.
Freezing allows large volumes to be moved cheaply and safely, but it also changes the product. Ice crystals damage muscle structure, affecting texture, flavour release, and how the prawn behaves when cooked. Preservatives and anti-freezer-burn additives such as polyphosphates can also be used.
This does not mean all frozen prawns are unsafe or unusable. It means they are a different product, optimised for scale and price rather than peak eating quality.
What genuinely fresh prawns are
Genuinely fresh prawns are never frozen at any point in the supply chain. They are harvested, chilled, and delivered directly to the customer within a short time window. This speed of delivery makes sulphite preservatives and polyphosphates unnecessary.
Because the muscle structure has not been damaged by freezing, fresh prawns retain a firmer texture, cleaner flavour, and better cooking performance.
This difference is especially noticeable when pan frying, grilling, or serving prawns simply, where flavour and texture are not masked by sauces.
Why most UK prawns are frozen
Other than us, the UK does not currently have a warm-water prawn farming industry selling fresh king prawns commercially. As a result, almost all king prawns are imported from overseas producers.
Without freezing, the logistics of long-distance transport would not work. Freezing is what makes low-cost prawns widely available year round.
What our prawns are
Our prawns are grown in Scotland and harvested in small batches. They are delivered never frozen, directly to customers.
This means there is no long cold storage, no thaw cycle, and no avoidable loss of quality between harvest and cooking.
Which should you choose
If convenience, availability, and price are your priorities, frozen prawns are the right choice.
If flavour, texture, and knowing exactly where your food comes from matter to you, genuinely fresh prawns offer something different.
The short version
Frozen prawns are designed for scale and low price.
Fresh prawns are designed for eating.