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In Australia, we love eating prawns at Christmas time. The good news is that around half of all wild-caught Australian prawns are certified as sustainable to the MSC environmental standard for sustainable fishing. Just look for the MSC blue fish tick label to be sure.
Prawns are synonymous with Christmas in Australia so we teamed up with YouGov to find out more. The research confirmed that prawns are a firm favourite on the Christmas table in Australia. So much so that 8 million of us would happily forego a glass of Champagne on Christmas Day in favour of eating prawns. Despite this, most of us can agree that prawns can be messy, especially the shells, and they certainly have to be enjoyed right away rather than making up leftovers.
So what makes the perfect Christmas prawns? The vast majority of us prefer our prawns at Christmas to be served up retro and traditional. We also love our prawns wild-caught, sustainable and from Australia. To be sure look for the MSC blue fish tick.
As for what people search for online, Garlic Prawns recipe is the most searched for prawn recipe at Christmas.
Browse our mouth-watering Christmas prawn recipes created by chefs from around the world, including BBQ prawns, cold starters like a classic prawn cocktail and prawn salads, prawn curries, prawn toasts, prawn crackers, prawn spring rolls, prawn sandwiches and more.
Plus, find out how to BBQ prawns. Our handy guide to barbecuing prawns and lobster includes tips and hacks on how to make use of the whole prawn including using the prawn shells and prawn heads for stock.
Half of all wild-caught prawns in Australian waters are MSC certified sustainable.
Sustainable prawns have been caught in a way that means there’s plenty more in the sea now and in the future.
Just look for the MSC blue fish tick label. You'll find the label either on the packaging, menu or seafood counter ticket.
The price shown is illustrative and subject to change.
When you buy prawns, they'll either be frozen, cooked or raw.
You'll find Australian prawns with the MSC blue fish tick label in the chilled and frozen aisles of your local supermarket such as Aldi, Coles and Woolworths. Plus at specialist fish shops such as Mures Tasmania, Harley & Johns, Fairy Meadow and The Fish Shoppe, Melbourne.
Find out more about where to buy MSC certified sustainable seafood with the blue fish tick.
In Australia, the following leading Australian prawn fisheries are certified as sustainable to the MSC Fisheries Standard. Prawns with the MSC blue fish tick label are traceable to an MSC certified sustainable prawn fishery.
Together, these MSC certified sustainable fisheries account for over half of all wild-caught prawns in Australia. We think that’s a cause for celebration.
Videos courtesy of Australian Wild Prawns.
It's easy to get confused between shrimp and prawns. Are they just different names for the same thing? Or completely different things? Why do we 'throw a shrimp on the barbie'?
As with anything if demand increases and supplies dwindle, the price will increase. If we want to continue eating prawns at an affordable price in the future, we must act now.
Sustainable wild-caught prawns are available at a range of prices that are good for your pocket and the ocean too. Shop around and look for the MSC blue fish tick label to be sure you’re buying sustainably.
Get the most out of your wild-caught prawns. By reducing waste and making use of the whole prawn, you'll get better value for money.
So, the bigger question is can we afford not to buy sustainable prawns?
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Common wild-caught species in Australia include:
Find out more about wild-caught sustainable prawns in Australia.
It is unsafe to eat prawns that are off. If they are, they should be thrown away.
Signs that your prawns are off:
According to chef Courtney Roulston, prawns should never be defrosted at room temperature.
Put frozen prawns in a bowl of cold water and place it on the bottom shelf of the fridge and leave it overnight, or around 12 hours.
Keeping the prawns submerged under water keeps any direct air away from them and prevents them from oxidising, or the heads turning black!
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It is always best to purchase prawns near to the day you plan to serve or cook them. If that can't be done, here are some options.
Storing prawns correctly is important and do refer to the packaging and ask your fishmonger for advice too.
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Prawns can be cooked with or without their shells. They can be cooked on the barbecue, in a pan or on the grill individually or on skewers. Cooked prawns are simple:
Eating prawns at Christmas is an Australian tradition for the following reasons:
Learn about prawns with our curriculum-aligned teaching resources for the classroom. Complete with lesson plans, activities, games and quizzes.
View and download the free Christmas teaching resources
Sustainable fishing means leaving enough fish in the ocean, respecting habitats and ensuring people who depend on fishing can maintain their livelihoods.
You can trust that seafood with the blue fish tick was caught by a responsible fishery in a sustainable way.
There are many labels out there, so how does the blue fish compare with others?
Find out where to buy, what to look for and the questions to ask.
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