Shrimp shells protect the little shrimp and are removed either before or after cooking. They are made of chitin and make up the exoskeleton of the shrimp. When you wonder, “can you compost shrimp shells” the answer is yes. You can compost them both cooked and uncooked. They even often promote the growth of some bacteria that help your compost.
However, like other animal products, there is a risk of them attracting mice, rats, and other pests and of stinking up your compost pile. Unlike other animal products, it’s pretty easy to mitigate this, so we include them in the things you can compost.
How to Compost Shrimp Shells
If you just throw the shrimp shells into your compost, you might find that they attract rodents and insects that you don’t want. So, you want to prepare them first so that you won’t have to deal with this.
Boil your shrimp shells for 30 minutes or so. Then, once they’re dry, crush them up, and then you can add them to your compost pile with minimal risk of attracting something unpleasant (or generating complaints from the neighbors).
Like other animal products, hot composting is an option to avoid this, but this works in cold composting.
For best results, you want to add them to the middle of the pile so it’s harder for pests to be attracted to them or find them.
Normally, you want to avoid any animal products with vermicomposting. The worms generally don’t like it. Shrimp shells can be an exception. It’s a good idea to prepare them the same way and then add them slowly to ensure that the worms will take to them. If the worms start breaking them down, then you should be okay to add more.
How Long Does It Take to Compost Shrimp Shells and Tails
These are sturdy materials, so it can take a while in a home composting system. It can take up to a year. Hot compost systems will be quicker, so be careful about how much you add over time. They’ll be there a while.
Can You Compost Shrimp Tails
Shrimp tails are made up of basically the same material as the shells. You can also compost these, but you want to follow the same process.
Can I Compost Shrimp Shells?
Yes, you can, but it takes a bit of care to avoid unpleasant critters being attracted to your compost heap. If you can take a few simple steps, you can compost them; they’re a great addition to your compost. They add several valuable nutrients and promote healthy bacteria and fungal growth.