What's the Difference Between Prawns and Shrimp?

Despite the terms often being used interchangeably, prawns and shrimp are not the same thing.And while prawns are often larger than shrimp, their differences go much further than that.Prawns are unable to bend their bodies like shrimp because each segment of their shell overlaps the segment below.Shrimp have a segment that overlaps the head and the abdomen, allowing them to bend their bodies at an acute angle.The vast majority of shrimp live in saltwater, and most prawns live in freshwater. .Prawns are sometimes described as sweeter in taste, but much of this comes down to the environment they are from.Despite their many differences, prawns and shrimp are nearly identical when it comes to flavor. .This means prawns and shrimp can be used interchangeably in recipes: grilled, fried, sauteed, or otherwise.