King vs Tiger vs Banana Prawns: A Gold Coast Buying Guide

TL;DR: King prawns are the sweet all rounder, tiger prawns are the meaty barbecue star, and banana prawns are the affordable, mild choice for curries and big batches. Match the prawn to the dish.

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Stand at the prawn counter and you face a choice: king, tiger or banana. They look similar raw, but they cook and taste differently, and choosing the right one makes a real difference to your dish. Here is the local fishmonger's guide to telling them apart.

King prawns: the sweet all rounder

King prawns are the crowd pleaser. Large, with translucent grey shells that cook to a bright orange, they have a clean, sweet flavour and a firm, satisfying texture. They are the prawn most people picture on a Christmas platter.

Best for: cocktails and platters, barbecuing, garlic prawns, pasta, anywhere you want the prawn to be the star.

Browse our king prawns for raw and cooked options.

Tiger prawns: the meaty barbecue star

Tiger prawns are bigger again, with bold dark stripes across the shell that give them their name. The meat is meaty and substantial with a slightly richer flavour than king prawns. That heft is exactly why they shine on the grill: they hold together and stay juicy.

Best for: the barbecue, skewers, grilling, anywhere you want a big, impressive prawn with real bite.

Our garlic butter prawns recipe works brilliantly with tiger prawns.

Banana prawns: the value workhorse

Banana prawns are smaller, with a pale, slightly yellow shell. The flavour is milder and the texture softer than king or tiger. What they lack in size they make up for in value and versatility, and they soak up the flavours of a sauce beautifully.

Best for: curries, stir fries, fried rice, pulao, and cooking for a crowd without the premium price.

Our banana prawn pulao recipe puts them to perfect use.

A quick comparison

• Size: tiger (largest), king (large), banana (smaller)
• Flavour: king (sweet, clean), tiger (rich, meaty), banana (mild, sweet)
• Texture: king and tiger firm, banana softer
• Best use: king for platters and all rounder, tiger for the grill, banana for curries and batches
• Value: banana most affordable, king and tiger premium

Raw or cooked

Whichever type you choose, you can buy them raw or cooked:

• Raw when you want to cook them yourself and control the flavour, for garlic prawns, the barbecue or a curry
• Cooked when you want them cold for a platter or salad, or you want speed

How to choose fresh prawns

Whatever the type, look for firm, glossy shells, a fresh sea smell, and heads that are firmly attached on whole prawns. Avoid any with black spots spreading across the shell or a strong ammonia smell. We bring prawns in fresh, so ask the team what landed recently.

Visit Labrador (5 to 7 Olsen Ave) or Varsity Lakes (20 Casua Dr), open 7 days from 7 AM, or order online for Gold Coast delivery.

Now you know your prawns. Match the type to the dish and you will get the best from every one.