'Terribly Disappointing': The Wegmans Brand Frozen Seafood Some Say Misses The Mark

Wegmans isn't the cheapest grocery store in the States, but it prides itself on its low prices. To that end, shoppers might find themselves enticed by the store's private-label brands, which offer savings over brand-name competitors. When it comes to frozen coconut shrimp, however, reviews seem to indicate that you should perhaps steer clear of the house offering. We've heard of elevating nachos with the classic appetizer that is shrimp cocktail, and it must be said that we also love coconut shrimp both as a starter or a main dish. There's a loud and outspoken bevy of Wegmans customers, however, who absolutely loathe the store's Crunchy Coconut Shrimp, which they claim is neither coconutty nor actually crunchy. These dissatisfied customers aren't just "meh" on the product; they absolutely despise it.

"Yuck!" one review eloquently began, "The coating tastes like plastic. I bought two boxes — I ate one and threw the other one in the garbage." Another alleged buyer claimed that the problem was much worse than a bad taste: "Please for the love of God. Do not buy the shrimp. The shrimp only makes up about 30% and breading makes up the additional 70%. The shrimp has a foul smell. I am a seafood lover and this product made me sick upon eating it, and should not be able to have the title of coconut shrimp." A more explicit review exposed the gist of the issues: "So because Wegmans stopped carrying SeaPak Coconut Shrimp, I tried their brand. Very small shrimp with lots of mushy filling. Doesn't get crispy enough on the outside. Not enough coconut. All around terribly disappointing. [W]ill not purchase ever again."

It's interesting to note that, while Wegmans' coconut shrimp had quite a few terrible reviews, there were an even amount of buyers who appreciated the product, and even liked it. For every review that complained of too much breading, there was another that specifically praised the outer coating, noting that it was nuanced and sweet. At least one customer noted that the air fryer was their preferred method of cooking this shrimp, and that the appliance got their food crispy. 

Were other complaints about soggy breading a matter of user error? From the contrasting reviews, we can't be sure. Those who gave four- and five-star reviews also noted that the price was good. Anybody who knows how long fresh shrimp lasts in the fridge – not terribly long at all — can attest that frozen shrimp is easier to store and keep on hand, which makes us not want to close the door entirely on the Wegmans shrimp.

If you want a sure bet when it comes to frozen coconut shrimp, you may want to not take a chance on Wegmans. There are enough questionable reviews to really make us wonder about the quality of this product. However, the price is good, and there are those that do, in fact, enjoy it. If you are open to flipping a proverbial coin and possibly being disappointed, go ahead and pick up a package or two. Just don't say that you weren't warned!