Räks

Räks is a nonstandard or regional spelling sometimes encountered in informal Swedish writing to refer to shrimp. In standard Swedish the edible crustaceans are called räka (singular) and räkor (plural). The form räks appears mainly in casual text, signage, and brand names, and may reflect how the word sounds in everyday speech. It is not used in formal dictionaries or writing.

Shrimp and prawns are small to medium-sized decapod crustaceans found in marine and, in some species, brackish or freshwater environments. In Nordic cuisine, commonly eaten species come from North Atlantic and Baltic waters, either wild-caught or farmed. They have a segmented body, swimming legs, and a fan-shaped tail, and they grow through molting. The life cycle typically includes free-swimming larval stages before becoming juvenile and adult shrimp.

Culinary use is widespread in Sweden and other Nordic countries. Shrimp are served cold in salads and open-faced sandwiches, or as a topping for soups and gravlax platters. A classic Swedish preparation is the räksmörgås, a shrimp sandwich usually garnished with mayonnaise, lettuce, and lemon.

Nutrition and handling: shrimp are a high-protein, relatively low-fat food that provides minerals and omega-3 fatty acids. They are common allergens for some people. They should be kept cold, consumed or properly frozen within safe windows, and thawed gradually if frozen.

Sustainability: wild shrimp fisheries raise concerns about bycatch and habitat impact; choosing responsibly sourced, certified options can mitigate environmental effects. See also räka and räkor for standard terminology.