What Is Imitation Crab and How Is It Made?

Chances are, you've had imitation crab without even realizing it. It's commonly found in sushi rolls (like the California roll you grabbed from the store), frozen breaded seafood, and ready-made seafood salads. It's everywhere, but most of us don't know much about it.

Imitation crab was invented in Japan during the 1970s as a more affordable, processed alternative to expensive crab meat. It quickly made its way to the U.S., where it became a popular choice. By the late '80s, U.S. consumption had skyrocketed to around 135 million pounds per year.

But what exactly is imitation crab? What’s it made from? If it’s not real crab, then what is it? Here’s everything you need to know about imitation crab, and how it stacks up to the authentic stuff.

What Is Imitation Crab Made From?

Contrary to what many people think, imitation crab is made from real fish — although it’s not crab meat. Typically, it’s made from surimi, which is fish flesh (usually white fish) that’s been deboned and minced into a paste. This paste is then blended with various ingredients like artificial and natural flavors, starch, sugar, and sodium.

The most commonly used white fish for surimi is Alaskan Pollock, which is also found in products like frozen fish sticks and fast-food breaded fish items.

Once the paste is prepared, it’s piped into molds, shaped into rectangular pieces, and coated with a light layer of orange food coloring to resemble the color of real crab meat.

Imitation Crab vs. Real Crab

Cost

Imitation crab was developed as a budget-friendly substitute for expensive crab meat. Even processed crab can be pricey, so the main distinction between imitation and real crab is the cost.

Nutritional Comparison

When it comes to nutrition, there’s a noticeable difference. While both real crab and imitation crab are similar in calories, their overall nutritional profiles differ significantly.

Real crab meat contains nearly three times the protein of imitation crab, which gets the majority of its calories from carbohydrates. Additionally, real crab is far richer in vitamins and minerals compared to imitation crab, due to some nutrients being lost during the surimi production process.

Flavor

The good news is, imitation crab tastes and cooks almost exactly like real crab, allowing you to enjoy the same flavors while saving money.

How to Identify Real Crab

If imitation crab looks and tastes like the real deal, how can you tell for sure if you're eating genuine crab? The easiest way to confirm is by checking the label.

Most imitation crab products are labeled as 'imitation,' but you might encounter several other names for it in stores and restaurants, such as 'crab sticks,' 'crab-flavored seafood,' 'surimi seafood,' 'krab,' or in Japan, it's called 'kamaboko.'

If the label doesn't clearly specify the type of meat, check the ingredient list on the nutrition label on the back. A long list of ingredients typically means it's imitation crab. Real processed crab usually has just two ingredients: crab and water (with maybe a few additives to prevent discoloration).

How to Use Imitation Crab

Imitation crab can be found in both the refrigerated and frozen sections of the store. You can enjoy it just like real crab. Since it's pre-cooked, it's great for cold dishes like crab salad or crab dip. It also works well in cooked dishes like crab cakes, gumbo, crab rangoons, and much more.