NationStates Jolt Archive

It's nothing like real crab meat in my opinion, but it tastes ok in it's own way. Anybody know what's in the stuff? Anybody have an opinion on it?

Imitation crabs?
http://i10.tinypic.com/3y84egn.jpg

I believe it's some variety of heavily processed fish. Although I am unsure as to what kind.

I use it in a yummy pasta salad. I'd say it's definitely not as good as real crab meat, but it comes in nice little sealed packages that are much easier to get into than a crab shell.

I want to say it actually is made out of some kind of fish....but I'm not sure.

It's made from cod, usually. It's basically artifically crab flavoured white fish.

"Imitation crab meat is a seafood product made by blending processed fish, known as surimi, with various texturizing ingredients, flavorants, and colorants. First invented in the mid-1970s, imitation crab meat has become a popular food in the United States, with annual sales of over $250 million. Surimi is the primary ingredient used to create imitation crab meat. It is mostly composed of fish myofibrillar proteins. These proteins are responsible for the quintessential characteristic of surimi that makes imitation crab meat manufacture possible, namely the ability to form a sturdy gel. The gel can be shaped and cut into thin strips which, when rolled together, mimic the texture of real crab meat."

Full article (http://www.gale-edit.com/products/volumes/crab_meat.htm)

yeah all i know is that its some kind of fish with crab flavor added. its OK if you dont expect it to taste like crab. the lobster flavor is better but again only if you dont expect it to taste like lobster.

Yes, it's seafood. Other than that, it seems to be reconstituted and mechanically separated stuff.

Pubic lice are called crabs. Maybe imitation crab meat is made of...I'm going to stop thinking now.

Can they make crab cakes out of it?

"fish" is way too vague a term if you're expecting me to eat it.

Anyhow- the "sea legs" I think are made mainly of haddock. I dont know how I know this, even if I'm right.

I dont eat it myself. Its like a seafood hotdog.

"fish" is way too vague a term if you're expecting me to eat it.

Anyhow- the "sea legs" I think are made mainly of haddock. I dont know how I know this, even if I'm right.

I dont eat it myself. Its like a seafood hotdog.

From the page I linked up above:

Various ingredients are mixed together to make a product which has the color, taste, and texture of crab meat. The surimi used in the manufacture of imitation crab meat is most commonly processed from the Alaska pollock or walleye pollock. To a lesser extent, the New Zealand hoki is also used. These fish are particularly useful because they are abundant, have little flavor, and are inexpensive to process. Other fish that have been used include the blue whiting, croaker, lizardfish, and Pike-conger. However, these fish currently present some problems during surimi manufacture, which limits their use. During the manufacture of surimi, various processing ingredients are added. Cryoprotectant materials such as sugar and sorbitol are added prior to freezing to prevent the degradation of the gel-forming properties of surimi. These ingredients also have an impact on the taste of the final product and help extend its shelf life. While surimi gels provide structure, other ingredients are needed to help stabilize and modify its texture. One important ingredient is starch. It improves the texture and stabilizes the gel matrix. This is particularly important for the stability of the product when it is frozen. The amount of starch is usually about 6% of the recipe. Egg white is also added to the surimi to improve the gel structure. It has the ability to increase the gel strength and improve its appearance by making the surimi more glossy and whiter. Vegetable oil is also been used to improve the appearance of surimi and modify its texture. Flavoring is added to surimi to make it taste like crab meat. These flavorants can be natural or artificial, but typically a mixture of both is used. Natural flavoring compounds include amino acids, proteins, and organic acids, which are obtained through aqueous extraction of edible crabs. Artificial flavors can be made to closely match crab meat flavor and are typically superior to naturally derived flavorants. Artificial flavoring compounds include esters, ketones, amino acids, and other organic compounds. Additionally, seasonings and secondary flavorants are added to the meat to improve the overall flavor. Common ingredients include nucleotides, monosodium glutamate, vegetable proteins, and mirin. The coloring for imitation crab meat is typically made using water insoluble compounds like carmine, caramel, paprika, and annato extract. By combining these and other ingredients, various shades of red, orange, and pink can be obtained. Before using the colorants, they are mixed in a surimi paste. This allows them to be easily applied to the imitation crab meat bundles.

Doesn't sound too bad.

You mean surimi?

You mean surimi?

Exactly.

From the page I linked up above:



Doesn't sound too bad.

I'm wondering if a hot dog was described in the same manner if it wouldnt sound too bad either.

I'd really rather spend a little more money and get the real thing. thats just my opinion-
I certainly dont fault anyone who prefers this food or its all they can afford.
I just dont care for it.

I'm wondering if a hot dog was described in the same manner if it wouldnt sound too bad either.

I'd really rather spend a little more money and get the real thing. thats just my opinion-
I certainly dont fault anyone who prefers this food or its all they can afford.
I just dont care for it.

Good point about the hot dog (I should respect the opinion of someone with the word "carnivorous" in his name, at least when it comes to meat). There are some that I'll eat, like Hebrew National and ones specifically labelled kosher. From the article is seems like surimi, the fish-protein base used, is okay stuff, just highly processed and then flavored.

It's nothing like real crab meat in my opinion, but it tastes ok in it's own way. Anybody know what's in the stuff? Anybody have an opinion on it?

Imitation crabs?
http://i10.tinypic.com/3y84egn.jpg
Mmmmm.... fake food!

Bah peoples be makin too big a deal about what stuff is made of.

What's that you say? Pig anus and turkey lips? Pff, screw you, *eats hotdog* As though turkey's had lips.

Bah peoples be makin too big a deal about what stuff is made of.

What's that you say? Pig anus and turkey lips? Pff, screw you, *eats hotdog* As though turkey's had lips.

Heh ... mustard and relish do cover a multitude of meat by-products. :p

Can they make crab cakes out of it?

I've seen "Krab cakes" sold in a supermarket's prepared foods section. I assume that they call them Krab because the fake crab meat is in them.

I've seen "Krab cakes" sold in a supermarket's prepared foods section. I assume that they call them Krab because the fake crab meat is in them.

Yeah, I'd be wary of food products where the spelling has been slightly altered. :eek:

Exactly.

Ah... Never heard of that "sea legs" stuff or any of the other names. But...meh...I don't have much opinion of it. It's probably no worse than all that shite that gets pressed into "nuggets" and such.

I've seen "Krab cakes" sold in a supermarket's prepared foods section. I assume that they call them Krab because the fake crab meat is in them.

And let me congratulate Your Holiness on your election to the Throne, too.

And let me congratulate Your Holiness on your election to the Throne, too.

Thanks. Have a sainthood.

Thanks. Have a sainthood.

Why, thanks, Holiness!