Let Me Tell You About Surimi • Seafood Nutrition Partnership (2024)

FAQs

What are the benefits of eating surimi? ›

Benefits and Nutrition

Surimi products are naturally low in calories, fat, and cholesterol and provide complete protein.

Commonly found in popular dishes like California rolls and crab salad, surimi is fish that is flavored, shaped, and sometimes colored to resemble shellfish like crab or lobster. Often referred to as “imitation” seafood, surimi is actually made with real seafood – usually delicious wild Alaska pollock.

Surimi is a white fish paste that is typically made from demersal fish (fish that live near the seafloor) like wild Alaska pollock, Atlantic cod, haddock, hake, and others. The fish is first deboned and washed, then minced into a paste.

Imitation crab meat or surimi is made of fish (usually pollock), starch, sugar, egg whites and flavorings. There are no real safety issues in eating large amounts of it other than the normal dangers of overeating, unless you have allergies to fish, shellfish, or eggs and that it is fairly high in sodium.

Imitation crab has low calorie, fat, and cholesterol content. This makes it a good choice for those who are trying to lose or maintain weight and are looking for low-cholesterol foods. If you're worried about the additives in such crab substitutes, there are also healthier, additive-free versions.

Surimi generally contains low levels of mercury, and imitation crab for pregnancy is likely safe in moderation. However, due to the high amount of additives found in imitation crab, it's best to minimize your intake and check with your doctor before consuming if you're pregnant.

Can you eat imitation crab raw? Yes. It is pre-cooked, so you are able to eat it straight from the package. Many people use it as part of a larger recipe though, adding it to cream of crab soup, crab Rangoon or crab salad.

Surimi's flavor profile is similar to crab, lobster or shrimp. This makes surimi a great “ingredient” to add to pasta, eggs, salads and homemade sushi!

Real crab provides a higher amount of vitamins and minerals. It's a good source of vitamin B12, selenium, and zinc. When making surimi, these nutrients are lost during washing and processing when the fish meat is exposed to heat. Real crab also has a higher amount of omega-3 fatty acids than its mock substitute.

Packages of crab-like products may be labeled “imitation crab” or “fish protein blending with crab,” but must follow government labeling rules. In Japan, surimi-based seafood is often called kamaboko. On restaurant menus, imitation crab may be spelled “krab” to indicate that it's fake.

How long does surimi last in the fridge? ›

If you have a leftover opened package of imitation crab meat, store it in a refrigerator set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). When it's properly stored in the fridge, it should be eaten within three days just like other varieties of fish, per the USDA.

The United States of America and Japan are major producers of surimi and surimi-based products.

You might also be surprised to learn that surimi has been around for more than 900 years, ever since resourceful Japanese cooks found a way to preserve fish by grinding it into a paste with salt. Wild Alaska Pollock surimi seafood is made from real, sustainably sourced wild-caught Wild Alaska Pollock.

Surimi is a fish paste made from a variety of fish species, including Alaska pollock, the largest fishery in the world, and is used to make a variety of seafood products, including both traditional Japanese fish cakes and imitation seafood products (e.g. 'krab'), which is the most common form in the US and Europe.

Surimi seafood is in more dishes than you think. It's one of the main ingredients in Subway's Seafood Sensation sub. You'll get the sensation it's mostly not crab! According to SeafoodSource, the sandwich is 10% real crabmeat and 90% surimi made from Alaskan pollock.

Real crab is also packed with important vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, folate, magnesium, vitamin B12, zinc, and selenium. Imitation crab contains some of these nutrients, like vitamin B12, magnesium, and selenium — but in far lower amounts.

Shredded surimi plays well with smoky barbecue sauce, crunchy coleslaw and crisp onions in this quick-cook sandwich. Sautéing the surimi really brings out the crab flavor in this cheesy baked dish. Serve with brown rice and black beans for a Mexican fiesta!

Imitation crab meat does not contain high levels of omega-3s fatty acids. However, some imitation crab manufacturers add omega-3 fatty acids to their products because of the health benefits that omega-3s offer. Imitation crab's contents vary from product to product.