Do you love California rolls? If so, you may be wondering about the ingredients of these delicious little treats, and what you’re eating when you have them. It isn’t always easy to tell when it comes to sushi, so let’s find out.
Are California Rolls made with imitation crab? California rolls can contain either real crab or imitation crab, and many rolls are made with fake crab. You might be wondering why – but the truth is that imitation crab is considerably cheaper than real crab and can still offer a great flavor and texture to make sure the California roll is enjoyable.
Do California Rolls Always Use Imitation Crab?
Some people think that a California roll will never have real crab in, but this isn’t true. Some California rolls contain real crab, but this ingredient is more expensive and can be harder for the maker to work with – so imitation crab is a popular alternative in many parts of the world.
You may need to ask to determine whether California rolls contain real crab or not. Whoever has served or prepared the food should be able to answer you. It may not be possible to tell just by looking at the roll, especially if you are inexperienced.
What is Imitation Crab?
The next question is obvious: what are you eating? Imitation crab is often known as surimi, and this is made from ground up fish of many different kinds. The word actually means “ground meat,” and some people have likened imitation crab to hot dogs – it isn’t just one meat; it’s a mix of many.
What exactly is in your imitation crab will vary from place to place. Often, surimi will contain various kinds of fish, but it may also contain other ingredients, such as artificial flavors, sodium, starch, and often wheat. It’s important to note that surimi is therefore rarely gluten free, even though real crab is.
There is likely no way to find out exactly what is in surimi at any given moment. If you are served California rolls with surimi instead of crab, you can try asking, but because a blend of meats will be used, it isn’t always possible to find out.
If you aren’t sure whether the rolls may contain an ingredient that you can’t tolerate (and nobody with authority is available to clarify this for you), it is best not to eat California rolls, even if the ones made with true crab are safe for you to consume.
Is Imitation Crab Worse Than Real Crab?
Imitation crab has some advantages and some disadvantages when compared with real crab. It is much more malleable and economical than real crab, but it isn’t as good in terms of its flavor, texture, or nutritional value.
As an example, real crab meat will usually have about twice as much protein as surimi will, and protein is often a big part of what makes you feel full and satisfied after a meal.
Real crab is also higher in potassium and fat, but lower in carbohydrates, making it much more preferable for most consumers. Some people claim that real crab has a better flavor and texture, because it hasn’t been ground up and processed with other meats before being consumed.
Overall, which of these meats you prefer will depend on what is important to you. Imitation crab is a worse food than real crab, but it is cheaper and easier to work with, which makes it preferable in many situations.
Do All Restaurants Use Imitation Crab?
No, many restaurants will use real crab in their California rolls, although certainly not all. Some businesses are keen to use imitation crab because it is much cheaper, and a lot of customers don’t know the difference. This allows them to make more money selling California rolls.
If you are in a restaurant and you aren’t sure, find out from the wait staff about whether or not the California rolls contain real crab. This is the best way to determine what you are potentially going to eat.
Is Imitation Crab Vegetarian or Vegan?
No, imitation crab wasn’t created to make California rolls suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Instead, it was created to use up scraps of meat from the fishing industry and make a cheaper ingredient that was also better at holding together within the rolls and forming a satisfying shape.
You cannot eat California rolls with imitation crab if you are vegetarian or vegan. These products are still made with meat. However, some pescetarians may feel comfortable eating them, because the imitation crab is usually made using fish – which pescetarians do eat. However, this would be up to the individual to decide, and would also be true of crab.
Don’t assume that “imitation” means that the fake crab is free from meat products; this isn’t true.
Should You Buy Imitation Crab?
Imitation crab is often appealing because of its low price point. Like other mixed and ground meats, it is cheaper because it allows the manufacturers to use up scraps of meat, rather than wasting them. This has a much lower production cost, but you may not want to buy it.
Whether imitation crab appeals to you or not depends a bit on what you want from your food. If you just want a quick treat and you aren’t worried about the nutritional value, you might want to opt for the low-cost imitation crab.
However, if you want really high quality, delicious California rolls and you do care about the nutrition you get from your food, you will probably find that real crab ones are a better option. They may not look quite as professional (since crab is less malleable), but they will taste great and ensure you are getting the best possible value from your food.
Final Thoughts
Imitation crab is often used for California rolls, but you should be able to find out what is in your rolls by asking. This substitute meat is not generally considered as enjoyable as real crab meat, so if you’re looking for top quality, always opt for actual crab-based California rolls.