Such a product as crab sticks, whose calorific value is very low, appeared on our shelves in the last century, and more precisely in the 90s. At first they were considered an exotic product, and now they can be found on the table at almost every housewife. At a time when no one had even tried crab meat, a product called crab sticks was considered a delicacy. It seemed that you were eating something very healthy, dietary.
But those days are gone, and today in every store you will find crab sticks. The calorie content of this product makes it possible to call it dietary. It is not difficult to answer the question of how many calories are in crab sticks - only about 100 Kcal per 100 grams. The carbohydrate content is 10 grams, and protein is 6 grams.
Why did we love this product so much? For a low price, for the speed of preparation, for the convenience of storage. Now there are a sufficient number of recipes that include crab sticks, while the calorie content of the dish only increases slightly due to their content, and at the same time they add a spicy taste to any dish. But since they became an ordinary dish, other questions began to arise - and what, in fact, is the composition of crab sticks? Are they harmful? Let's get it right.
The name “crab sticks” is a little misleading, as the buyer believes that he is purchasing a product containing crab meat - this is not so. Oddly enough, it is not crab meat here. Usually they are made from minced fish, less often from soy protein or starch. You should carefully study the composition of the product that you purchase in the store. So, how many calories are in crab sticks that are not made from crab - all the same 100 Kcal per 100 grams. This is one and the same product. The usual composition of crab sticks looks something like this - minced fish, drinking water, starch, vegetable oil, egg white, sugar, salt, food additives (they can be natural and identical to them).
Look carefully at the appearance - quality-made crab sticks should be painted only from the outside. When studying the composition, pay attention to the priority - the product that is first on the list of ingredients is present in large quantities. It is desirable that it was minced surimi. If he is in second place or is not listed at all, it is better to refuse to buy such a product. When choosing, it is also worth paying attention to information about the manufacturer on the package (sometimes it is simply not available), as well as data on the expiration date. Do not buy a product with traces of ice or snow - this means that crab sticks thawed and frozen repeatedly.
Also, do not buy them by weight - it is almost impossible to establish when they were made and how they were stored. It is unlikely that crab sticks, whose calorie content is low, can be called a useful product, but with infrequent use of harm, they also will not bring harm. Thaw them only at room temperature, otherwise the meat will lose its taste and juiciness.
There are a lot of recipes for cooking crab sticks today - these are the meatballs and salads with their addition, and they are also used as an independent dish. The calorie content of a salad with crab sticks will depend on its ingredients - on whether you add mayonnaise or butter, rice or eggs to it. But with the addition of the freshest and low-fat foods, it can be said that the calorie content of a salad with crab sticks is suitable even for losing weight, as it will be quite low.
In general, crab sticks with moderate use - the product is not harmful, but also does not bring much benefit. There is a classic principle - everything is good in moderation.