Today. I will show you how to cook Imitation Crab Meat. It is simple, delicious, and easy to make! We invited our friend, Jessica who is an avid Imitation Crab Meat fan over to try out our crab meat recipe. She absolutely loved it!
What exactly is imitation crab meat?
Imitation crab meat, or surimi, is a seafood paste made from fish and other ingredients. It can be used in many ways that real crab meat would be used, such as in recipes for seafood salad or on top of a hamburger.
Imitation crab meat is made from minced fish, water, and starch (usually potato starch). It may also contain vegetable oil, corn syrup solids, salt, and other additives. Some imitation crab meats may also contain shellfish products such as shrimp or lobster meat as well.
How to Cook Imitation Crab Meat
Imitation crab meat is a great alternative to the real thing. It has the same texture as real crab and is much cheaper. This can be used in any dish that calls for cooked crab meat.
There are several ways you can cook imitation crab meat at home. Here are some of the best methods:
1. For Sautéing on a stove
Sautéing imitation crab meat is an easy way to prepare seafood. The process of sautéing involves frying the imitation crab meat in a pan on high heat. The dish can be made using various ingredients and spices.
Step 1: In a medium-sized pan, melt butter and add imitation crab meat. Stir-fry over medium heat until the crab meat is heated through and slightly browned.
Step 2: Add onion and celery tops, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 1 minute more.
Step 3: Add wine and cook until it evaporates completely.
Step 4: Add tomato sauce (or ketchup), cream or milk, and cooked green peas; stir until well combined and heated through, about 3 minutes longer.
2. Using a steamer
Steaming crab meat is a great way to cook it and keep it moist. You can also steam imitation crab meat, though you may need to add a little water if the product is not very moist.
Step 1: Place the imitation crab meat in a steamer basket over boiling water. Cover the pot and steam for 10 minutes.
Step 2: Remove the imitation crab meat from the steamer and use immediately or let cool.
3. Using pan-fry
Imitation crab meat can be cooked in many ways, but the most popular method is to simply pan-fry it. It also works well with other seafood dishes and casseroles.
Step 1: Heat a nonstick frying pan over medium heat.
Step 2: Add one tablespoon of butter or margarine to the pan.
Step 3: Add imitation crab meat to the pan and saute for two minutes on each side, until browned and heated through.
Step 4: Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving alongside your favorite side dish or as part of a meal with rice or pasta.
4. By Deep Frying the crab sticks
Deep frying is a cooking method in which food is submerged in hot fat, most commonly oil, rather than the shallow oil used in conventional frying, done in a pan.
Step 1: Prepare the oil for deep-frying by heating it to medium-high heat. Check the temperature of the oil with a thermometer and adjust accordingly.
Step 2: Wash and pat dry the crab sticks with a paper towel. If the crab sticks are frozen, thaw them out in warm water for about 10 minutes before frying them.
Step 3: Cut each piece of crab stick into smaller pieces so that they will be easier to eat once cooked (about 3 inches long).
Step 4: Coat the crab sticks with cornstarch on all sides, then dip them in beaten egg and roll them in breadcrumbs until they are well coated on all sides. Set aside on a plate until ready to deep fry them in hot oil (this will keep them from sticking together
5. The chilled option
Imitation crab meat is made from surimi (also known as kamaboko), a paste of white fish, starch, and seasonings. The imitation crab is then shaped into the form of crab legs, which makes the product look like a real crab.
Steps to Prepare Chilled Option Imitation Crab Meat:
Step 1: Place the imitation crab meat in a large mixing bowl with 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Mix well until all the pieces are coated with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight to marinate.
Step 2: Remove from refrigerator and drain excess liquid from imitation crab meat mixture.
Step 3: Press down on each piece with your hand to flatten it slightly so it will be easier to cook and serve later on.
Step 4: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot enough for frying (about 350 degrees F). Fry until golden brown on both sides (about three minutes per side). Remove from pan; drain on paper towels before serving.
Step 5: Chill and serve with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges.
6. Using the oven
Imitation crab meat is made from surimi, which is a paste of fish and wheat or corn starch. It can be used as an alternative to real crab meat. The process of making surimi is similar to that of making tofu, except that the end product is more solid in texture than tofu.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet with vegetable oil or line it with parchment paper.
Step 2: In a bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper until well-blended; set aside. In another bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; set aside.
Step 3: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat until hot but not smoking; add onion slices and cook until tender but not browned, about 5 minutes; remove from heat and drain well on paper towels. Add onion slices to dry ingredients along with imitation crab meat pieces; toss gently to coat evenly with dry ingredients.
Step 4: Transfer mixture to a large bowl and fold in egg whites; place on a prepared baking sheet in an even layer about 1/4 inch thick; bake for 20 minutes until golden brown on top and bottom. Serve immediately.
7. Stir-Fry with Imitation Crab Meat
Stir-frying is a simple cooking method that uses high heat to quickly cook food in a wok or frying pan. It’s one of the healthiest ways to make dinner and it only takes about 10 minutes from start to finish.
Here are some tips for making stir-fried dishes with imitation crab meat:
Step 1: Prepare your ingredients before you start cooking.
Step 2: Heat oil in a wok or frying pan over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking (about 350°F). Toss in your vegetables, then add imitation crab meat, stirring occasionally until vegetables are tender-crisp and imitation crab meat is heated through (about 4 minutes).
Step 3: Stir in sauce mixture, stirring constantly until thickened (about 1 minute). Serve immediately over cooked rice or noodles, garnished with chopped scallions.
Step 4: Try stir-frying imitation crab meat with shrimp, chicken, and broccoli this weekend! I know your family will love it.
Helpful Tips
Imitation crab meat is a staple in many American households. There are only a few helpful tips that you need to know to get the most out of your imitation crab meat:
- Cook imitation crab meat in a pan with oil and butter.
- Add salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder to taste.
- Cook until the color changes from white to orange.
- Serve hot with a side of rice or pasta and vegetables of your choice.
- Avoid cooking too long or at too high of a temperature. Cooked at too high of a temperature can result in an unpleasant texture and taste for imitation crab meat. Cooked over low heat tends to work best to bring out the best flavor from imitation crab meat without overdoing it.
FAQs
1. How do I freeze Imitation Crab Meat?
Imitation crab meat is a great substitute for real crab meat. You can use it in place of the real stuff when making recipes like chowders, soups, and salads, as well as some Asian dishes. Here are some common questions about how to cook and store imitation crab meat.
2. Can I eat Imitation Crab Meat raw?
It’s not recommended that you eat imitation crab meat raw because it may contain harmful bacteria. However, if you would like to enjoy the flavor of raw imitation crab meat without any worry of illness, you can freeze it first before eating.
3. How do I store Imitation Crab Meat?
If kept properly refrigerated, imitation crab meat will stay fresh for up to two weeks after opening its container or bag. If kept frozen at 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-17 degrees Celsius), it will stay fresh for up to six months after opening its container or bag.
4. How long do you have to boil imitation crab meat?
The time taken to boil imitation crab meat depends on the amount of water added to the pot and on the size of your pot. If you have a large pot, then you can boil more pieces at once and if your pot is small, then fewer pieces can be boiled in one go.
5. What does imitation crab meat taste like?
It tastes like a mixture of fishy and sweet flavors with a hint of vanilla. Some people compare its taste to shrimp paste, which is not uncommon since both ingredients come from the sea!
In Conclusion
Hopefully, by now you have a better understanding of how to cook imitation crab meat. Cooking these products properly can take a little practice, but with this information, you’re better equipped to get the best flavor possible out of these products. Bon appétit!
