Crab sticks are a common product that is actively used in Russian cuisine. A variety of options for dishes, a diet on crab sticks, soups with them - it would seem that there is nothing that ordinary people would not know about. However, in practice it turns out that not everyone knows what such a product consists of.
Crab sticks are one of the most sought-after products on store shelves. Because they are hearty and nutritious, you can make original and interesting dishes with them, put them in salads, use them for baking, and at the same time they are not so expensive. Against the background of such demand, many are often interested in: what is included in this product?
History of appearance
The photo of crab sticks is familiar to everyone; it decorates almost all step-by-step recipes for certain dishes with the addition of this ingredient. But not everyone knows the history of sticks. She, by the way, is quite interesting.
Crab sticks have a rich history - their homeland is Japan, where they were first produced. They appeared against the background of a decrease in the population of crabs - a favorite delicacy of the citizens of the land of the rising sun. Crab meat was used in different ways by the Japanese and it was a disaster for them to be left without it. It is still unknown who came up with the idea to make a competent imitation, but the idea went off with a bang.
Imitate steel crab meat with minced fish. The benefits and value of the product, of course, were inferior to natural crab, but, in general, they satisfied the end consumer.
To prepare crab sticks, they took fish meat (surimi), squeezed out excess liquid from it, which made it possible to better hold the meat together and form cubes from it. After that, these bars were frozen - everything, they were ready for transportation and further use.
When crab sticks appeared in Russia, they began to carefully "work" with them in order to reduce the cost of the product - they began to add dyes, flavorings and even slightly reduced the percentage of the main raw material (fish) - to 25% versus 45% used in a natural recipe … Entrepreneurs liked the easy-to-make dish so much that today we have several dozen names and types of crab sticks on our shelves.
The composition of the chopsticks today
If you understand the composition of crab sticks in more detail, then today they traditionally include:
- Surimi - in fact, it is just minced meat from various inexpensive species of white fish, for example, hake, perch, blue whiting, etc., often sticks are based on pollock familiar to many Russians
- Egg powder - it contributes to the additional amount of protein in the product
- Starch is a material that makes the sticks pliable and helps to shape them.
- Carrageenans, designated on the packaging as E410 and E407 - they are required to increase the mass, and this is a plus for the manufacturer, because helps to reduce the cost of the product; this element is usually obtained from algae, which have high biological activity and protect against ulcers
- Various dyes and flavors, allowing the sticks to obtain a characteristic crab-like color
- Monosodium glutamate is a well-known flavor enhancer; in Japan it is even called the "fifth taste" after sweet, salty and others.
- Vegetable oil
- Various kinds of food additives
Each manufacturer has its own nuances. Therefore, you should carefully read the packaging in order to buy the highest quality product.
Calorie content
Any recipe requires calorie counting, especially when it comes to dishes for those who monitor health. So, crab sticks are a fairly easy dish, because 100 grams of the product contains only 100 kcal (calories). So 1-2 pieces of such a delicacy will not harm the figure.
If we consider the nutritional value of the product, then the share of proteins is 6 grams, and the share of carbohydrates is 10 g.
Often, due to such dietary properties, crab sticks are even suggested to be used with any dietary restrictions. For example, you can even make an original Olivier with them. Sticks can be added to the salad instead of sausage, due to which it immediately becomes less heavy and more useful.
In addition, the sticks contain substances such as:
- Selenium
- Phosphorus
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Chlorine
- Fluorine
- Vitamin PP
They are also low in saturated fat.
Naturally, there are also disadvantages - for example, such a product contains sugar and sodium. Therefore, you should be more careful.
Choosing quality sticks
Choosing quality crab sticks, despite the variety available, can be difficult. First of all, if you represent this process in stages, you should pay attention to the color of the product - they should be white, uniform. Too intense red indicates that color enhancers such as curcumin have been added to the sticks. This is not always a bad thing. But there may be problems for those who have intolerances.
It is also worth looking at how the sticks behave after defrosting - they must maintain their integrity and not delaminate.
It is worth choosing sticks in packages, and not by weight, because in the latter case, it will be difficult to check information about the manufacturer, date of manufacture and other nuances. Naturally, it is necessary to carefully study the composition indicated on the package. So, for example, if soy protein or starch is the first in the list of ingredients, it is better not to take such sticks. It is believed that they should not contain protein in principle, while starch can be no more than 8-10%.
What is cooked with them
You can cook with crab sticks a lot of different and interesting dishes. Of course, salad is the most popular choice. They are also served in the form of cutlets, cooked in batter, added to the soup.
You can use dishes with crab sticks both for a regular daily table and for festive feasts. The recipes are clear and successful, because usually require a minimum of products. A good solution is to combine crab sticks with other light foods like apples or cucumbers for an even more interesting flavor.
Crab sticks are a universal product. And you shouldn't ignore it, worrying that it is a surrogate. Today, this product is a completely official and approved by various people replacement for delicious crab meat.
