Crab stick

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Crab stick
Kanikama.jpg
Crab sticks – imitation crab meat surimi.
Alternative namesimitation crab meat, seafood sticks, krab
Place of originJapan
Main ingredients white fish

Crab sticks, krab sticks, snow legs, imitation crab meat, or seafood sticks are a Japanese seafood product made of surimi (pulverized white fish) and starch, then shaped and cured to resemble the leg meat of snow crab or Japanese spider crab. [1] It is a product that uses fish meat to imitate shellfish meat.

Contents

In Japanese, it is called kanikama (カニカマ), a portmanteau of kani ("crab") and kamaboko ("fish cake"). In the United States, it is often simply called kani. [2]

History

Japanese Sugiyo Kanikama Kaoribako1.JPG
Japanese Sugiyo Kanikama Kaoribako2.JPG
Kaoribako, a high grade imitation crab from Sugiyo, the first company to make crab sticks

The Japanese company Sugiyo first produced and patented imitation crab flesh in 1974, as kanikama. This was a flake type. In 1975, the company Osaki Suisan first produced and patented imitation crab sticks.

In 1977, The Berelson Company of San Francisco, California, US, working with Sugiyo, introduced them internationally. Kanikama is still their common name in Japan, but internationally they are marketed under names including Krab Sticks, Ocean Sticks, Sea Legs and Imitation Crab Sticks. Legal restrictions now prevent them from being marketed as "Crab Sticks" in many places, as they usually do not have crab flesh. [3]

Composition

Two "crab flavored fish cake" (fish-only crab sticks), and one "imitation crab meat" (contains 3% red snow crab). rosonnokanikama (31075798748).jpg
Two "crab flavored fish cake" (fish-only crab sticks), and one "imitation crab meat" (contains 3% red snow crab).

Most crab sticks today are made from Alaska pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) of the North Pacific Ocean. [4] This main ingredient is often mixed with fillers such as wheat, and egg white (albumen) [1] or other binding ingredient, such as the enzyme transglutaminase. [5] Crab flavoring is added (natural or more commonly, artificial) and a layer of red food coloring is applied to the outside.

Uses

Crab sticks are used in sushi, salads, fried in tempura, and many other dishes.

See also

Related Research Articles

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Content in this edit is translated from the existing Japanese Wikipedia article at フジミツ; see its history for attribution

<i>Surimi</i> Meat paste, usually made from fish

Surimi is a paste made from fish or other meat. It can also be any of a number of East Asian foods that use that paste as their primary ingredient. It is available in many shapes, forms, and textures, and is often used to mimic the texture and color of the meat of lobster, crab, grilled Japanese eel, or shellfish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alaska pollock as food</span> Eating species of cod globally

Alaska pollock, a species of cod (Gadus) found in the North Pacific Ocean, is used as food globally. Compared with common pollock, Alaska pollock is milder in taste, whiter in color, and lower in oil content.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow roll</span> Uramaki sushi roll filled with cucumber, avocado and crab stick

Rainbow roll is a type of uramaki sushi roll filled with cucumber, avocado and crab stick. It is prepared with multiple types of fish, most commonly tuna, salmon, white fish, yellowtail, snapper, and eel. Rainbow roll is quite similar to the California roll, with the addition of tuna, salmon and avocado. Other variants include slices of mango next to avocado, or uses of imitation crab meat, fried shrimp tempura, and other seafood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gyoniku soseji</span> Japanese fish sausage

Gyoniku sausage is a Japanese fish sausage made from surimi. It is sold in a plastic casing as a snack. Gyoniku soseji is similar to the traditional fish cake, kamaboko. Gyoniku soseji and kamaboko together constitute 26% of Japanese fish consumption.

References

  1. 1 2 Laura, Campo-Deano; Clara Tovar (October 2009). "The effect of egg albumen on the viscoelasticity of crab sticks made from Alaska Pollock and Pacific Whiting surimi". Food Hydrocolloids. 23 (7): 1641–1646. doi:10.1016/j.foodhyd.2009.03.013.
  2. "What is Kani? A Brief Overview - Restaurant Clicks". September 13, 2023. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  3. "What's in a Name: Crabless Crab Legs No Longer Imitation". Wall Street Journal. December 14, 2023. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2010.(subscription required)
  4. Mansfield, Becky (April 2003). "'Imitation crab' and the material culture of commodity production". Cultural Geographies. 10 (2): 176–195. Bibcode:2003CuGeo..10..176M. doi: 10.1191/1474474003eu261oa . ISSN   1474-4740.
  5. Gritzer, Daniel (July 22, 2008). "Mystery science eater – Time Out New York". Newyork.timeout.com. Archived from the original on August 14, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2017.

Further reading