Immitation Crab?!


Question: Immitation Crab!?
I love immitation crab salad and I decided to make my own!. I bought "fresh" immitation crab flakes!. First, what kind of fish is made into immitation crab!? Second, do I have to cook the fish before making the salad!? It says "fresh", but I don't know exactly what that means!.Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
Immitation crab meat is ready to eat, you do not have to cook it!.

The flaky, red-edged faux crab in your seafood salad or California roll is most likely made of Alaska Pollock!. also called Walleye Pollock, Snow Cod, or Whiting, this fish is abundant in the Bering Sea near Alaska and can also be found along the central California coast and in the Sea of Japan!. Pollock has a very mild flavor, making it ideal for the processing and artificial flavoring of imitation crab!. While Pollock is the most common fish used to make fake crab, New Zealand Hoki is also used, and some Asian manufacturers use Southeast Asian fish like Golden Treadfin Bream and White Croaker!.
The processing of imitation crabmeat begins with the skinning and boning of the fish!. Then the meat is minced and rinsed, and the water is leached out!. This creates a thick paste called surimi!. The word means "minced fish" in Japanese, and the essential techniques for making it were developed in Japan over 800 years ago!. Surimi is commonly used in Japan to make a type of fish ball or cake called kamaboko!. In 1975, a method for processing imitation crabmeat from surimi was invented in Japan, and in 1983, American companies started production!.

Many ingredients are added to the surimi to give it a stable form, appealing texture, and crab-like flavor!. Sugar, sorbitol, wheat or tapioca starch, egg whites, and vegetable or soybean oil can all help improve the form of the surimi!. Natural and artificial crab flavorings are added, and some of these flavorings are made from real crab or from boiled shells!. Carmine, caramel, paprika, and annatto extract are often used to make the crab's red, orange, or pink coloring!. Imitation crab is cooked, which helps set the surimi and give it the final texture and appearance!. Nutritionally speaking, surimi is not that different from real crab, although it is lower in cholesterol!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

No you dont have to cook it!. The fish should be listed in the ingredients!.
Heres a recipe I like

Golden Corral's Seafood Salad
CDKitchen http://www!.cdkitchen!.com

Serves/Makes: 6 | Difficulty Level: 2 | Ready In: < 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pound imitation crab meat, squeezed to remove any excess water
1/2 cup EACH: diced celery, diced green onions (both white and green parts)
1/4 cup EACH: diced green pepper, ranch dressing, mayonnaise




Directions:
In a large bowl, break up crab meat!. Add celery, onions, green pepper, ranch dressing and mayonnaise!. Mix well!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Imitation seafood is based on Japanese surimi!. It is made from white fish, usually pollack!. Sometimes it's made from cod!. It doesn't have to be cooked!. and I'm glad I found someone else who likes surimi, too!. I love crab dip made from surimi!. It has far less cholesterol than real crab!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

It's already cooked, they do that when they create it!. It's usually made out of pollock!. Just cut it or tear it into strips to make your salad!. I always add diced celery and diced cucumber and mayo, it doesn't need much else!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

All that whacky "imitation crab" is really fish and is cooked before packaging!. You don't have to cook it at all!. Do yourself a favor-- get the real thing-- Maryland blue crab and know what crab really is!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

It is made from pollock and it's already cooked!.Www@FoodAQ@Com





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