What does imitation crab meat taste like?
I love crab. Imitation crab does not anything like Dungeness, Alaskan, or Maryland Blue crab which are the ones I’ve tasted. It tends to be sweeter and saltier than crab, with a texture that’s somewhere between lobster claw and slightly overcooked scallop. Frequently tasty, but brands vary tremendously. I’ve had some that had nasty metallic aftertaste, some that were more rubbery and less flavorful than a used tire, many that were too strongly “fishy” both in flavor and odor. But the variability of fake crab it is asset. Everyone can find one variety that pleases their particular palate. It’s usually made with pollack fish, plus egg white, food coloring, and some additives. As a crab substitute, it sucks. As a seafood flavor of its own that can fit into a wide range of dishes, it’s worthwhile. But it pales in comparison to almost any fresh in-season “real” seafood. Think of it as a pre-cooked food. A perfect last minute add-in to a soup, salad, or sauce.
OK. I bought the “crab” meat and really like it. I was watching the Food Network this morning and Giada DeLaurentiis made this soup. I decided to throw in some of the crab and it was delish. I love the stuff. Thanks for your encouragement everybody!
Oh, as to what it tastes like, I’m going to disagree with ninjew here. To me, imitation crab has a bit of a stronger seafood flavor than crab (at least Blue crab) but it’s not fishy at all. Where real crab is complex, imitation crab is a bit more one-note. It still has the sweet flavor of crab but it lacks depth. Hard to explain.
