Among the products in your grocer’s seafood aisle, imitation crab meat is just about the one you understand least about, not to mention you are hesitant to buy. The product’s name certainly doesn’t help, because the word imitation enables you to think it’s of lesser quality and probably includes lots of extra chemical ingredients. But if you were to investigate in to the matter, you’d discover that imitation crab meat, also referred to as surimi, is in fact quite healthy. By learning the product a little better, you’ll be all the more willing to try the various Alaska Surimi Seafood varieties that make an ideal addition to any meal.

The term surimi originates from both the Japanese and Chinese traditions of producing fish based products that subsequently are used to imitate shellfish such as crab or lobster. Of course, such traditions did not always involve imitating shellfish, as the fish paste was often eaten as is or in other recipes. In the U.S. most surimi products are flavored with shellfish, thus they often imitate crab or lobster products.

Although surimi products are less costly compared to the shellfish varieties they mimic, this does not mean that they are less healthy. Actually, all of the Alaska Surimi Seafood products contribute healthy nutrients to any meal. Because such products are produced from fish, most commonly pollock, you get all the benefits you’ll obtain by eating any fish. Fish certainly are a healthy way to obtain low-fat proteins, ideal for any diet. You can use surimi products in virtually any recipe that calls for shellfish, such as soups, stuffed mushrooms, even your own sushi! The sky is the limit with surimi, and be sure to look at the great recipes that you can find online.

One last item to take into account when coming up with your surimi purchases is sustainability. Not absolutely all imitation crab products are stated in a sustainable fashion. Fortunately, with Alaska Surimi Seafood you’re guaranteed a quality, not to mention sustainably produced product. Sustainability is important because overfishing, and in turn destruction of entire fish populations occurs way to easily. Fish products which are sustainably approved come from companies which are careful to not overfish and only fish quantities that allow for the fish population to be maintained. Kani kama and the foundation of your food are healthy!