Imitation crab is not made of Soy.
Instead Imitation Crab is made from shredded pulverized fish which is also known as surimi.
The point of imitation crab is to provide a cheaper alternative to actual crab meat and make it more readily available as well and to mimic the flavor, color and texture of real crab meat.
Imitation crab is made from surimi which is a paste that is made out of finely shredded or pulverized fish.
So imitation crab is made from real fish but it's not actual crab meat.
After the fish is minced, it is heated and pressed into shapes that resemble meat from a crab leg.
The resulting imitation crab looks similar to the original crab in its coloring and texture.
Imitation crab is low in calories and fat, which makes it an appropriate addition to your diet if you are watching your weight or trying to shed excess pounds.
Choosing low-calorie and low-fat foods is also a healthy way to protect yourself from chronic illnesses such as heart disease.
Imitation crab is a highly processed food made by combining minced fish with starch, egg whites, sugar, salt and additives to mimic the flavor, color and texture of real crab meat.
While it's significantly less expensive than real crab, it's also less nutritious and laced with questionable additives.
Imitation crab can be eaten right out of the packaging and doesn't need any cooking.
It's actually not “raw”, as it's fully cooked during the process of making crab sticks.
You can chop them up and add to cold meals like salads and ceviche directly without cooking
In short, imitation crab is not actually crab at all.
It is a mock or faux-crab that relies on ingredients to mimic the texture and taste of authentic crab.
Imitation crab is predominantly made with surimi, which is basically a fish paste.
As far as vegan seafood alternatives are concerned, imitation crab is a no-go.
Though it's not real crab, it's still real fish, which isn't suitable for a vegan, plant-based diet.
The process of making imitation crab meat from surimi was invented independently by Y. Sugino and K. Osaki by 1975.
Early production of this product in the United States began in 1983 by the Japanese company Yamasa Enterprises.