The Best Imitation Crab You Can Buy (Seriously, We Tried Them All)

When I lined up my samples of seven types of imitation crab, I assumed I would barely be able to tell the difference. I genuinely assumed all the imitation crab was made in the same factory, so of course they would all taste the same. But I was wrong. And, not only does imitation crab not all taste the same, but most of the imitation crab out there is bad! Read on to find out what we deemed to be the best imitation crab meat.

What is imitation crab?

If you want a full explanation of imitation crab, just click that link. But if you’re looking for a TL;DR, the deal is that imitation crab (aka fake crab aka crab sticks aka krab) is made of surimi, which is fish paste. It’s essentially minced white fish (often pollack) mixed with binding agents, which is then pressed into shapes and heated.

How we tasted the imitation crab

I wanted to taste the imitation crab at its most pure so I ate it straight—right out of the packaging. I didn’t cook it (it’s already pre-cooked). And I didn’t mix it with any mayo or other sauce.

What we looked for in the best imitation crab

It should be obvious, but I think the best imitation crab meat tastes like real crab meat. It should be mild, a little sweet, and not too seafood-y. And the texture should be tender—not rubbery or chewy or mushy.

So, what’s the best fake crab? In the end, only one brand tasted like the real deal. Here’s the best imitation crab brand we tried.

Best imitation crab brand

Best of the Best

TransOcean Simply Surimi Seafood Flake Style

Instacart

Out of all the fake crab I tried—including both flake style and leg style—TransOcean was the only brand that actually resembled real crab meat. It has a good, firm bite and comes apart in strings—much like real crab leg meat from a king crab. The flavor is mildly sweet and—there’s no better way to say this—crabby. This is the best imitation crab for sushi or crab dip or whatever else you choose to make with imitation crab (I’d actually love some suggestions, please drop them in the comments). It’s the only imitation crab meat brand I will be buying.

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Other imitation crab brands we tried:

Kroger Flake Style Crab Select Imitation Crab Meat
365 Flake-Style Surimi Seafood
Aquamar Surimi Flake
Aquamar Surimi Leg
Kroger Leg Style Crab Select Imitation Crab Meat
365 Stick-Style Surimi Seafood

About the Author

Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients. Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it. What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now). Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test! Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.