Why Everyone's Talking About Sam's Club Imitation Crab

From the buzzy boxed pasta that Costco shoppers couldn't stop talking about, to infamous food court deals, the internet loves a big box store food find. TikTokers have been using the latest trending product to cook up savory seafood boils with corn, tender potatoes, and lemon. You could tuck the imitation crab into sushi, mix it in a fresh salad, or substitute the shrimp and serve with spicy lemon garlic butter.

What is imitation crab?

What is imitation crab meat and how do you cook with it? At the heart of every Sam's Club crab dinner is surimi, and while it's not actual crab, it is made from fish. So, what kind of fish is surimi? Surimi is a fish paste made from white fish like pollock, blended with starch, sugar, sodium, and other ingredients. (Sam's Club's listing states that it uses Alaska pollock and Pacific whiting fish in the product). This fish-based paste is then molded and colored to resemble real crab.

Imitation crab first hit the market in Japan in the 1970s. The product referred to as "kani," or kanikama in Japan, probably stars in your favorite California rolls. Imitation crab is usually cheaper than real crab and would work wonderfully as the star of a creamy crab dip.