How to Serve Crab Sticks

Co-authored by Michael Caffrey

Last Updated: February 11, 2024 References

Crab sticks are a notoriously delicious snack. If you haven't tried them before, their golden-brown crisp is sure to be a hit in your kitchen. At basics, it's an incredibly simple thing to make. What's more; once you get the hang of it, there are countless ways you can give your crab sticks some added zest and character.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Preparing Crab Sticks

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1
Go out and buy some imitation crab. Contrary to what you may think at first, crab sticks are actually often made with imitation crab after crab proper. The safest bet is to buy a pack of pre-sculpted crab sticks from the supermarket. If you're much more the DIY type, you can get bigger slabs to cut into the pieces yourself.
- Outside of a deep-frying oil, you thankfully won't need anything else to get this recipe started. You can of course, however, add spices and garnishes to your personal preference.
2
Heat a vegetable oil to 350 °F (177 °C). ^{[1]
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Research source} Getting your deep fryer up to this temperature and bringing the heat up to a standard cooking level is a good thing to do first. This may be even easier if you have a specialized fry cooker handy in your kitchen; you can cook crab sticks in much the same way as you would fries.
- As with a lot of cooking, it's good to get your elements heated up while you're getting the other preparations looked after.
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3
Make a batter. Although it's optional, the crispy taste for crab sticks goes wonderfully together with a good homemade batter. Make a thick fix of corn starch, flour, milk, salt, baking soda, and water, and mix thoroughly. From there, you can dip your pieces in before putting them in the deep fryer. ^{[2]
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- Tempura batters also work well when it comes to crab sticks.
4

Chop your crab sticks. You can cut your crab sticks however it suits you. You may find that cutting them into long sticks (like fries) makes them easier to eat generally speaking. Keep in mind that bigger pieces will also incur a longer average cooking time.
Once you've got everything ready, it's time to put it all in the deep fryer. It's better to cook crab sticks in batches rather than all at once. This will help ensure even cooking throughout. Wait until they're generally golden-brown, then take them out and insert a new batch. Repeat this process until you've made as many you prefer. ^{[3]
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Part 2

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Serving Crab Sticks

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1
Build a meal around them. Crab sticks have a pleasant, distinctive taste, and they're used quite often in Oriental cuisine. If you're not satisfied with simply having them as a snack, you should experiment with how to incorporate them into larger recipes. For something simple, you might try adding them to a bowl of seasoned rice. ^{[4]
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Research source} Udon noodles are also a popular combination with crab sticks. ^{[5]
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- While most of the crab stick recipes you'll find are based on oriental cuisine, you shouldn't be afraid to experiment with combining it with other types of food. After all, part of the food of cooking is being creative and original!
Whether battered or not, crab sticks tend to taste better when they're spritzed with a strong flavor. Much like battered fish, crab sticks taste amazing with some lemon. Vinegar makes for a stronger, more distinctive punch in the flavor. ^{[6]
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Crab sticks are ultimately a snack food at heart, so it stands to reason they would work so well with snack dips. If you have any favorite kinds of dip, you might try serving it with them. Sriracha and soy sauces are great crab stick companions. In the end, however, the sky's the limit, and there's no harm in trying a combination if you're curious.
The rule for a lot of recipes is to add a little salt and pepper if you think your food is too bland. A small dash of each adds an appropriate kick to just about anything. The same is true for crab sticks. The taste and texture of crab sticks are complimented by some light salt and pepper. If for whatever reason you're not interested in the more complex techniques,

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Do I cook it first before using in a salad?

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If it is the kind of crab sticks that are prepackaged (and actually are not really crab), then no. Those are often referred to as Krab. If you look at the ingredients, and it mentions another type of fish, it is that type. However, if it is actual crab, you do need to cook them before use. The only exception would be if the salad specified raw crab meat.

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Can I bake in a casserole or pie dish?

Michele

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Yes. Surimi or packaged Krab can be used in all sorts of dishes, from stir fried to baked to grilled.

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Can I dip crab sticks in soy sauce and vinegar?

Qamar

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Sure! Crab sticks are great with many condiments, and soy sauce or vinegar aren't bad ones to consider.

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Tips

Once you've made your first batch, you should make a conscious effort to decide what you like and don't like about the recipe. That way you'll be able to make it that much better for next time!

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These are still great to serve to the crab-averse, as these typically don't contain crab.

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Warnings

Crab sticks are notoriously addicting, and like anything deep-fried, they're not particularly good for your health. It's best to keep eating them in moderation.

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As with any times you're cooking with a deep fryer, it's really important you're careful with placing in and taking out the crab sticks. The spray of hot oil can be very painful if you aren't cautious.

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How to Serve Crab Sticks

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Preparing Crab Sticks

Serving Crab Sticks

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