Imitation Crab vs Crab: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Crab is higher in protein at 17.9 g compared to imitation crab's 15.2 g. Imitation crab has more calories at 99 compared to crab's 83.

Imitation crab and crab are both popular seafood options, but they differ significantly in their nutritional content. This comparison highlights their calories, protein, and other key nutrients.

What Is the Difference Between Imitation Crab and Crab?

Imitation crab, often made from surimi, is a seafood product designed to mimic the taste and texture of real crab meat. It is commonly used in sushi and salads. Crab refers to the edible meat from various species of crabs, known for its sweet flavor and tender texture. It is a popular ingredient in many cuisines worldwide.

Imitation Crab vs Crab: Nutrition Side by Side

The following comparison provides a side-by-side look at the nutritional values of imitation crab and crab.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Imitation crab (surimi)	Blue crab (cooked)
Calories	99 kcal	83 kcal
Protein	15.2 g	17.9 g
Carbs	6.8 g	0 g
Sugar	0 g	0 g
Fat	0.9 g	0.7 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	143 mg	395 mg

Which Is Better, Imitation Crab or Crab?

For weight loss: Imitation crab contains 99 calories, while crab has 83 calories, making crab the better choice for weight loss.

For muscle and protein: Crab offers 17.9 g of protein, compared to imitation crab's 15.2 g, making crab the superior option for protein intake.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Imitation crab has 6.8 g of carbs, while crab has 0 g, making crab a better choice for low-carb diets. Both options have 0 g of sugar.

How to Track Imitation crab and Crab Accurately

It's easy to misjudge portion sizes and macros when consuming seafood products, leading to unintended calorie intake. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. This comparison is based on per-100g nutritional data. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Crab has 17.9 g of protein, while imitation crab has 15.2 g of protein.

Which has fewer calories?

Crab has 83 calories, whereas imitation crab contains 99 calories.

How much fat is in imitation crab?

Imitation crab contains 0.9 g of fat per 100 g.

What is the sodium content in crab?

Crab contains 395 mg of sodium per 100 g.

Does imitation crab contain sugar?

Imitation crab has 0 g of sugar per 100 g.

What are the carbohydrate levels in crab?

Crab has 0 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Imitation crab has 99 calories per 100 g.
• Crab has 83 calories per 100 g.
• Imitation crab contains 15.2 g of protein.
• Crab contains 17.9 g of protein.
• Imitation crab has 6.8 g of carbohydrates.
• Crab has 0 g of carbohydrates.