When you’re pregnant, you’re prone to cravings. Whether it’s a cupcake, pickles, or a certain Chinese food, you may find yourself wanting foods you wouldn’t normally eat. One common Chinese dish is Crab Rangoon, which is deep-fried wontons filled with cream cheese and crab meat. Many people wonder if it’s safe to eat Crab Rangoon while pregnant, as it contains some ingredients that could be potentially harmful during pregnancy. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the safety of eating Crab Rangoon while pregnant, along with the potential health implications to be aware of. We’ll also look at some healthier alternatives that can still provide the same great flavor. By the end of this blog post, you will have a better understanding of the safety of eating Crab Rangoon while pregnant and how you can make an informed decision.
Can I Eat Crab Rangoon While Pregnant? Safe or Not?
Let’s get right to the point: if thoroughly cooked, eating crab rangoon while pregnant is safe. The risks of consuming seafood while pregnant only exist if you eat it raw or uncooked, so here is the thing.
Foodborne illness is extremely dangerous for pregnant women because it can result in miscarriage, and pathogens bacteria that can potentially cause it may be fostered by seafood and other types of meat.
That being said, it is advised to adhere to some food safety guidelines in order to reduce the risks of contracting any harmful bacteria.
These recommendations include only eating seafood that has reached an internal temperature of 75 °C (165 °F) and being cautious when handling raw seafood to prevent cross-contamination (bacteria can be transferred from one food to another if you use the same kitchen utensil).
For instance, even a fully cooked portion of food can become contaminated if it comes into contact with raw food or the same surface that the raw food was placed on. This is why it is advised to immediately wash your hands, kitchen appliances, and surfaces after using them.
It’s crucial to note that the components of this delectable appetizer are wontons filled with cream cheese, crab or imitation crab, and seasoning.
Crab rangoon is cooked by either deep-frying or baking.
Crab sticks, also known as imitation crab, are made of a paste made from the meat of fish or other land animals.
To get rid of extraneous components and odors, the meat is minced and rinsed. Despite being referred to as “crab sticks,” they typically have little to no crab in them. The most popular fish used to make crab sticks or other fish products is pollock.
In actuality, “real” crab is far more nutritious than imitation crab than its counterpart.
Real crab is superior in terms of the amount of vitamins and minerals it contains, despite having a similar number of calories.
In addition, imitation crab is a highly processed food because it has added sugars and starch as well as less protein.
The bottom line is that you should choose real crab over imitation crab if you’re pregnant. But even if your only option is imitation crab, you can still eat it as long as you watch how much you eat. For example, only a small amount of real crab is used to make crab rangoon, so you shouldn’t be at risk.
To avoid food poisoning, the most crucial thing in this situation is to ensure that whoever prepared this did so in accordance with the recommended food safety practices.
Dairy products are another category of food that some expectant mothers find frightening, so you should handle them carefully.
Dairy products are at risk of being contaminated with bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Campylobacter are the most prevalent bacteria found in dairy products, and they all pose a serious risk to women who are pregnant.
Having said that, pregnant women should only choose dairy products that have the word “pasteurized” on the packaging in order to do so safely.
This is a method of treating packaged and unpackaged dairy products at a high temperature for a brief period of time in order to get rid of dangerous pathogens, lengthen shelf life, and keep the product’s characteristics.
So long as the cream cheese used to make the wontons is pasteurized, eating cream cheese wontons is acceptable.
The majority of commercial dairy product brands use pasteurization in their production process for your peace of mind.
It is crucial to note that not all seafood is suitable for pregnant women, and the reason for this is not because of a foodborne illness but rather because of the high mercury content in some fish.
In healthy adults, a low blood mercury level poses no significant health risks; sadly, this is not the case for babies, as mercury can harm a fetus’ developing brain.
Moreover, breastfeeding has the potential to transmit mercury to the baby. For this reason, you should refrain from consuming high mercury seafood if you are pregnant or nursing.
According to the FDA, these are the highest mercury content seafood that you should avoid eating while pregnant and breastfeeding:
The Best Way to Eat Crab During Pregnancy
The meat of the crab is delicious and rich in Omega-3, a substance that will support your baby’s proper brain development if you’re pregnant and looking for the best way to eat crab during pregnancy. As long as you consume the food in moderation and your developing child, it is also secure. But you should be aware that there are a number of safety measures you should take before you start eating crab.
First of all, you should be aware that eating crab while pregnant can cause genetic malformations because it contains a lot of selenium and is high in cholesterol. Before eating any crabs while pregnant, consult a doctor. But you’re okay to eat up to 12 ounces of crab per week. Try to include a variety of fish in your diet to reduce your intake of fat and cholesterol. Crab is high in omega-fatty acids and protein.
Crab has many health advantages in addition to being a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals. You can enjoy the delectable taste of crab if you prepare it properly without worrying about any negative effects on your unborn child. You should always ask for fully cooked crab. While you can select from raw or rare crab, you should make sure to select fully cooked crab instead. A low-mercury seafood is safe for pregnant women.
In order to lower the risk of food poisoning, it is imperative to cook the aforementioned seafood, especially while pregnant.
Live crabs should be kept in ventilated containers, and fresh crab should be kept in a refrigerator at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Storage containers should be airtight.
Pregnant women shouldn’t consume seafood that is typically served raw. Sashimi, raw oysters, clams on the half shell, ceviche, poke, tuna tartare, or tuna carpaccio are some examples of these dishes.
Raw fish and shellfish can make you sick because they may have the bacteria Vibrio vulnificus and Salmonella in them. Symptoms of food poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
According to 2017 recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), cooked crab is one of the best seafood choices to eat while pregnant.
FAQ
Can I eat cream cheese Rangoons while pregnant?
Can you eat crab Rangoon in first trimester?
Is it OK to eat crab while pregnant?
Is Crab Rangoon raw or cooked?