Crab Rangoon is a popular American-Chinese appetizer that consists of a crispy wonton wrapper filled with a mixture of cream cheese, imitation crab or crab meat, and seasonings. This deep-fried delight offers a rich, savory, and slightly sweet flavor profile, making it a frequent choice on many restaurant menus. Understanding the nutritional profile of this dish requires looking beyond the basic components to see how preparation and serving size impact the final numbers.
Average Calorie Count
A standard restaurant serving of Crab Rangoon, which typically includes three to four pieces, generally contains between 240 and 400 calories. Focusing on a single piece, the calorie count often falls between 80 and 150 calories. Frozen varieties clock in at approximately 80 calories per piece, while larger, heavily filled restaurant versions may be closer to 150 calories each.
Factors That Influence the Total
The primary cause for calorie variation is the preparation method, specifically deep-frying versus baking. Crab Rangoons are traditionally deep-fried, causing the porous wonton wrapper to absorb a significant amount of cooking oil. This oil absorption substantially increases the fat content and the overall caloric density.
The size of the rangoon also plays a major role, as does the ratio of filling to wrapper. Larger appetizers with a generous amount of cream cheese filling naturally contain more calories than smaller versions. The type of filling also matters, depending on the amount of cream cheese used and whether real crab or lower-fat imitation crab is utilized. These variables explain why a four-piece serving from one establishment can have a completely different calorie count than the same serving size elsewhere.
Beyond Calories: Fat and Sodium Content
Crab Rangoon is notably high in both total fat and sodium. The cream cheese, which forms the base of the filling, is a source of saturated fat. A typical three-piece serving can contain around 14 grams of total fat, with approximately 7 grams being saturated fat. Sodium levels are also a significant nutritional consideration due to the ingredients used in the filling and dipping sauces. A single piece can contain over 230 milligrams of sodium, and consuming a larger portion or using a salty dipping sauce can rapidly increase the sodium intake.