How many calories are in 6 crab Rangoons?

Quick Answer

Crab Rangoon is a popular appetizer found on many Chinese restaurant menus. It’s made by wrapping crab meat and cream cheese in wonton wrappers before being fried. For 6 crab Rangoon:

There are approximately 588 calories in 6 crab Rangoons.

This is based on an average crab Rangoon containing around 98 calories each. The exact calorie count can vary depending on the size of the Rangoons and ingredients used.

Calculating Calories in Crab Rangoons

To determine how many calories are in crab Rangoons, we need to look at the calories in each individual component:

Crab Meat

– Crab meat is low in calories and fat. A 3 oz serving contains about 90 calories.

Cream Cheese

– Cream cheese is high in calories and fat. A 2 tbsp serving contains about 100 calories.

Wonton Wrappers

– Wonton wrappers are low calorie. Each wrapper has around 20-25 calories.

Cooking Method

– Crab Rangoons are usually deep fried which will add more calories from oil absorption. Pan frying in just a small amount of oil will be lower in calories.

To estimate the total calories:

– A single Crab Rangoon is made with about 1 oz crab meat, 1 tbsp cream cheese and 1 wonton wrapper.
– This equals around 90 calories (crab) + 100 calories (cream cheese) + 20 calories (wonton) = 210 calories per Rangoon before cooking.
– Deep frying can add about 50% more calories. So a deep fried Crab Rangoon will have about 315 calories.
– Pan frying instead may only add an extra 10-20 calories. So around 230 calories per pan fried Rangoon.

Calories per Serving

Based on the estimations above:

Number of Crab Rangoons Calories (Deep Fried) Calories (Pan Fried)
1 315 230
2 630 460
3 945 690
4 1260 920
5 1575 1150
6 1890 1380

So for 6 deep fried crab Rangoons, the total calories would be around 1890.

For 6 pan fried crab Rangoons, the total calories would be around 1380.

Factors Affecting Calorie Count

While the estimates above provide a general calorie count for 6 crab Rangoons, the actual amount can vary depending on several factors:

Size of the Rangoons

– Larger crab Rangoons will have more calories than smaller ones. Restaurants may use different sized wonton wrappers resulting in different calorie counts.

Filling ingredients

– The amount of crab vs cream cheese in each Rangoon can impact calories. More cream cheese increases calories.

Type of crab meat

– Real crab meat is lower in calories than imitation crab which contains fillers. Using real crab will lower the calorie count.

Cooking method and oil

– Deep frying adds more calories from absorbing oil. The type of frying oil also impacts absorption, with healthier oils like canola adding less.

Accompaniments and dipping sauces

– Eating crab Rangoons with high calorie dipping sauces will increase the overall calories consumed. A sweet and sour sauce may add 50-100 calories per serving.

Nutrition Information

In addition to calories, here is some of the nutrition information for 6 crab Rangoons:

Fat

– Total Fat: Around 39g
– Saturated Fat: Around 18g
– Trans Fat: Around 2g

Carbohydrates

– Total Carbohydrates: Around 54g
– Dietary Fiber: Around 0g
– Sugars: Around 3g

Protein

– Around 18g of protein

Sodium

– Around 1350mg of sodium

Cholesterol

– Around 105mg of cholesterol

As you can see, crab Rangoons are high in calories, fat, and sodium. The fat content comes mostly from the cream cheese filling and cooking method. They contain no fiber and minimal protein.

If you are looking for a lower calorie appetizer, steamed dumplings or spring rolls may be better options. You can also bake crab Rangoons instead of frying to reduce the calories.

Health Impact of Crab Rangoon Calories

While the occasional appetizer of crab Rangoons is fine, consuming them in excess can have negative health impacts due to their high calorie and fat content:

Weight Gain

Eating too many crab Rangoons can quickly add extra calories leading to weight gain over time. It’s important to balance them out with low calorie foods in your diet.

High Blood Pressure

The high sodium content in crab Rangoons can exacerbate high blood pressure for those with salt-sensitive conditions.

High Cholesterol

The high fat and saturated fat content can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. Be conscious of your overall fat intake.

Lack of Nutrients

Crab Rangoons don’t provide much nutritional value beyond calories and fat. Eat them along with more nutritious foods like lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Tips for Enjoying Crab Rangoons

Here are some tips so you can keep enjoying crab Rangoons as part of a healthy diet:

– Stick to 1-2 Rangoons as an appetizer rather than having multiple servings. Share with others at the table.

– Balance them out by also eating steamed or stir-fried veggies and brown rice.

– Skip the fatty dipping sauce and use lower calorie options like mustard, duck sauce or chili oil.

– Enjoy them only occasionally as a treat rather than regularly.

– Opt for steamed or baked crab wontons instead which are much lower calorie.

– Use portion control and track your calorie intake for the day to account for them.

Cooking Lower Calorie Crab Rangoons

You can reduce the calories in crab Rangoons by:

– Baking instead of frying – Brush with oil spray and bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes.

– Using lighter ingredients – Choose real crab, reduced fat cream cheese, and whole wheat wrappers.

– Making them smaller – Use less filling so each one is lower calorie.

– Pan frying – Use just 1-2 tsp oil instead of deep frying.

– Swapping out ingredients – Use fat free ricotta or greek yogurt instead of cream cheese.

With some simple substitutions and cooking adjustments, you can still enjoy the great taste of crab Rangoons without all the calories!

Healthier Appetizer Alternatives

If you are looking for lower calorie appetizers, here are some tasty options:

Fresh summer rolls

– Rice paper wraps filled with veggies, shrimp, herbs and dipped in peanut sauce

Ceviche

– Fish and shrimp marinated in citrus juice with onions and peppers

Cucumber cups

– Cucumber slices topped with tzatziki, tomato and feta

Caprese skewers

– Cherry tomato, mozzarella and basil skewers with balsamic glaze

Shrimp cocktail

– Chilled peeled shrimp served with cocktail sauce

Hummus and veggies

– Carrot, celery and peppers served with chickpea hummus

So be mindful of calories and fat while indulging in crab Rangoons occasionally. Round out your appetizer course with lighter and more nutritious options for balance.

Conclusion

In summary, 6 crab Rangoons contain approximately:

– 588 calories if deep fried
– 460 calories if pan fried

The calories can vary based on the size and filling ingredients. Crab Rangoons are high in fat, sodium and cholesterol so enjoy them in moderation. You can reduce the calorie count by baking instead of frying. Completing your meal with lower calorie appetizers, main dishes and side dishes will help keep your overall calorie intake under control.

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