How Many Calories Are in a Crab Rangoon? A Closer Look at This Tasty Appetizer

Crab rangoon – the crunchy, creamy, crab-filled wonton appetizer – is a popular menu item at Chinese restaurants across America. But if you’re watching your calorie intake, you may be wondering: how many calories are actually in one of these delicious bites?

I did some research to find out the calorie count for crab rangoon, and here’s what I learned.

What is Crab Rangoon?

First, let’s start with what exactly crab rangoon is. Crab rangoon consists of a wonton wrapper filled with a creamy mixture of crab meat, cream cheese, scallions, garlic, and spices. The filled wonton is then fried until golden brown and crispy.

Crab rangoon likely originated in America, not in China. It was probably invented by Chinese immigrants who were trying to cater their cuisine to American tastes. The sweet crab and savory cream cheese filling appeals to the American palate.

This appetizer has many names including crab puffs crab cheese wontons, crab rangoons, or even just rangoons. But whatever you call them, they’re an indulgent, rich appetizer that’s become a staple of Chinese takeout restaurants across the country.

Nutrition Facts for Crab Rangoon

Now onto the nutrition facts Here is the calorie count for a typical crab rangoon

• One crab rangoon contains about 70 calories on average.
• This is based on a 50 gram rangoon.
• Most of the calories come from fat, with around 45 calories coming from fat.
• There are also about 8 grams of carbohydrates and 4 grams of protein.

However, calorie counts can vary between recipes. Factors like the size of the rangoon, how much filling is used, and whether they are deep fried or baked can impact the nutrition information.

For example, a serving of 4 pieces of crab rangoon at PF Chang’s contains 260 calories. And at another restaurant, there may be 2-3 rangoons per order.

So the calorie count can range quite a bit based on the specific recipe. But you can estimate about 70 calories per piece as an average.

Lower Calorie Options

If you’re looking for ways to enjoy crab rangoon while reducing the calorie count, there are a few options:

• Order steamed or baked crab rangoons: Many restaurants willsteam or bake them upon request, eliminating the oil used in frying. This can reduce the calories by about 30-40%.

• Split an order: Order just 2-3 rangoons as an appetizer to share. You still get the flavors you crave without excessive calories.

• Make them at home: Use wonton wrappers and fill with a lighter filling of just crab meat, scallions, spices, and a bit of reduced fat cream cheese or Greek yogurt. Then bake until crispy.

• Use lettuce wraps: Skip the wonton wrapper and serve the crab rangoon filling in lettuce cups for a low carb, lighter option.

While crab rangoon is high in calories, fat, and carbs, it can still be worked into a balanced diet in moderation. Pay attention to portion sizes, and balance it out with lighter foods for the rest of your meal.

So go ahead and enjoy this iconic appetizer occasionally. Just be mindful of how many crab rangoons you eat in one sitting if you are monitoring your calories! Moderation and balance is key.

A serving of three pieces of Panda Express Cream Cheese Rangoon contains 190 calories, according to MyNetDiary.