Would you eat cricket protein?

cricketpower

midwesterner85 wrote: »

@cricketpower Thoughts?

@midwesterner85 ~ ha, yep!

I don't recommend mixing the flour with eggs for "huevos con grillos". That was nasty.

I had no problem chugging the pure flour in water, though. After awhile it actually kind of tasted like chocolate to me.

lemurcat2

There are a lot of cricket-based foods available besides the bars -- I think the flour (which is basically a protein powder) is more interesting. Here's a site selling them: https://www.cricketflours.com/5-reasons-you-should-be-eating-cricket-powder-cricket-flour/

The problem, and why I will not order any, is that despite the better argument for cricket as a source of protein being that it should be very cheap and possible to be sustainably produced, they are all really expensive niche products. Maybe that's, in theory, a necessary stage to make them catch on, or to appeal to a certain market, but it makes me not interested.

lalalacroix

I actually find living crickets to be disgusting and can't stand being around them. So the idea of actually eating one, whole or ground, sounds repugnant.

And although I am generally an adventurous eater, I'm not sure I could purposely eat any bug unless I needed to for survival.

yukfoo

I'm in! Have actually eaten these while vacation traveling...Not for the faint of heart. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0Fmpzkjnmw

Howard_M_Burgerz

Some of the cricket protein bars aren't too bad either. Would definitely use cricket powder. Bit pricey the last time I checked though.

Noreenmarie1234

These are really popular at my grocery store..

happytree923

I would try crickets and MAYBE worms but that's it for insects.

4legsRbetterthan2

I would try one of the bars if I came across it and it wasn't super expensive. Not sure I could eat an actual cricket, the legs freak me out some. On the other hand I eat calamari, so maybe its just something I would have to try to get over.

neugebauer52

Have a look at ingredients - most food stuff percentages do not add up to 100 %. The rest are: bugs, beetles, mouse and rat droppings and other delightful additions...

RetiredAndLovingIt

My great nephew is a cricket farmer with some friends of his. They raise them & then they are shipped to California? to be made into flour. His mom has eaten them, but not sure I am brave enough! (I also think they are white..not the ordinary black ones that drive you nuts with their chirping! Lol)

CSARdiver

Throw some bacon on it and you've got a deal.

Or dip it in chocolate. Makes everything better.

Sunshine_And_Sand

No. If I knew they were made of crickets, I would not try them unless it was life or death. I don't really like the taste of processed protein too much anyway and am picky about the ones I do eat on rare occasions, so there's no way I'd knowingly try bug based protein just to see if I like it...

janejellyroll

I wouldn't, but that is for ethical reasons. If I ate other animals, I would probably give cricket protein a try especially if it was in the form of a protein bar/cookie.

quiksylver296

I've eaten freeze-dried crickets. So, sure.

estherdragonbat

neugebauer52 wrote: »

Have a look at ingredients - most food stuff percentages do not add up to 100 %. The rest are: bugs, beetles, mouse and rat droppings and other delightful additions...

Not in strictly kosher products.

tbright1965

If you've eaten food from a manufacturer, you've probably already eaten worse, so I don't see a problem with this.

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tbright1965

DemSwells wrote: »

I have eaten crickets, huhu beetles and ants. I have no issue consuming insects. Sometimes by choice other times I down a few accidentally when walking through the woods mouth agape.

Yep, reminds me that bicyclists have probably already consumed "mass quantities" of insects.

Then there is the notion of the "web rider" on trails. The lead rider makes first contact with any spider webs on the trail.

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heybales

The cricket bars I had were just fine - the one version that had some non-ground up parts merely to show it was based on crickets - didn't want to do it with little legs showing.
One was very un flavored for you to enjoy I guess the "natural" taste - just showed how much the normal flavoring of bars more than hid anything from what it was based on.

tbright1965

DemSwells wrote: »

tbright1965 wrote: »

DemSwells wrote: »

I have eaten crickets, huhu beetles and ants. I have no issue consuming insects. Sometimes by choice other times I down a few accidentally when walking through the woods mouth agape.

Yep, reminds me that bicyclists have probably already consumed "mass quantities" of insects.

Then there is the notion of the "web rider" on trails. The lead rider makes first contact with any spider webs on the trail.

Spider webs in the hair and face..the worst but funny in hindsight

I avoid spider webs in the hair by not having much hair

peleroja

I haven't done the research to verify, but I have read a few articles indicating crickets as a food source have a very small ecological footprint compared to other proteins, so for that reason alone I'm interested. I'm a fairly adventurous eater and not too phased by the idea, especially ground rather than whole.

JeromeBarry1

Sure. Just last week I went to a website to order some cricket protein bars. Everything from that vendor was "out of stock" so they missed their chance.

mmapags

peleroja wrote: »

I haven't done the research to verify, but I have read a few articles indicating crickets as a food source have a very small ecological footprint compared to other proteins, so for that reason alone I'm interested. I'm a fairly adventurous eater and not too phased by the idea, especially ground rather than whole.

In addition, trapping cricket and grasshoppers is a form of integrated pest management for farmers. They then reduce pesticide use and provide a protein source.

hesn92

I guess. I don't really know why I would though. I wouldn't choose cricket protein over something else.

JetJaguar

I'll try anything once.

Taz6o5

I'll pass.

amusedmonkey

peleroja wrote: »

I haven't done the research to verify, but I have read a few articles indicating crickets as a food source have a very small ecological footprint compared to other proteins, so for that reason alone I'm interested. I'm a fairly adventurous eater and not too phased by the idea, especially ground rather than whole.

My issue with this argument is that it's idealistic rather than realistic. The reality of things is that current protein practices do have a large footprint. Crickets, as used in countries that don't consume them, are currently used more like protein powder. I would rather contribute to solving the waste problem of dairy than following a niche for bragging rights. If someone starts creating true protein products with cricket powder and it's affordable and palatable, I would gladly switch to cricket burgers, for example.

laurenq1991

amusedmonkey wrote: »

I would. I considered it, in fact, when I saw one on Amazon. Then rationality won over curiosity...

If crickets are a cheap source of protein, then why is that protein bar so expensive per gram of protein? I'll wait until (if ever) the process is streamlined enough to have a reasonable cost. As long as cheese is produced commercially, I see no real reason to switch to crickets unless crickets get exceptionally cheap. Whey is a waste product, after all, and that waste needs to go somewhere.

Economies of scale and lack of government subsidies. Meat and dairy are heavily subsidized by the government so their price is way below the actual cost...it gives "government cheese" a whole new meaning.

https://www.realagriculture.com/2018/02/u-s-dairy-subsidies-equal-73-percent-of-producer-returns-says-new-report/

Allie1618

I found a few legs and a piece of a wing in my Panda Express once. Could have been a cricket. Tasted just like orange chicken.