How Much Protein is in a Cricket
“In nature, nothing is wasted.” – Rachel Carson
I ate a cricket on a dare once. It was crunchy, a little nutty, and surprisingly…not terrible?
What I didn’t know then that I know now was that I had eaten a food more full of protein than chicken, beef, or eggs!
How much protein is in a cricket
A single cricket has about 0.6 to 0.7 grams of protein in it (1).
“Big deal,” you say. “My protein bar has 20 grams!”
But here’s the thing: Crickets are 60-70% protein by dry weight.
To put that in perspective:
- Beef? Just 26%
- Chicken? 31%
- That protein bar you’re so proud of? Probably around 20-30%
Crickets are like if The Rock and Arnold had a baby, and that baby was made of protein powder.
Let’s take a closer look.
Crickets vs other protein sources
Crickets beat out all other traditional protein sources
Crushing it.
What else crickets have to offer
Now what you’re probably thinking is: “Josh, I’m not eating bugs. That’s gross.”
But hear me out. Crickets are more than just protein, they’re:
- Sustainable: They need way less water and land than cows (2).
- Nutrient-dense: They’re packed with iron, calcium, and B12. Basically a multivitamin (3).
- Efficient: Crickets turn food into protein faster than any cow, pig, or chicken.
You may have already eaten them
Remember when I said I ate a cricket on a dare? Well, plot twist: You’ve probably eaten crickets too.
Yep, the FDA allows a certain number of insect parts in our food (4). So unless you’ve been growing all your own food (weird flex but ok), you’ve been an accidental entomophagist (bug-eater) this whole time.
Check out what brands use cricket flour here
The cricket challenege
So a challenge: This week eat some cricket protein. You don’t have to eat whole bugs (unless you’re feeling adventurous). Try:
- Cricket protein powder in your smoothies
- Cricket flour in your baking
- Cricket protein sprinkled on meals
You might be surprised. That protein bar you’ve been forcing yourself to eat could actually taste better with some cricket in it. Worst case scenario you tried something new and got a little extra protein.
That is unless you’re allergic to shellfish. In that case, stick to whey. We don’t want any anaphylactic shock here. That is one way to get swole, but I wouldn’t recommended.
Go eat some crickets,
– Josh
