10 Best Edible Insects of 2024
Depending on where you're from, the words "insects" and "food" may conjure up images of ants invading your picnic or those same ants being the main course of your picnic. Throughout much of the Western World, the first scenario has historically been more likely, but some people are starting to consider insects to be the next big thing in sustainable food. So, if you've been thinking about trying edible insects, you're not alone! Edible insects have emerged as a viable and surprisingly tasty option. But with so many different bugs on the market—from crickets to mealworms—it can be tricky to know which to pick.
In our buying guide--fact-checked by registered dietitian Megan Huff--we'll explain everything you need to know about selecting edible insects, from their taste profiles to the best ways to prepare them. We've also compiled a list of 10 best-selling products on Amazon so you can explore various options that suit your preferences. Whether you're looking for a protein-packed snack or a sustainable ingredient to add to your meals, we've got you covered.
Quick List - Top Edible Insects
Megan is a registered dietitian and gluten-free food influencer (@sayimafoodie) and owns a virtual nutrition private practice–Nutrition by Megan. Currently, she works as a performance nutrition intern at the United States Naval Academy. She has been quoted for her nutrition expertise in numerous media outlets, including Health, Forbes, People, Clean Plates, EatingWell, and Eat This, Not That! Megan earned her undergraduate degree in nutritional sciences and toxicology-dietetics at the University of California, Berkeley.
With over a decade of weightlifting experience, Christopher Heffner is an avid fitness enthusiast who enjoys starting his day with a good workout. He also has a background in engineering and business, bringing a unique blend of technical knowledge and practicality to his endeavors.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
What Kinds of Insects Are Edible?
Throughout human history, various cultures worldwide have used several kinds of insects as food sources for various reasons. Insects have historically been used as a food source because of availability and the relative availability of other protein sources. After all, the traditional foods from different regions vary based on what is readily available. Recently, eating insects has gained popularity in areas where the practice isn't part of a longstanding tradition, mainly for the novelty and purported environmental and ecological benefits. That being said, not every insect is fit for human consumption. Quite the opposite, in fact: only those that are cultivated and packaged specifically for human consumption should be considered.
Potential Health Benefits and Considerations
It's also important to note that some people may experience allergic reactions to insects, particularly those with shellfish allergies. This is often linked to tropomyosin, a protein found in both insect and shellfish muscles.
How to Choose Edible Insects
We'll guide you through selecting edible insects, from understanding different species to considering factors like flavor, texture, and nutritional value. Whether you're a seasoned insect enthusiast or just considering the possibilities, here are the essential criteria for making informed choices about this food source.
Consider the Natural Flavors
The first things that should be considered when looking for edible insects are the natural flavors and textures. While seasonings can be added, starting with a base that appeals to you is best.
For a Nutty Flavor, Look for Crickets, Mealworms, and Grasshoppers
Crickets, mealworms, and grasshoppers are all commonly described as having a "nutty" flavor but with some differences and different textures.
Crickets: Often described as nutty, similar to almonds or walnuts. Some people also note a subtle sweetness. Their texture can range from crunchy to chewy, depending on preparation. When roasted or fried, they can have a crispy exterior.
Mealworms: Mild and slightly nutty, similar to wheat germ. They tend to be chewy when raw but can become crispy when roasted or fried.
Grasshoppers: Typically have a grassy or slightly gamey flavor. Crunchy when roasted or fried, but can be chewy when raw.
It should be noted that crickets tend to have notably higher cholesterol than other insects and meats.
For a Sweet Taste, Look for Larvae
Larvae are often reported to have a sweet taste, but the flavor can vary depending on the species. They tend to be soft, chewy, and sometimes slightly mushy when raw. As with other types of insects, they tend to become a bit crispy when cooked.
Consider Added Flavors
Choosing a familiar flavor might help when trying an unfamiliar food. On top of the insects' flavors, many brands add seasonings. This can range from subtle to something that shifts the focus away from the insects.
Candy and chocolate-covered insects have been popular gag gifts for years. Classic examples are lollipops with scorpions inside and chocolate-covered ants. While these can be popular choices for those who want to ease their way into eating bugs, they emphasize the flavor and texture of the candy rather than that of the insect.
Ubiquitous in many other snack foods, salt is another commonly added flavor for edible insects. From pretzels, chips, peanuts, and sunflower seeds to crickets and ants, something about salt draws people to it when they want something to munch on.
Barbecue sauce's sweet, tangy flavor is often found on jerky and potato chips. Likewise, barbecue is the perfect solution for those looking for something savory but more unique than salt alone.
Another popular choice is to look for something with extra spice. Check the ingredient list for onion or cayenne, jalapeno, and habanero peppers. While a range of options are available, you may have to add some of your own hot sauce if you want something particularly hot.
Look For Pre-ground Insects That Can Be Easily Incorporated Into Cooking
Struggling to find insects visually appetizing? Look for pre-ground insects for something easier to integrate into your cooking while maintaining a familiar texture and appearance. Powdered ingredients can easily be added or substituted into the recipes you're already familiar with to impart their flavor and nutrition to existing dishes.
10 Best Edible Insects Ranking
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | Details | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Insect | Flavor | Preparation Method | Amount | Serving Size | Calories per Serving | Protein per Serving | Cholesterol per Serving | Fiber per Serving | Preparation Method | Certifications | Country of Manufacture | |||||
1 | Erbies Mixed Bugs | | A Variety of Insects Seasoned With Salt | Grasshoppers, Silkworms, House Crickets, Field Crickets, Sago Worms | Salt | Oven Dried | 0.52 ounces | 0.52 ounces | 80 calories | 8 grams | 0.04 grams | 0 grams | Oven Dried | Thailand | ||
2 | Hotlix Insect Sucker Lollipop Bundle - Pack of 4 | | The Classic Insect Lollipop Gag | Scorpion, Ants, Cricket, And Worm | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | ||
3 | ecoEat Edible Insects Big Crickets Covered in Dark Chocolate | | A Small Bag of Dark Chocolate Crickets | Crickets | Dark Chocolate | Microwave Dried and Dipped in Dark Chocolate | 0.38 ounces | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | Microwave Dried and Dipped in Dark Chocolate | Thailand | ||
4 | La Plazita Gourmet Salt and Lemon Grasshoppers | | Seasoned Grasshoppers From Oaxaca, Mexico | Grasshoppers | Salt and Lemon | Seasoned, Marinated or with Salt and Lemon | 1.06 ounces | 1.06 ounces | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | Seasoned, Marinated or with Salt and Lemon | Mexico | ||
5 | Merci Mercado Sal de Gusano (Mezcal worm salt) | | Chili Lime Salt From Oaxaca | Maguey worms | Salt, Chili Powder, Lime Juice | unknown | 2.3 ounces | 0.17 ounces | 0 calories | 0 grams | 0 grams | 0 grams | unknown | Mexico | ||
6 | Thailand Unique Original Mixed Bugs | | Lightly Salted Assortment of Insects | Mole Crickets, Field Crickets, Sago Worms, Silkworms, Grasshoppers | Salt | Oven Dried | 0.52 ounces | 0.52 ounces | unknown | 8.2 grams | unknown | unknown | Oven Dried | Thailand | ||
7 | Insnacc Sapin Scorpion Ultimate Niner | | A White Elephant Gift That’s Certain to Make an Impression | Grasshoppers, Silkworms, Superworms, Crickets, Scorpion, Tomyum Crickets | Dark Chocolate, Sesame Coconut, White Chocolate | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | ||
8 | Don Bugito Chili-Lime Crickets with Pumpkin Seeds | | A Mix of Insects and Seeds | Crickets | Chile, Lime | Toasted | 1.5 ounces | 0.77 ounces | 47 calories | 4 grams | 0.003 grams | 0 grams | Toasted | USA | ||
9 | Mama Shaw's Jerky Shop Chapulines Grasshoppers | | A Handmade Snack From Southern Mexico | Grasshoppers | Salt, Garlic, Red Peppers, and Vinegar | Chapulines | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | Chapulines | Mexico | ||
10 | Thailand Unique Edible Black Ants with Salt | | A Small Bag of Black Ants Seasoned with Salt | Black Ants | Salt | Oven Dried | 0.17 ounces | 0.17 ounces | unknown | 1.5 grams | unknown | unknown | Oven Dried | Thailand | ||
ErbiesMixed Bugs
| Insect | Grasshoppers, Silkworms, House Crickets, Field Crickets, Sago Worms |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Salt |
- Calories per Serving
- 80 calories
- Protein per Serving
- 8 grams
- Cholesterol per Serving
- 0.04 grams
- Fiber per Serving
- 0 grams
A Variety of Insects Seasoned With Salt
| Preparation Method | Oven Dried |
|---|---|
| Amount | 0.52 ounces |
| Serving Size | 0.52 ounces |
| Preparation Method | Oven Dried |
| Certifications | |
| Country of Manufacture | Thailand |
HotlixInsect Sucker Lollipop Bundle - Pack of 4
| Insect | Scorpion, Ants, Cricket, And Worm |
|---|---|
| Flavor | unknown |
- Calories per Serving
- unknown
- Protein per Serving
- unknown
- Cholesterol per Serving
- unknown
- Fiber per Serving
- unknown
The Classic Insect Lollipop Gag
| Preparation Method | unknown |
|---|---|
| Amount | unknown |
| Serving Size | unknown |
| Preparation Method | unknown |
| Certifications | |
| Country of Manufacture | unknown |
ecoEatEdible Insects Big Crickets Covered in Dark Chocolate
| Insect | Crickets |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Dark Chocolate |
- Calories per Serving
- unknown
- Protein per Serving
- unknown
- Cholesterol per Serving
- unknown
- Fiber per Serving
- unknown
A Small Bag of Dark Chocolate Crickets
| Preparation Method | Microwave Dried and Dipped in Dark Chocolate |
|---|---|
| Amount | 0.38 ounces |
| Serving Size | unknown |
| Preparation Method | Microwave Dried and Dipped in Dark Chocolate |
| Certifications | |
| Country of Manufacture | Thailand |
La Plazita GourmetSalt and Lemon Grasshoppers
| Insect | Grasshoppers |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Salt and Lemon |
- Calories per Serving
- unknown
- Protein per Serving
- unknown
- Cholesterol per Serving
- unknown
- Fiber per Serving
- unknown
Seasoned Grasshoppers From Oaxaca, Mexico
| Preparation Method | Seasoned, Marinated or with Salt and Lemon |
|---|---|
| Amount | 1.06 ounces |
| Serving Size | 1.06 ounces |
| Preparation Method | Seasoned, Marinated or with Salt and Lemon |
| Certifications | |
| Country of Manufacture | Mexico |
Merci MercadoSal de Gusano (Mezcal worm salt)
| Insect | Maguey worms |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Salt, Chili Powder, Lime Juice |
- Calories per Serving
- 0 calories
- Protein per Serving
- 0 grams
- Cholesterol per Serving
- 0 grams
- Fiber per Serving
- 0 grams
Chili Lime Salt From Oaxaca
| Preparation Method | unknown |
|---|---|
| Amount | 2.3 ounces |
| Serving Size | 0.17 ounces |
| Preparation Method | unknown |
| Certifications | |
| Country of Manufacture | Mexico |
Thailand UniqueOriginal Mixed Bugs
| Insect | Mole Crickets, Field Crickets, Sago Worms, Silkworms, Grasshoppers |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Salt |
- Calories per Serving
- unknown
- Protein per Serving
- 8.2 grams
- Cholesterol per Serving
- unknown
- Fiber per Serving
- unknown
Lightly Salted Assortment of Insects
| Preparation Method | Oven Dried |
|---|---|
| Amount | 0.52 ounces |
| Serving Size | 0.52 ounces |
| Preparation Method | Oven Dried |
| Certifications | |
| Country of Manufacture | Thailand |
InsnaccSapin Scorpion Ultimate Niner
| Insect | Grasshoppers, Silkworms, Superworms, Crickets, Scorpion, Tomyum Crickets |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Dark Chocolate, Sesame Coconut, White Chocolate |
- Calories per Serving
- unknown
- Protein per Serving
- unknown
- Cholesterol per Serving
- unknown
- Fiber per Serving
- unknown
A White Elephant Gift That’s Certain to Make an Impression
| Preparation Method | unknown |
|---|---|
| Amount | unknown |
| Serving Size | unknown |
| Preparation Method | unknown |
| Certifications | |
| Country of Manufacture | unknown |
Don BugitoChili-Lime Crickets with Pumpkin Seeds
| Insect | Crickets |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Chile, Lime |
- Calories per Serving
- 47 calories
- Protein per Serving
- 4 grams
- Cholesterol per Serving
- 0.003 grams
- Fiber per Serving
- 0 grams
A Mix of Insects and Seeds
| Preparation Method | Toasted |
|---|---|
| Amount | 1.5 ounces |
| Serving Size | 0.77 ounces |
| Preparation Method | Toasted |
| Certifications | |
| Country of Manufacture | USA |
Mama Shaw's Jerky ShopChapulines Grasshoppers
| Insect | Grasshoppers |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Salt, Garlic, Red Peppers, and Vinegar |
- Calories per Serving
- unknown
- Protein per Serving
- unknown
- Cholesterol per Serving
- unknown
- Fiber per Serving
- unknown
A Handmade Snack From Southern Mexico
| Preparation Method | Chapulines |
|---|---|
| Amount | unknown |
| Serving Size | unknown |
| Preparation Method | Chapulines |
| Certifications | |
| Country of Manufacture | Mexico |
Thailand UniqueEdible Black Ants with Salt
| Insect | Black Ants |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Salt |
- Calories per Serving
- unknown
- Protein per Serving
- 1.5 grams
- Cholesterol per Serving
- unknown
- Fiber per Serving
- unknown
A Small Bag of Black Ants Seasoned with Salt
This package contains five grams of black ants, which provide 1.5 grams of protein and 14 calories. Thailand Unique highlights the nutritional benefits of these ants and their various culinary uses, such as a salad topping.
| Preparation Method | Oven Dried |
|---|---|
| Amount | 0.17 ounces |
| Serving Size | 0.17 ounces |
| Preparation Method | Oven Dried |
| Certifications | |
| Country of Manufacture | Thailand |
The Current State of Regulation
In much of the world, insect farming, packaging, and sale for human consumption is a relatively new phenomenon. As such, regulation is minimal at best and often nonexistent. Literature published by American regulatory agencies does not mention insects as an intentional food source; it only refers to insects as contaminants in other foods*. Most insects farmed for human consumption are exported from regions with a longer history, such as Central America (typically Mexico) and Southeast Asia (Thailand being the most common). Each of these countries has its own rules and regulations, or lack thereof, which introduces additional variables.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, insects are consumed in their entirety, unlike other livestock. This makes it crucial to closely monitor how insects are farmed and processed, as they can accumulate contaminants from their feed or housing materials. Given their small size, it is challenging to decontaminate harvested insects, and any contamination may persist throughout the production and processing chain. For individuals who prioritize these factors, it may be wise to proceed with caution until more stringent regulations are established and consistently followed by producers.
Reference: Larouche, J., Campbell, B., Hénault-Éthier, L., Banks, I. J., Tomberlin, J. K., Preyer, C., Deschamps, M. H., & Vandenberg, G. W. (2023). The edible insect sector in Canada and the United States. 'Animal frontiers: the review magazine of animal agriculture, 13'(4), 16–25.
More Essential Snacks
Still hungry? Check out these other must-try treats for snacktime.
Top 5 Edible Insects
No. 1: Erbies｜Mixed Bugs
No. 2: Hotlix｜Insect Sucker Lollipop Bundle - Pack of 4
No. 3: ecoEat｜Edible Insects Big Crickets Covered in Dark Chocolate
No. 4: La Plazita Gourmet｜Salt and Lemon Grasshoppers
No. 5: Merci Mercado｜Sal de Gusano (Mezcal worm salt)
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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