FAQ
Entomophagy or the practice of eating bugs by humans, is new to a lot of people. We get it! Did you know 80% of the world eat insects as a source of protein? Here are a bunch of questions we are regularly asked about our crickets, and our farm to fork process.
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Where do your crickets come from?
We breed, raise and harvest all of our own crickets right here at 3 Cricketeers Cricket Farm. We built a licensed commercial kitchen on-site, which allows us to oversee every aspect of the process from the farm to the finished product. This contributes to our low carbon footprint, which we are always striving to improve upo. While some have opted to import their crickets from Asia or Canada, from a quality and of course sustainability standpoint, this has never been an option for us. Just like buying locally sourced produce and meat, it’s the healthiest for you, your community and the planet! Not to mention, you get a chance to know your farmer and hear about and see their farm. We are proud members of Minnesota Grown. Knowing where your crickets come from is definitely a question you want to ask and pursue. Cricket country of origin should always be stated on the product packaging.
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What type of cricket do you raise?
We raise the Tropical House Cricket or Banded Cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus). The banded cricket is much heartier and more active than their counterparts. As for taste, our crickets are delicious, with a mild nutty, earthy flavor. The flavor truly depends on what they are fed, how they are harvested, and how they are processed in the kitchen.
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What do you feed your crickets?
Our crickets main fed source is spent grains from local breweries. Spent grains are the first fermented output from the brewing process. It is high in protein and fiber, which crickets need. We also supplement our crickets with 100% organic, NON-GMO vegetarian chicken feed that we source locally. The feed is peanut and tree-nut free. We have also developed a finishing feed with the help of Chef Gustavo Romero. This feed is given to them before harvesting.
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How do you farm your crickets?
We farm our crickets in St Louis Park, Minnesota. We are an "urban farm" using warehouse space and a vertical style farming for best air flow and temperature control. They are raised in upcycled foodgrade IBC containers and live in “cricket condos” made of chipboard and egg flats. Crickets like to hide in dark places and are more active at night. They only jump 6 inches high and our large open pins give them amble space. We work closely with the Head of the Entomology Department at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Sujaya Rao and her students. This relationship allows us to continue our innovation process with the highest standards.
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How do you harvest and end the their lives?
At harvest time we gather the crickets from their pins and we cool them down. Crickets slow down and fall asleep in cold temperatures, just like when cold temperatures drop in nature.
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How do you cook the crickets?
Our crickets are dehydrated, milled and packaged in our on-site licensed commercial kitchen. We thoroughly rinse the crickets and dehydrate them slowly for the best taste, texture and nutritional benefits. We then mill them into a fine powder, season them whole or cover them in chocolate.
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How do your crickets taste and how do you eat them?
Our crickets are delicious with a mild nutty flavor that incorporates beautifully into all recipes for added nutrition and energy!
Cricket protein powder can be used as a flour in baked goods by replacing up to 1/3 of the regular flour used in the recipe with cricket powder. It can be added to morning or post-workout smoothies or oatmeal. 2 packed tablespoons is 16 grams of protein and 210% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin B12. Cricket powder can be added to soups, stews, sauces, pasta, rice and quinoa dishes. The possibilities are endless!
*Cricket powder can also be called cricket flour. It can be confusing and make sure to read ingredients. There are cricket flours on the market that are baking mixes with cricket powder added.
Seasoned roasted crickets are a delicious snack with your favorite beverage. They are a wonderful on-the-go protein for hikes, work-outs or travel. Seasoned crickets can be added to salads as a healthy crouton or on top of any dish for a satisfying crunch. They are great on tacos or crushed and added for the breading on fish.
Our cricket chocolates are a sweet thrill! You can add our Dark Chocolate Cricket Clusters as an ice cream topper. Or add them to your homemade ice cream!
Crickets are Keto and Paleo. Our crickets are gluten-free and add tons of nutrition to gluten-free recipes. Our crickets are also dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free and Non-GMO. If you have a shellfish allergy, you may be sensitive to all insects. Their exo-skeleton is similar to shrimp. Scientists now believe the crickets exo-skeleton, which is a prebiotic fiber, could be the missing link to our gut health! New testing is always being done, we will update our website with any new information. Please reach out to us if you have any questions about allergies. And we can’t wait to hear how you use them!
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What is the shelf life of your products?
All products have Best By Date and Batch ID for product traceability.Our Pure Cricket Powder is 100% pure milled, organically farmed crickets, nothing added, no preservatives. The shelf-life is 1 year. Store your powder in a cool, dry place. It’s best kept in the refrigerator or freezer once opened. Our Cricket Snack Mixes with Roasted Crickets and Toasted Sunflower Seeds are best for 6 months. They are handmade in small batches with delicious, locally sourced seeds and spice blends with no added preservatives. Once opened (if you don't finish them all) you can reseal them in their original packaging, no refrigeration needed. We source our chocolate from Hacienda San José® a local Minneapolis company who's business model is based on the sustainability of agricultural production which has been certified by the Rainforest Alliance and UTZ. https://www.chocolatesanjose-minneapolis.com/Our Dark Chocolate Cricket Crunch Bar and Chocolate Covered Cricket Clusters are best for 6 months at room temperature, either covered/resealed in original packaging.