Rana spp.
1 association assessed — none with dependable human evidence behind them yet. Strongest first.
The hind legs of farmed and wild-caught frogs, eaten in France, the American South and across Southeast Asia, where most of the international trade originates. The meat is pale, fine-grained and very lean.
Also known as Cuisses de grenouille, Ancas de rana, Bullfrog legs
What each association actually rests on, and the papers behind it. A rating describes the state of the research, not how impressive the food is. How we rate evidence.
Evidence is limited for frog meat in human nutrition research. It is a lean complete protein by composition, but no human trial has used it.
Insufficient evidence. Not enough human research to say anything useful yet.
Answers are written only from the entries on this page — the same nutrients, compounds, claims and citations you can read above. Nothing is added from outside the database, and every answer lists what it was built from.
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| Nutrient | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Macronutrients | ||
| Calories | 73 kcal | 4% |
| Protein | 16.4 g | 33% |
| Total fat | 0.3 g | 0% |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 0% |
| Fibre | 0 g | 0% |
| Total sugars | 0 g | — |
| Water | 81.9 g | — |
| Fats | ||
| Saturated fat | 0.076 g | 0% |
| Monounsaturated fat | 0.053 g | — |
| Polyunsaturated fat | 0.102 g | — |
| Cholesterol | 50 mg | 17% |
| EPA (omega-3) | 0.014 g | — |
| DHA (omega-3) | 0.02 g | — |
| DPA (omega-3) | 0.0070 g | — |
| Linoleic acid (omega-6) | 0.02 g | — |
| Vitamins | ||
| Vitamin A | 15 µg | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 0 mg | 0% |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 µg | 1% |
| Vitamin E | 1 mg | 7% |
| Vitamin K | 0.1 µg | 0% |
| Thiamin (B1) | 0.14 mg | 12% |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.25 mg | 19% |
| Niacin (B3) | 1.2 mg | 8% |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.12 mg | 7% |
| Folate | 15 µg | 4% |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.4 µg | 17% |
| Choline | 65 mg | 12% |
| Minerals | ||
| Calcium | 18 mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1.5 mg | 8% |
| Magnesium | 20 mg | 5% |
| Phosphorus | 147 mg | 12% |
| Potassium | 285 mg | 6% |
| Sodium | 58 mg | 3% |
| Zinc | 1 mg | 9% |
| Copper | 0.25 mg | 28% |
| Selenium | 14.1 µg | 26% |
| Other measured compounds | ||
| Beta-carotene | 0 µg | — |
| Alpha-carotene | 0 µg | — |
| Lycopene | 0 µg | — |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0 µg | — |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | — |
| Ash | 1.4 g | — |
Nutrient values are per 100 g of the USDA reference entry named on this page and vary with variety, growing conditions, storage and preparation.
Source record: Frog legs, raw (USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 168148).
% DV uses the FDA Daily Values for adults and children aged 4 and over. A dash means no Daily Value has been established for that nutrient.
Only effects with real support are listed. If a preparation method is missing, it is because nothing dependable is documented — not because it makes no difference.
Nothing dependable is recorded about how preparation changes this food’s nutritional properties. Rather than guess, this section stays empty.
Allergies, interactions and intake concerns. Every food gets this section — a reference where everything is uniformly good is not a reference.
Worth knowing
Amphibians and reptiles are recognised reservoirs of Salmonella, and imported frog legs have repeatedly failed border testing for it. Raw frog legs should be handled and cooked with the same care as raw poultry.
Worth knowing
Frogs carry Spirometra tapeworm larvae. Eating raw or undercooked frog, and the traditional practice in parts of Asia of applying raw frog flesh to wounds or eyes as a poultice, are documented routes to sparganosis, in which the larva migrates through human tissue. Cooking inactivates it.
Worth knowing
Much of the international trade is wild-caught, with population declines documented in exporting countries. Wild frogs from agricultural landscapes can also accumulate pesticide residues and heavy metals from the water they live in.
Too much
The meat itself is very lean; the classic preparations coat it in flour or batter and fry it in butter or oil, which is where most of the energy in the dish comes from.