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    Home » Seafood

    Canned Fish – An Ultimate Guide

    Published: Dec 25, 2017 · Modified: Mar 17, 2021 · 23 Comments

    This Ultimate Guide to Cooking with Canned Fish will help you navigate the tinned and canned seafood options available, plus give you recipe ideas!

    Canned Fish 101: The Best Canned Fish To Buy

    Who else loves fish!? 

    Obviously I do, and I’m going to assume that you do too.  After all, you’re here with me, reading this canned fish guide!

    Whether you’re a die-hard fish fanatic, or are simply trying to include more seafood in your diet– you’ve probably noticed that fish can be EXPENSIVE.

    Personally, I have zero issues spending a little bit of money on a quality piece of fish. 

    It’s nice, though, to have an inexpensive, but still high-quality alternative.  And that alternative, my friends– is canned seafood. 

    That’s right– CANNED seafood.

    Why?

    For one thing– it can be incredibly affordable. 

    It’s also perfect for stocking pantries, and it’s portable and shelf-stable— making it a perfect choice for packed lunches and camping trips.

    So, the next time you’re looking for canned fish, what can you expect to find? 

    This Ultimate Guide to Cooking with Canned Fish is here to help you know what to expect, what to look for, give you tips for the best canned fish to buy, and of course– give you recipe ideas!

    Canned Tuna

    • Flavor Profile: Moderate fish flavor, Varies from brand to brand, Pairs well with chile peppers, citrus
    • Species: The two most popular types of canned tuna are Albacore and Skipjack.  You might also see tuna labeled as “Chunk Light”– this is generally Skipjack.
    • Pros: Easy to Find, Inexpensive
    • Cons: Very high in mercury– Limit consumption to 2 – 4 servings per month.
    • Is it Sustainable?: Not Usually.  Look for “Pole Caught” tuna from brands like Safe Catch and Wild Planet, and avoid poorly labeled cans, which likely use the unsustainable long-line method.
    • Try it: This Asian-inspired healthy tuna salad with wasabi is one of my favorites!
    Wasabi Tuna Salad
    This easy wasabi tuna salad is made with olive oil, capers, water chestnuts, ginger, red chili flakes, and wasabi. It's spicy, delicious, and perfect for lunch!
    Make It
    Wasabi tuna salad in a serving bowl

    Canned Sardines

    • Flavor Profile: Strong fish flavor, Varies widely from brand to brand, Pairs well with olive oil, fresh herbs
    • Species: Canned sardines can be made from up to 22 different types of fish, so the flavor and quality can vary widely
    • Pros: Easy to Find, Inexpensive, Very low in mercury, Easy to find pre-seasoned
    • Cons: None!
    • Is it Sustainable?: Very Likely!  Sardines are abundant.
    • Learn more: How to Eat Canned Sardines
    • Try it: Check out my most popular canned sardine recipe: Mini Sardine Fish Cakes
    A Canned Sardine Recipe: Mini Fish Cakes
    These mini Sardine Fish Cakes are served with a Spicy Yogurt Sauce, and are perfect to serve as Tapas or Hors D’Oeuvres.
    Make It
    Sardine Fish Cakes in a stack with sauce on the serving tray

    Canned Mackerel

    • Flavor Profile: Strong flavor, Similar to tuna, Pairs well with olive oil, citrus
    • Pros: Easy to Find, Inexpensive, Very low in mercury, Easy to find pre-seasoned
    • Cons: None!
    • Is it Sustainable?: Very Likely!  Mackerel are abundant. 
    • Try It: Try making a mackerel salad instead of tuna salad, or try this mackerel protein wrap from Killing Thyme
    Mackerel Salad
    This quick and easy Mackerel Salad is a healthy, low-mercury alternative to tuna salad, and is perfect for lettuce wraps and sandwiches, packed lunches and light dinners.
    Make It
    mackerel salad on a plate with lettuce and veggies

    Canned + Jarred Anchovies

    • Flavor Profile: Umami, SALTY, Pairs well with olive oil, garlic, tomatoes
    • Pros: Easy to Find, Inexpensive, Very low in mercury, Easily dissolve into food when heated– allowing for elevated flavor without major recipe adaptations
    • Cons: Very strong flavor that can be overwhelming
    • Is it Sustainable?: Very Likely!  Anchovies are abundant.
    • Try it: Try this summer soup: anchovy gazpacho
    Summer Soup: Anchovy Gazpacho
    This easy Summer Anchovy Gazpacho is a cold summer soup made with charred tomatoes, fresh cucumber, and anchovies.
    Make It
    Summer Anchovy Gazpacho with anchovies, cucumbers, and tomatoes

    Canned Salmon

    • Flavor Profile: Mild, Pairs well with citrus or mustard
    • Species: Often Pink salmon, but Chum, Coho, Sockeye, and King salmon are also canned.  Try to buy salmon cans that are clearly labeled with the type of salmon.
    • Pros: Generally uses high-quality Pacific salmon, Inexpensive, Easy to find
    • Cons: Quality varies widely
    • Is it Sustainable?: Very likely.  Pacific salmon are abundant.
    • Try It: Use canned salmon in this lemon rice soup from Avocado Pesto
    Easy Salmon Patties
    These easy salmon patties are made with canned salmon, yogurt, breadcrumbs, and a few easy-to-find seasonings.  Serve these salmon patties with the quick and easy mustard sauce!
    Make It
    easy salmon patties with dijon mustard sauce

    Canned Clams

    • Flavor Profile: Mild, Pairs well with butter, chile peppers
    • Pros: Easy to find, Generally inexpensive
    • Cons: Flavor sometimes considered inferior to fresh clams, quality can vary from brand to brand
    • Is it Sustainable?: Yes!  Currently, all varieties of clams are considered sustainably sourced.
    • Try it: I love this easy clam chowder with smoked oysters
    Easy Clam Chowder with Smoked Oysters
    This rich and hearty Easy Clam Chowder with Smoked Oysters is made with potatoes and canned clams, and is the perfect way to warm up on a cold winter night.
    Make It
    This rich and hearty Clam Chowder with Smoked Oysters is made with potatoes and canned clams, and is the perfect way to warm up on a cold winter night. (Clam Chowder NO BACON!)

    Canned Oysters

    • Flavor Profile: Mild or Strong, Depending on variety and preparation
    • Pros: Easy to find, Generally inexpensive
    • Cons: Unusual texture and appearance (may be off-putting to some)
    • Is it Sustainable?:  Yes!  Currently, all varieties of oysters are considered sustainably sourced
    • Try it: Make a batch of smoked oyster stuffing
    Smoked Oyster Stuffing
    This easy Oyster Stuffing is made with smoked oysters, and is an easy, affordable, and delicious twist on classic oyster stuffing.
    Make It
    oyster stuffing in a baking pan

    Canned Crab

    • Flavor Profile: Light, Pairs well with avocado, butter, lemon
    • Species: Snow, Blue, Dungeness, and Red King Crab
    • Pros: Easy to find, More affordable than fresh or frozen crab
    • Cons: Can be pricier than other canned seafood, Quality varies widely from brand to brand
    • Is it Sustainable?: Maybe.  Look for traceability information or a “Marine Stewardship Council” label.
    • How to Read the Labels: Higher quality crab meat will list the type of crab used on the can.
      Cans marked “lump” will typically include larger pieces of crab meat.
      Cans marked “special” or “extra fancy” will typically include smaller pieces and generally lower quality.
    • Try it:  Use canned crab on these crab fries, or check out these crab rangoons from Cooking with Curls
    Crab Fries
    These healthy crab fries are made with baked fries, and are loaded with crab meat, a little cheese, and a garlic yogurt sauce.
    Make It
    These Healthy Crab Fries are made with baked fries, and loaded with crab meat, a little cheese, and a garlic yogurt sauce.

    Canned Herring (or Kippers)

    • Flavor Profile: Strong flavor, Varies depending on preparation, Pairs well with eggs
    • Species: Herring, When filleted and smoked it is sold as a Kipper
    • Pros: Easy to find, Generally inexpensive
    • Cons: None! 
    • Is it Sustainable?: Yes! Currently, all species of herring are considered sustainably sourced
    • Try it: Use it as a ham hock substitute in this White Bean and Kale Soup with Smoked Fish, or try this Herring Smørrebrød from Lavender + Macarons
    White Bean and Kale Soup with Smoked Fish
    This healthy white bean and kale soup gets an extra boost of flavor from smoked fish, and is a quick and easy dinner option.
    Make It
    white bean and kale soup

    Other Canned Seafood

    So far, I’ve gone over canned seafood you’d find in an American grocery store. 

    Keep in mind, though, that if it swims– someone has probably canned it. 

    Stroll through gourmet specialty shops, international grocery stores, or shop online to find a wider variety of seafood.

    What other types of seafood can you find? 

    With a little effort, you can find cockles (similar to clams), mussels, octopus, eels, caviar, squid– and more!

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    About Sarah Trenalone

    Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    All commentsQuestions
    1. Ayngelina

      December 26, 2017 at 1:01 pm

      I thought I knew my tuna because I always said that I didn’t like skipjack and now I’ve just learned my regular ole chunk light is actually skipjack? I adore albacore as well but it’s reserved for special treats or when it finally goes on sale.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        December 26, 2017 at 5:27 pm

        Oh that’s funny! Well different brands can taste different from one another, so it’s possibly you had a can marked “skipjack” that you didn’t like, and a different brand of (skipjack) “chunk light” that you liked! 😀

        Reply
    2. Monica Le

      December 28, 2017 at 7:27 pm

      oh this Canned Fish looks so delicious… wish I had some right now!

      Reply
    3. Nicoletta @sugarlovespices

      December 29, 2017 at 4:16 am

      I always learn something from your 101 guides! Thank you! We like our Italian tuna in olive oil, a certain brand in a glass jar and it is so delicious. I’ve tried some cheaper variety in water, but did not like it at all. As Italians, we also like our sardines, anchovies and mackerel. But as for clams, and salmon, usually only fresh, but it’s good to have some alternatives.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        January 01, 2018 at 9:30 am

        I was just gifted some tuna belly in a glass jar- I can’t wait to try it!!!

        Reply
    4. Amy Nash

      December 29, 2017 at 9:03 am

      Wow, this guide is so thorough and helpful! I basically have only ever tried canned tuna and canned salmon, lol! Now I want to try those Sardine Fish Cakes!

      Reply
    5. Marisa Franca @ All Our Way

      December 29, 2017 at 1:03 pm

      Lots of very good information. We love our seafood and buy it if Hubby doesn’t catch his fish. It’s so good for you and you can make a lot of recipes with it.

      Reply
    6. Helene

      December 30, 2017 at 8:21 am

      That’s a very useful guide on canned food with so many unique suggestions on top. I like sardines and mackerels canned. Not so anymore tuna, I kind of ate too much of it as a teenager. I like the canned fish in a red tomato sauce, those are my favorites. Especially boiled with some potatoes, fresh milk and some cheese and bread at the side. =) I am going to go through each suggestion for inspiration!

      Reply
    7. Leah

      December 30, 2017 at 11:47 pm

      This is such great information for using canned fish. Being in the middle of the US, we can get some fresh seafood, but not a lot, so canned is a great way to go. This is great info, and I can’t wait to try some of it out!

      Reply
    8. Julie

      December 31, 2017 at 2:21 pm

      This is such a great resource for canned fish, since so many people (myself included) only really think about tuna! Do all forms of canned salmon include the fish bones? That was quite a surprise the first time I opened a can of salmon since it’s never in tuna, ha!

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        January 01, 2018 at 9:26 am

        Haha nope- they don’t all have bones. BUT it’s probably a higher-quality, less processed can of salmon if it still has some bone!

        Reply
    9. Monica | Nourish & Fete

      December 31, 2017 at 2:46 pm

      What a fantastic guide! I’m with you, I don’t really mind shelling out for high-quality fresh fish, but as I try to incorporate more of it into our diets, it’s likely to become more and more valuable to have some canned alternatives. Plus I just love the info you have here on sustainability – that’s important to me, and often hard to be sure of, depending on the store!

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        January 01, 2018 at 9:25 am

        It can definitely start to add up! I’m glad you thought this was helpful- let me know if you’ve got more questions!!

        Reply
    10. Leslie Haasch

      December 31, 2017 at 5:22 pm

      There is SO MUCH here that I didn’t know – thank you so much for this guide!

      Reply
    11. prasanna hede

      January 01, 2018 at 4:19 am

      so much information here about canned fish. I love mackerel ,sardines and crab but not so much tuna,wonderful guide.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        January 01, 2018 at 9:23 am

        Well mackerel, sardines, and crab are better for you than tuna so that’s a good thing! 😀 Enjoy!

        Reply
    12. David @ Cooking Chat

      January 01, 2018 at 8:16 am

      lots of good info here! I usually go for fresh seafood but I should give canned salmon a try. I occasionally slip a bit of anchovy into a sauce.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        January 01, 2018 at 9:24 am

        Yeah give it a try! Let me know if you’ve got more questions!

        Reply
    13. Stacey

      January 04, 2018 at 10:57 am

      Love this guide, very helpful. We always had smoked oysters and tuna growing up, love them.

      Reply
    14. Lois. O

      January 04, 2018 at 4:04 pm

      Such an exhaustive list. Great attention to detail. I’ll be bookmarking this for future referencing. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    15. Amanda

      January 09, 2018 at 7:22 am

      This is such a helpful guide! It can be so difficult navigating the canned seafood selections. I’ve had so many that have just not been of the quality I’d hoped for. I’ve had some amazing canned and jarred tuna from the specialty market, but definitely at a specialty price point, so they’ve only been an occasional treat. Will look for the pole caught cans at the regular grocery!

      Reply
    16. Cynthia

      October 07, 2018 at 11:31 am

      I’m getting up to make the sardine fish cake right now.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        October 07, 2018 at 12:12 pm

        Awesome!!

        Reply

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