Who is this option for?

Cooking it today

You’re planning to grill, pan-fry or oven-bake a fresh fillet and can get the meal ready promptly. Anses recommends keeping fish between 0 and 4 °C and eating it preferably on the day of purchase or within 48 hours.

Ingredient-conscious shoppers

You want to keep track of added ingredients when shopping to avoid lactose. An unprepared fillet is easier to check; for a tray-packed fillet, marinade or prepared dish, read the ingredients list and check any allergens highlighted on the label.

Shoppers looking for a fillet that’s already been cut

You want to minimise preparation before cooking. Still, check whether any bones may remain and what the stated weight refers to: Côté Fish says the weight selected is for the whole fish before preparation.

What should you check?

If you’re cooking it today, first distinguish a fresh, unprepared fillet from tinned fish and marinated or sauced dishes. Then check that it has been kept chilled, review the ingredients of the exact product and confirm how much fillet you’ll receive.

What to check Look for Who is this for?
Freshness and transport Take an insulated bag, then keep the fish between 0 and 4 °C. Check the use-by date if one is shown on the product. If I’m planning to eat it the same day, I need to be able to get the fish home and chilled without delay. Freshness would be the top priority for around 42 % of shoppers.
Added ingredients For a pre-packed product, read the full ingredients list; at the fishmonger’s, ask whether the fillet has been marinated or seasoned. When I’m avoiding lactose, I want to know what has been added to the fish before choosing a prepared dish. Around 33 % of shoppers would put this check first.
Filleting and quantity Check whether any bones may remain and whether the stated weight is for the fillets or the fish before preparation. If I don’t want to fillet the fish myself, I need to know how much I’ll actually be able to use. This would be the top priority for around 25 % of shoppers.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Confusing fresh fillets with prepared products

    A tin, a smoked fillet or a marinated dish isn’t the same as a fresh, unprepared fillet when you’re planning what to cook. A sauce or marinade also adds ingredients you’ll need to check if you’re avoiding lactose.

    Check the product description and, if it’s pre-packed or prepared, read the ingredients list.

  • Leaving the fish out of the fridge

    Poor storage can lead to histamine forming in mackerel. Vigil’Anses explains that neither cooking nor freezing destroys it.

    Pick up the fish towards the end of your shopping trip, carry it in an insulated bag and chill it promptly at between 0 and 4 °C, as recommended by Anses.

  • Assuming the stated weight is for the fillets

    Some sellers give the weight before preparation. At Côté Fish, for example, the selected weight is for the whole fish, not just the fillets you’ll get from it.

    Before ordering, check what the stated weight refers to and choose an amount of fillet that’s right for your meal.

  • Assuming a fillet is boneless

    Filleting alone doesn’t guarantee that no bones remain. A clear statement from the seller is different from simply calling the product a ‘fillet’.

    If this matters for your meal, look for specific information and check the fillet before serving.

Fishmongers and brands to know

Côté Fish

This fishmonger offers fresh mackerel fillets identified as Scomber scombrus, intended in particular for cooking.

  • The seller describes the fillets as boneless and gives a three-day use-by period for the offer described.
  • The selected weight is for the whole fish before preparation, so check the weight and the batch details when ordering.

La Criée d’à Côté

This fishmonger offers a fresh, skin-on mackerel fillet, described as caught in the North-East Atlantic.

  • The seller’s product listing describes the fillet as never frozen.
  • Check availability and storage instructions before planning a meal around this product.

Saveurs Océanes IO

This producer, listed on Pourdebon, offers mackerel fillets in 200 g, 500 g and 1 kg packs.

  • The different pack sizes let you choose how much to order for your meal.
  • Check the specific offer for information about bones, the fishing area, the use-by date and delivery conditions.

Related Joybuy products

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Frequently asked questions

Are fresh mackerel fillets automatically lactose-free?

No. The name of the fish alone doesn’t tell you what’s in a prepared product. For a pre-packed, marinated or cooked fillet, read the ingredients list; at the fishmonger’s, ask whether any sauce or marinade has been added.

What should I check on the label of fresh mackerel fillets?

For an unprocessed fishery product sold in France, check the commercial name, scientific name and production method in particular. The DGCCRF also says that the fishing area, the category of fishing gear used and whether the fish has been defrosted are among the details that must be provided to consumers.

How long can I keep fresh mackerel fillets?

Anses recommends keeping fish in the coldest part of the fridge, between 0 and 4 °C, and eating it preferably on the day of purchase or within 48 hours. Follow any earlier use-by date shown on the product.

Can a tin of Petit Navire or Saupiquet replace a fresh fillet for cooking?

Not if you’re cooking it the same day: a ready-to-eat tin serves a different purpose from a fresh fillet. If you’re avoiding lactose, check the exact recipe too, as the ingredients in a plain product will differ from those in mackerel with sauce.