If you regularly cook for one, start by comparing plain fillets with clearly stated piece counts, weights and packaging. An individually wrapped fillet means you can take out just the amount you need. A small pack of two to four pieces may also suit you, provided the pieces separate easily. Breaded or prepared fish saves you from having to make a whole recipe, but check the fish content, ingredients and allergens.
If you usually make just one evening meal, an individually wrapped fillet lets you take out one piece without opening the others. For a pack containing several pieces, check whether you can separate them without defrosting the whole pack. Findus describes its six cod fillets as individually wrapped; Auchan also lists products with the number of pieces clearly stated.
Meals advertised for one or two portions, along with breaded fish, give you a ready-made guide to preparation. They are not plain fillets, though, so check the ingredients and allergens before choosing. Products listed by Auchan, Carrefour and Findus illustrate the differences.
A few small packs let you choose from different species instead of buying the same fish every time. For the general population, Anses recommends varying the species and sources, and including an oily fish alongside another type of fish.
Choose these if: you often eat alone and want to take out one fillet without disturbing the others, as with the six cod fillets described by Findus.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to prepare the seasoning and side dishes. Also check the information about bones.
Choose these if: you alternate between meals for one and meals for two, or want to keep several pieces in the same pack.
Check: two or four pieces won’t necessarily give you the same number of meals. Their weight and how easily they separate vary by product.
Choose these if: you’d rather have a prepared recipe than put one together yourself.
Bear in mind: the breadcrumbs or sauce add ingredients. The Carrefour and Findus examples reviewed contain wheat, among other ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Usable quantity | Compare the net weight, number of pieces and packaging. The piece count alone doesn’t tell you how much you’ll have for each meal. | When I’m eating alone, I want to take out just what I need without defrosting the whole pack. Around 50% of consumers surveyed put portion and leftover management first. |
| Preparation | Check whether you can cook the fish from frozen. For prepared recipes, look at the number of portions, ingredients and allergens. | After a busy day, I’d rather know how to prepare my fish than have to plan an entire recipe. Around 30% of consumers surveyed prioritise a simple dinner. |
| Species and ingredients | Identify the species and distinguish between plain fillets, breaded products and fish in sauce. For unprocessed products, also check the origin information. | When stocking up, I want to vary the species and know what each product contains. Variety and ingredients come first for around 20% of consumers surveyed. |
Two packs of four pieces may have different total weights and piece sizes. The number on the pack doesn’t tell you whether you’ll be able to take out just one piece, either.
Compare the net weight, number of pieces and packaging before deciding how many meals the pack will make for you.
Breadcrumbs and sauce change the ingredients. The Carrefour Classic' product reviewed contains 60% Alaska pollock and wheat flour, among other ingredients. Findus Double Délice Tomate also contains breadcrumbs and wheat.
Check the fish content, ingredients list, allergens and nutritional information for the specific product you’re considering.
Buying the same fillet every time makes shopping easier, but it doesn’t support the variety of species recommended by Anses for the general population.
If you’re stocking up for several meals, compare different species and check the name given on each pack.
Findus’s range includes plain fillets as well as breaded and prepared products.
The Carrefour Classic' product reviewed is a 400 g breaded fish product, so compare it as a prepared food.
Auchan’s range includes plain fish in packs with different piece counts, as well as prepared dishes advertised for one or two portions.
Some Golden Seafood products listed by ALDI come in packs of two or four, depending on the fish.
E.Leclerc DRIVE lists frozen fish among the products available to order online.
Lidl has listed frozen fish in different pack sizes, including hake fillets and breaded products.
These products include small packs of plain fish and a breaded option. To choose a quantity that suits your meals, compare the number of pieces and the weight, then check whether you can take out one piece without defrosting the rest.
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A pack of four fillets to consider if you’re planning several meals. The cooking instructions say you can cook them from frozen; check the packaging to see whether the fillets can be taken out separately.
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This pack of hake could work for several meals. The product description suggests around four portions, though the amount that suits you will depend on your appetite. Cooking from frozen is recommended. Check whether the pieces separate and whether there may be any small bones.
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An option to compare if you’re looking for a breaded product with four individually sized portions, each with a stated weight, adding up to 400 g in total. Cook from frozen in the oven or frying pan. This isn’t a plain fillet: the ingredients include wheat and mustard, and the product may contain milk. Check whether the fillets can be taken out separately.
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The two-fillet pack gives you a smaller option to compare for meals for one or two, though it doesn’t state the weight of each fillet. The instructions say to defrost fully before cooking. Check whether you can separate the fillets beforehand and look out for any bones.
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This two-piece pack gives you another type of fish to compare for meals for one or two, though it doesn’t state the weight of each piece. The instructions say to defrost fully and cook thoroughly before eating. Check whether you can separate the pieces before defrosting.
Compare the net weight, number of pieces and how they’re packaged. An individual sachet, such as the ones Findus says it uses for its six cod fillets, lets you take out one fillet. A pack marked ‘two pieces’ doesn’t, by itself, guarantee two portions that will suit your appetite.
Findus advises against refreezing its six cod fillets after defrosting. For the fish you buy, follow the storage and preparation instructions on the packaging.
For unprocessed fishery and aquaculture products, the DGCCRF says consumers should be able to find out the species, production method and fishing area or country of farming, among other details. Don’t assume the same information applies to a processed recipe: check the label on the specific product.
No. For the general population, Anses recommends varying the species and sources, and including an oily fish alongside another type of fish. You can bear this in mind when choosing several small packs.
Not if you’re looking for the same ingredients: breaded fish contains other ingredients. The Carrefour Classic' product reviewed contains 60% Alaska pollock, as well as wheat flour, vegetable oils and salt. If you choose this format for convenience, check the allergens and nutritional information too.