For a complete meal with no leftovers
You want fish, a starchy side and vegetables in a portion labelled for one, without having to prepare several ingredients. Auchan’s salmon en papillote with linguine and vegetables is an example of this format.
Who are these formats for?
For a hot meal with a side
You’re mainly looking for fish in sauce or a breaded option, and you’re happy to prepare a side. Check how many portions it serves: the prepared meals featured by Auchan and Carrefour don’t all come in the same format.
For putting your own meal together
You’d like to choose the fish and its side separately. Fillets or loins that can be taken out individually may suit you, as long as you follow the cooking and storage instructions for the product you choose.
What should you look for first?
First decide whether you want a complete meal or just the fish. Then compare the number of portions, ingredients and preparation instructions for the product you’ve chosen.
| Priority | What to check | Who this is for |
|---|---|---|
| A complete meal for one | The “1 portion” label and whether the recipe includes a side. | I want dinner without preparing a side or having a second portion left over; around 31% of consumers might put this need for a complete meal first. |
| A flexible amount of fish | The number of pieces, their individual weight if stated, and the instructions for cooking just one piece. | If I already have vegetables or a starchy side, I’d rather choose how much fish to cook; this would be the priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| A recipe in sauce or with a coating | The type of preparation, number of portions and ingredients, particularly those in the sauce or coating. | For my winter dinner, the recipe matters more than whether the pack contains a complete meal; around 31% of consumers might prioritise this option. |
| A pack to use over several meals | Whether the pieces can be taken out separately and the instructions for after defrosting. | I eat fish more than once, but only want to defrost what I’m going to cook; around 15% of consumers might prefer this format. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming the pack weight tells you the portion size
A 400 g recipe may be labelled for two people, while Auchan also lists 300 g or 380 g products labelled for one person.
Check the number of portions for the specific product. If you want a complete meal, also make sure it includes a side.
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Assuming “boneless” is a guarantee
Findus and Pêche Océan product pages warn that a few bones may occasionally remain.
Take care when eating fish, particularly if the meal is for someone who may be more vulnerable.
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Choosing a sauce or coating without checking the ingredients
Ingredients and allergens vary by recipe. Findus’s fish & chips product page lists wheat and mustard, and says it may contain milk.
Check the ingredients list and any “may contain” statements on the packaging of the product you buy.
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Defrosting a whole pack for one meal
The instructions for some Findus and Marie products say not to refreeze them after defrosting. The DGCCRF also stresses the importance of maintaining the cold chain.
Before you buy, check whether you can take out individual pieces. Carry frozen food in an insulated bag and put it in the freezer as soon as you get home.
Defrosting more than you need may leave you with food to cook that you can’t put back in the freezer.
Brands and retailers to consider
Findus
Auchan lists a 380 g Findus Alaskan pollock à la bordelaise labelled as one portion. Other Findus products include fish loins to cook and breaded fillets.
- The product page for Findus x4 cod loins on Courses U gives microwave cooking instructions for one portion.
- The number of portions, allergens and cooking instructions vary by recipe. A few bones may occasionally remain.
Auchan
Auchan’s range includes breaded and prepared fish, with packaging indicating one or more portions depending on the product.
- Portion labels help you tell the difference between an individual meal and a pack intended for several meals.
- Check the details for the exact product: the weight alone doesn’t tell you how many portions it contains.
Carrefour
Carrefour’s range includes pollock in sauce, breaded fish and products from other brands.
- These options let you compare a prepared fish recipe with a breaded format, depending on the dinner you have in mind.
- Don’t assume a 400 g tray is a single portion without checking the label.
E.Leclerc / Pêche Océan
E.Leclerc’s range includes breaded fish and Pêche Océan recipes in sauce.
- The product page for 400 g Alaskan pollock à la parisienne lists the fish and sauce separately, each making up 50% of the recipe.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for this recipe, particularly if you need to avoid milk, wheat or sulphites.
ALDI / Golden Seafood
ALDI lists Golden Seafood products including two breaded pollock fillets weighing 200 g in total, as well as packs containing more pieces.
- The number of pieces helps you work out whether the pack is suitable for one dinner or several meals.
- Check the number of portions and the information on the packaging of the product you choose.
Frozen fish available on Joybuy
This selection includes a prepared fish recipe, breaded fillets and salmon fillets to cook yourself. For a meal for one, distinguish between the number of pieces and the number of meals stated on each pack.
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Findus Alaskan Cod, Bordeaux-style, 380 g
For anyone who’d rather have prepared fish than a plain fillet. Check how many portions it serves, and plan a side if you want to put together a complete meal.
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Findus MSC Alaskan pollock fillets, breaded fish & chips style, 4 × 100 g
Choose one or more breaded fillets to suit your meal. The pack contains four 100 g fillets; add a side if you want a complete meal. The product page lists wheat and mustard, and says it may contain milk. Check the instructions before cooking only part of the pack.
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Findus MSC breaded cod fillets, x10, 510 g
A pack of ten breaded fillets to use over several meals. Before choosing it for a meal for one, check the weight per fillet and whether the instructions allow you to cook a few pieces without defrosting the rest. You’ll also need to prepare a side.
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ESCAL ASC-labelled salmon fillets, x2, 250 g
Cook the salmon and choose your own side. The pack contains two fillets weighing 250 g in total. Check whether you can take out one fillet without defrosting the other, then follow the pack’s defrosting and cooking instructions.
Frequently asked questions
How can you tell if a fish meal is intended for one person?
Look for an explicit “1 portion” label or the number of portions stated on the packaging. Then check whether the pack contains fish only or includes a side too: four separate fillets don’t automatically make four complete meals.
Can you cook a single portion from frozen?
Yes, if the instructions for that product say you can. The Courses U listing for Findus x4 cod loins gives a microwave cooking time of 3 minutes at 750 W for one portion. Follow the pack instructions and make sure the fish is cooked all the way through.
Can you refreeze fish after defrosting it?
Don’t refreeze products whose packaging says not to, including the Findus and Marie products mentioned here. If you buy a pack for several meals, check how to take out the amount you need before defrosting the fish.
Which allergens should you check in fish in sauce or with a coating?
Check the ingredients for the specific recipe, as the sauce and coating can affect which allergens are present. The Findus fish & chips product mentioned here lists wheat and mustard, and says it may contain milk. Always check the packaging of the product you buy.
How should you get frozen fish home?
Carry it in an insulated bag, then store it promptly according to the instructions on the packaging. The DGCCRF warns that rising temperatures speed up microbial growth, so keep the fish cold on the way home.