For quick meals after your baby arrives, choose plain fillets if you want to decide on the seasoning and sides yourself. Breaded portions or ready-made recipes are a better fit when you want to cut down on preparation. Then compare the species, any bones, ingredients, allergens and storage instructions rather than relying on the word “premium” alone. If someone in your household is pregnant, follow Anses advice on fish consumption before considering the format or label.
If you want to prepare just the amount you need and choose the recipe yourself, look for plain fillets or portions. Findus offers individually wrapped fillets, for example; check the packaging for the product you choose.
Breaded portions and ready-made recipes mean less to do. As their ingredients vary, compare the ingredient list, allergens and nutritional information for each product.
A convenient format is no substitute for checking the species and how the fish is prepared. Anses sets out specific precautions for these situations, particularly around certain species and raw, undercooked or smoked fish.
Start by deciding between a recipe you can make your own and a product that’s already prepared. Then check the details for the specific product: the word “premium” alone doesn’t tell you what’s in the pack.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Time and preparation | Number of portions and packaging; cooking instructions and whether the fish is already seasoned. | When a meal needs to be quick and easy, I want to choose between a plain fillet I can prepare myself and a portion that’s already cooked. Around 42% of consumers are said to put ease of preparation first. |
| Species, bones and ingredients | The species, any information about bones and the allergens; cooking instructions, especially during pregnancy. | If someone in my household is pregnant, or I need to take allergens or bones into account, I want to check each product before serving it. These precautions are said to be a priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Product details | The species, cut and, if it matters to you, any label shown on the product: MSC for wild-caught fish or ASC for farmed fish. | Before choosing a so-called “premium” range, I’d rather know what fish I’m buying and what kind of production any label relates to. Around 25% of consumers are said to make these details their top priority. |
A plain fillet, a breaded portion and fish in sauce don’t meet the same needs, even if they carry the same range description.
Compare the species, cut, portion size and ingredients on the packaging, then choose the format that suits the meal you’re planning.
Breaded fish or fish in sauce contains ingredients that you won’t find in a plain fillet. The Joybuy product listing for a breaded Findus product, for example, lists fish and wheat among its allergens.
Check the ingredient list, allergens and nutritional information for the product you’re interested in.
According to Anses, extra care is needed during pregnancy with certain species and with raw, undercooked or smoked fish. A sourcing label doesn’t address these concerns.
First check the species and preparation method against Anses guidance, then compare the product’s other features.
The DGCCRF points out that a rise in temperature speeds up the growth of microbes, so the journey home to your freezer needs to be considered.
Pick up frozen food last, keep it cold on the way home and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Findus’s range of plain frozen fish includes cod, Alaska pollock and pink salmon.
Carrefour’s frozen food range includes plain, breaded and ready-made fish, both under its own brands and national brands.
Auchan offers plain frozen fish as well as breaded and ready-made products, including fillets, portions and fish in sauce.
Lidl’s frozen fish range includes examples of fillets and breaded products, including hake, dab and Alaska pollock.
ALDI offers plain, breaded and sauced frozen fish, including products under the Golden Seafood brand.
This selection includes a breaded option and fish fillets you can cook yourself. First choose the format that suits the time you have for preparation, then compare the species, quantity and details on each pack.
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Worth considering if you’d prefer a breaded portion to a plain fillet you can season yourself. The pack contains 4 fillets of 100 g each; check the allergens and follow the cooking instructions on the packaging.
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These fillets are a good option if you want to make your own meal with unbreaded salmon. The pack contains 4 fillets weighing 500 g in total; check the information about bones and cooking before serving.
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The pack of 2 fillets could suit you if you’re preparing fewer portions and want to choose the recipe yourself. Check for any bones and follow the pack’s defrosting and cooking instructions.
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This product lets you make a home-cooked meal with wild salmon bearing the MSC label. The pack contains 4 fillets weighing 500 g in total; check for any bones and follow the defrosting and cooking instructions.
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These hake fillets are an unbreaded option for putting a meal together yourself. The pack contains 400 g; check the information about bones and allergens, then follow the cooking instructions.
Plain fillets or portions let you choose the sides and seasoning. Breaded portions or ready-made recipes generally take less preparation. If you choose one of these, remember to check the ingredients and allergens too.
It depends on the species and how the fish is prepared, not simply on whether it’s frozen. Anses advises avoiding raw, undercooked or smoked fish during pregnancy and recommends taking extra care with certain species. Check the product and follow its cooking instructions.
Keep it cold on the way home and follow the storage temperature shown on the packaging. The DGCCRF points out that a rise in temperature speeds up the growth of microbes, so pick up frozen food last and get it into the freezer as soon as possible.
Follow the instructions on the product you’ve bought. Findus says “Do not refreeze after defrosting” for one of its cod products. Check the packaging for your fish rather than assuming the same instruction applies to every product.