To avoid unused portions, start by choosing a pack size that suits the meals you actually prepare. Plain fillets let you portion and season the fish separately; breaded fish and ready meals need less preparation, but you should check how much fish they contain, along with their ingredients and allergens. If your household includes someone who is pregnant, a young child or someone with a weakened immune system, follow ANSES guidance on species and cooking as a priority.
If you only prepare one or two portions at a time, compare the pack size and check whether you can take out individual fillets. Findus says that some of its plain fillets are individually wrapped; larger packs of Alaska pollock are another option if you’re planning several meals.
Check the instructions for the product you choose: some fish can be cooked from frozen, while others need to be prepared in advance. A plain fillet and a breaded portion don’t have the same ingredients, even though both can work well for a simple meal.
The species, ingredients, allergens and cooking instructions are particularly important. ANSES recommends specific precautions during pregnancy and for young children, including not serving them raw, smoked or undercooked fish.
Your choice comes down to how much you’ll use, how much preparation you can plan for, and what you need to check for your household. These three formats suit different needs.
Choose these if: you want to take out the amount you need and decide on the seasoning and side dishes yourself.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to prepare the rest of the meal and, depending on the product, allow time for defrosting.
Choose this if: you want easy-to-portion pieces with cooking instructions on the pack.
Check: the coating affects the ingredients; the fish content and allergens vary by recipe.
Choose this if: cutting down on meal prep matters more to you than putting the recipe together yourself.
Check: the portions, ingredients and cooking instructions for the particular dish.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable quantity | Net weight, number of pieces and whether you can take out only the portions you need. | When I’m preparing just a few portions, I want to keep the rest of the pack for another meal without opening a whole block. Around 40% of consumers put portion control at the heart of their choice. |
| Meal preparation | Whether the fish needs defrosting first and the cooking method given for that product. | In the evening, it can be hard to plan ahead for defrosting or prepare several elements separately. Easy preparation would be the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and precautions | Species, fish content in a breaded recipe, ingredients, allergens and cooking instructions. | When there’s a young child or someone with a sensitivity at the table, I want to know what’s in the product and serve it in line with the cooking guidance. This is the top consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
A bone may occasionally remain in a fillet after deboning. E.Leclerc’s Eco+ Alaska pollock fillet product information notes that this is possible.
Read the information for the product you’ve bought and check the pieces before serving, especially to a young child.
The breadcrumbs are part of the recipe. The POUCE breaded pollock fillet sold by Auchan contains 63% pollock and wheat; another product may have a different recipe.
Check the fish content, ingredients list and allergens on each pack. When comparing nutritional values, make sure they’re given on the same basis, such as per 100 g.
France’s Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control warns that rising temperatures encourage microbial growth. ANSES stresses the importance of cooking fish right through and advises pregnant women, young children and people with weakened immune systems to avoid raw, smoked or undercooked fish.
Get frozen food home promptly, follow the storage and preparation instructions on the pack, and make sure the fish is thoroughly cooked throughout.
These brands and retailers offer product types worth comparing. The details below apply to the specific products mentioned, not necessarily to their entire ranges.
Findus’s range includes plain fillets of several species, as well as breaded fish.
Carrefour’s frozen food range includes separate categories for plain, breaded and ready-to-cook fish.
The Eco+ product reviewed is a 1 kg bag of plain Alaska pollock fillets.
The products reviewed include plain pollock and POUCE breaded pollock portions.
The Ocean Sea product reviewed is a 500 g pack of hake fillets.
Aldi’s range includes Alaska pollock fillets, breaded fish and fish in sauce.
This selection includes plain fillets to portion across several meals and breaded fish in multiple pieces. Choose according to how much preparation you can plan for, then check the ingredients, allergens and cooking instructions on the pack you receive.
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A pack to consider if you’d like to divide plain fillets between several meals.
If you plan to cook straight from frozen, follow the instructions for the product you receive and make sure it’s thoroughly cooked.
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These plain fillets are a good choice for a meal where you want to choose the side dishes yourself.
Check for any small bones before serving a portion to a young child. If you have an allergy, also read the allergen information on the pack.
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This pack of plain fillets is suited to meals you can plan in advance.
Allow time to defrost this product in the fridge as instructed before cooking it according to the pack directions.
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These plain fillets are another option for a planned meal rather than something prepared at the last minute.
This product should be defrosted in the fridge before cooking; follow the instructions on the pack.
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The ten pieces can make it easier to divide the pack between several meals.
For this breaded recipe, check the ingredients and allergens, particularly wheat. Refer to the pack for the cooking method and make sure the fish is cooked all the way through.
Choose plain fillets if you want to decide on the portions and seasoning; consider breaded fish or a ready meal if cutting down on preparation is your priority. For the latter two formats, compare the fish content, ingredients, allergens and portion sizes for the specific product.
Yes, as long as you choose the species and preparation with ANSES guidance for these groups in mind. ANSES advises pregnant women and young children to avoid raw, smoked or undercooked fish in particular. Check the precautions for the species you choose and serve the fish thoroughly cooked.
Follow the instructions for the product: some can be cooked from frozen, while others need to be defrosted in the fridge first. Auchan’s product information for POUCE breaded pollock says to cook it from frozen; this doesn’t automatically apply to other fish.
Read the ingredients list and check the allergens highlighted on the pack for the product you’ve bought. France’s Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control reminds consumers that this information must be shown on the label. A breadcrumb coating may contain wheat, for example, as in the POUCE recipe reviewed at Auchan.