Who are these fillets for?

People who check ingredients carefully

You’re looking for plain fillets with fewer ingredients to check when shopping for lactose-free foods. Even if the list is short, check the label and allergen information for the product you choose.

Households planning several meals

You’d like to keep fillets in the freezer and cook them as needed. Choose a pack size that suits the space you have and how you plan to use its contents.

People fitting meals around the time they have

You want to know whether the fillets can go straight into the pan or whether you need to allow time for them to defrost. Picard says its product can be cooked from frozen, while écomiam recommends defrosting it in the fridge before cooking.

What should you check before buying?

Start with the label for the exact product, then choose a pack you can keep frozen and a preparation method that fits your meals.

What to consider What to check Who is this for?
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack, including any ‘may contain’ warnings shown on the label. A list with no dairy ingredients does not, on its own, mean the product is certified ‘lactose-free’. If I’m buying mackerel as part of a lactose-free shop, I want to tell a plain fillet from a prepared recipe. Around 42% of consumers would put this check at the top of their list of concerns.
Pack size and storage Compare the pack weight with the space available in your freezer and follow the recommended storage temperature. Plan how to transport it while keeping it frozen. When I’m planning several meals, I need to be able to put the fillets away quickly and use the contents without refreezing a portion that has defrosted. This would be a priority for around 33% of consumers.
Preparation Check whether the instructions say to cook the fillets from frozen or defrost them first. Picard says they can be cooked from frozen, while écomiam recommends defrosting them in the fridge. If I decide on a meal at short notice, I’d rather know before buying whether I’ll need to allow time for defrosting. Around 25% of consumers would make preparation their main criterion.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming all mackerel is suitable for a lactose-free shop

    Plain fillets and prepared recipes don’t necessarily have the same ingredients. Petit Navire, for example, warns that one of its Mediterranean-style fillet products may contain traces of milk.

    Check the ingredients and allergen information for the product you’re buying, especially if it’s seasoned rather than plain.

  • Choosing a large pack without planning where to store it

    A pack intended for several meals needs space in the freezer, as well as a plan for storing it once opened.

    Check the weight and packaging, then take an insulated bag for the journey home after your shop.

  • Relying on cooking to make up for a break in the cold chain

    Anses explains that histamine, which can form in fish that has not been stored properly, is destroyed by neither cooking nor freezing.

    Keep the time out of the freezer to a minimum, follow the storage instructions and don’t refreeze fillets that have defrosted.

  • Assuming an old product listing means it’s still available to buy

    The Carrefour Classic’ page describes frozen mackerel fillets, but also says that this product is no longer stocked.

    Before adding it to your shopping list, check whether it’s actually available in your shop or for delivery to your area.

Brands to consider

Picard

Picard’s product listing features a 600 g pack of frozen mackerel fillets with the skin on.

  • The listed ingredient is mackerel fillet, and the instructions say to cook it from frozen.
  • Fish is listed as an allergen, and the product may contain traces of crustaceans and molluscs. Check the information on the pack you buy.

écomiam

écomiam’s product listing features a 500 g pack of frozen mackerel fillets.

  • The ingredients list states ‘100% mackerel’.
  • The preparation instructions say to defrost the fillets in the fridge before cooking. Check how you can buy them in your area, too.

Carrefour Classic’

The Carrefour Classic’ listing describes a 500 g pack of frozen mackerel fillets with the skin on.

  • Mackerel is listed as an ingredient, and the product information gives a storage temperature of -18 °C.
  • Carrefour says this product is no longer stocked, so the listing shouldn’t be taken as an indication that it’s currently available.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are frozen mackerel fillets automatically suitable for a lactose-free shop?

No, the product category alone isn’t enough to tell. For the products mentioned, Picard lists ‘mackerel fillet’ and écomiam states ‘100% mackerel’. But check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific product you’re buying, especially if it’s prepared or seasoned.

How should you transport and store frozen fillets?

Pick them up at the end of your shop, carry them in an insulated bag and put them in the freezer as soon as you get home. Follow the storage temperature on the pack; the Carrefour Classic’ listing gives -18 °C for its product.

Can you refreeze fillets once they’ve defrosted?

Anses recommends not refreezing food once it has defrosted. Follow the preparation instructions on the pack and eat the fillets soon after defrosting.

Why is it important to keep mackerel frozen?

If mackerel isn’t stored properly, histamine can form. According to Anses, neither cooking nor freezing destroys histamine once it has formed. So keep the fish cold while transporting it and follow the storage instructions.