Who are these formats suitable for?

Hosts who are also preparing hot fish

You’d like to serve mackerel with mussels and chips, rather than limiting it to a cold starter. Frozen fillets are a good fit if their cooking instructions work with the rest of your meal preparation.

People who keep fillets in the freezer

You’d rather buy portions in advance than rely on a ready-to-serve tin. Check how many fillets are in the pack, the date shown and the storage instructions for the product you choose.

Guests mindful of allergens and provenance

Before cooking for a group, you want to check the species, allergen information and fishing details. The DGCCRF sets out the labelling information required for unprocessed fishery products sold to consumers in France.

What should you check before choosing?

If you’re serving hot fish, start with the frozen format and its cooking instructions. If you’re looking for a ready-to-serve starter instead, consider tinned options separately.

Criteria What to check Who it matters to
Format and portions Compare the net weight and number of fillets. Check whether you can take out the portions you need without defrosting the whole pack. If I keep fish in the freezer for a meal with others, I want to be able to adjust the portions to suit the number of guests. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise this need for storage and portion flexibility.
Cooking during the meal Check the cooking method and whether the product can be cooked from frozen. Picard states that this is possible for its frozen fillets with skin. When the mussels and chips are already being prepared, I want to know when to start cooking the fish. This coordination would be a priority for around 27% of consumers.
Storage and labelling Read the storage instructions, allergen information and details about the species and fishing. Keep the cold chain intact until the product goes into the freezer or is cooked. When serving mackerel to a group, I need to check what the product contains and how it has been stored. Around 20% of consumers would put these checks at the top of their list.
Ready-to-serve product Tell the difference between a tin of plain mackerel fillets and frozen fillets that need cooking. For Petit Navire tinned fillets, also check the instructions for after opening. If the fish is to complement a starter without any cooking, I’d prefer a ready-to-eat product, even though it plays a different role at the table. This would be the main need for around 20% of consumers.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Confusing tinned fish with frozen fillets

    A tin of plain mackerel is ready to serve, while frozen fillets chosen to go with mussels and chips need to be cooked. The two formats therefore fit into the meal in different ways.

    For a hot accompaniment, look for frozen fillets and read their cooking instructions. Keep tinned fish for a ready-to-eat option, such as a starter.

  • Overlooking the cold chain

    Anses lists mackerel among the fish that can pose a risk of histamine formation if they are not stored correctly. The instructions for Picard and Carrefour frozen fillets also say not to refreeze a product once it has been defrosted.

    Plan how you’ll get the fish to the freezer, follow the temperatures shown on the packaging and don’t refreeze the fillets after defrosting. Don’t serve a product if the cold chain has been broken.

  • Assuming every fillet is suitable for all your guests

    The Picard product contains fish and may contain traces of crustaceans and molluscs. Check the product you buy for skin and any other characteristics of the fillets, too.

    Read the allergen information and check for any bones before serving. Follow the cooking instructions on the packaging and make sure the fish is thoroughly cooked, as recommended by Anses.

Brands and retailers to consider

Picard and Carrefour Classic' are examples of frozen fillets that need cooking; Petit Navire is a tinned option for a different use.

Picard

Picard’s product listing describes a 600 g pack containing four frozen mackerel fillets with skin.

  • Cooking from frozen is recommended, with options to pan-fry, bake, steam or poach the fillets.
  • The listing identifies fish and possible traces of crustaceans and molluscs; check this information for your guests.

Carrefour Classic'

The Carrefour Classic' product is a 500 g pack of frozen mackerel fillets with skin.

  • The product listing specifies the species Scomber scombrus and storage at −18 °C.
  • It says not to refreeze the product after defrosting. Check availability at your local store or in your delivery area before planning to serve it.

Petit Navire

The Petit Navire plain mackerel fillets listed on Joybuy are tinned and ready to serve, not frozen fillets that need cooking.

  • This format could work if you’d like to serve mackerel as a starter rather than as a hot fish dish.
  • After opening, the product listing says to store the tin in the fridge and use it within two days.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Products related to this topic will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can you cook mackerel fillets without defrosting them?

Yes, if the instructions for the product say you can. Picard says its frozen fillets with skin can be cooked from frozen. Check the method and cooking time on the packaging you’ve bought rather than assuming the same instructions apply to all fillets.

How should you store frozen fillets after buying them?

Put them in the freezer promptly, keeping the cold chain intact. The Picard and Carrefour product listings say to store the fillets at −18 °C until the date shown on the packaging, and not to refreeze them after defrosting.

Why is the cold chain particularly important for mackerel?

Anses lists mackerel among the fish where poor storage can lead to histamine formation. Follow the recommended storage temperatures and don’t serve fish if the cold chain has been broken.

What should you look for on a fish fillet label?

For unprocessed fishery and aquaculture products sold to consumers in France, the DGCCRF says the label should include details such as the scientific name, production method, fishing area or country of farming, and whether the product has been defrosted. Also check the ingredients, allergen information and instructions for the product you choose.

Can tinned mackerel replace frozen fillets for this meal?

Not if you’re planning to cook fillets and serve them hot with mussels and chips. Tinned fish could instead complement a starter. For the Petit Navire plain fillets listed on Joybuy, the product information says to refrigerate after opening and use within two days.