To put together your own Sunday meal, start with a plain fish fillet or loin. If you’d rather make portioning easy, consider breaded or meunière-style fish. Either way, check the species, number of pieces, ingredients and cooking instructions, then choose a pack you can put straight into the freezer.
A plain fillet or loin lets you choose your own seasoning and side dishes. Findus says its cod fillets can be cooked straight from frozen; nevertheless, check the instructions for the product you buy before planning how to cook it.
The number of pieces can help you plan how to serve the meal, whether you choose plain, breaded or meunière-style fish. If you’re buying a prepared recipe, also check the fish content and ingredients list: the breaded products described by Auchan and Carrefour contain wheat.
A pack intended for the freezer should fit the space you have available and provide the number of portions you want. Findus says its frozen products should be stored at −18 °C; always follow the date and instructions on each pack.
First decide whether you want the fish as the basis for your own recipe or prefer it to come with a prepared coating or topping. Then check the pack size and how you plan to cook and store it.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Format for your recipe | Fish species and cut: fillet, loin, steak or breaded product; cooking instructions for that specific product. | I want to choose my own sauce and side dishes rather than starting with an already breaded recipe. Around 33 % of consumers would put this freedom to prepare fish their own way first. |
| Ingredients | Ingredients list, fish content and any allergens shown on the pack. | If someone at the table needs to avoid an ingredient, what’s in the product matters more than how it’s presented. This would be the top priority for around 20 % of consumers. |
| Serving portions | Number of pieces, pack weight and cooking instructions. | If I’m serving several people without preparing each piece separately, I look for a pack that’s easy to portion; around 27 % of consumers would prioritise this convenience. |
| Storage | Freezer space, storage temperature and date shown on the pack; whether you can take out the portions you need. | If I’m planning other meals too, I need a pack I can store and use according to the instructions. This would be the top criterion for around 20 % of consumers. |
The format alone doesn’t tell you what’s in the pack. For example, Auchan states that one of its breaded products contains 65 % cod fillet, while Carrefour states that its Carrefour Classic’ breaded portions contain 60 % Alaska pollock. These figures apply to those specific products, not to all breaded fish.
The coating and other ingredients contribute to the total weight of a prepared product. So the breaded products described by Auchan and Carrefour don’t have the same composition as a plain fillet.
Check the fish content, ingredients list and number of pieces before choosing the format that’s right for your recipe.
Pêche Océan says that a few bones may exceptionally remain in its cod fillets labelled “boneless quality”.
Take care when serving, especially to young children, even if the pack includes a statement about bones.
Frozen food needs to stay at the right temperature to maintain the cold chain. Findus says its frozen products should be stored at −18 °C.
Pick up the fish at the end of your shop, take it home promptly and put it away as soon as possible, following the instructions on the pack.
These ranges offer useful points of comparison between plain fish and prepared recipes. Always check the label on the specific product you’re thinking of buying.
The range includes plain cod fillets as well as breaded products.
The Carrefour Classic’ and Carrefour Extra ranges include plain fish and prepared portions.
Pêche Océan frozen cod fillets are available in packs of 400 g and 800 g, among other sizes.
The retailer offers breaded cod and meunière-style cod, among other products.
The retailer’s range of frozen fish included hake fillets and breaded products, among other options.
Aldi’s Golden Seafood range includes cod loins, Alaska pollock fillets and breaded products, among other options.
This selection includes breaded or prepared fish portions, as well as salmon fillets to cook yourself. Choose according to the meal you have in mind, then check the ingredients and preparation instructions on each pack.
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A 10-piece breaded option to consider if you’re serving fish to several people. Check the ingredients and cooking instructions on the pack before preparing your meal.
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Four 100 g fillets make it easy to plan your portions. If you’re cooking them straight from frozen, follow the cooking instructions on the pack.
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These skinless fillets are a good choice for a meal where you want to choose your own side dishes. The pack contains four fillets weighing 500 g in total; thaw them in the fridge before cooking, following the instructions on the pack.
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This 380 g prepared dish gives you a ready-made recipe, rather than a plain fillet to season yourself. Check the number of portions, ingredients and cooking instructions on the pack to plan how to serve it.
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A 500 g pack of wild Pacific pink salmon fillets to serve with the sides of your choice. Check the number of portions on the pack and allow time to thaw them in the fridge before cooking, as instructed.
Yes, if the instructions for that fillet say you can. Findus says its cod fillets can be cooked straight from frozen. Use the method and settings given on the pack you’ve bought rather than assuming they apply to all fish.
If the fish needs thawing, do so in the fridge in a suitable container. Findus recommends this method for its frozen fish; allow enough time depending on the thickness of the product and follow its specific instructions.
Check the date and storage instructions on the pack, and maintain the cold chain. Findus says its frozen products should be stored at −18 °C. The DGCCRF explains that “best before” refers to a minimum durability date; check it alongside the product’s own instructions.
No: the product information for a Pêche Océan cod fillet says that a few bones may exceptionally remain, despite care being taken to remove them. Bear this in mind when serving portions.