Anyone preparing Christmas canapés
A ready-seasoned recipe can make a handy topping for toast or a salad. When choosing a tin, check the drained fish weight, the sauce ingredients and any allergens you need to tell your guests about.
Who are these sizes for?
Anyone preparing a meal for one
A small tin of plain or grilled mackerel lets you put together a meal and choose your own seasoning, without opening a larger tin than you need.
Anyone keeping an eye on quantity and labelling
The drained weight makes it easier to compare how much fish different recipes contain. The ingredients list and instructions for after opening are also important if you’ll be sharing a tin or opening it ahead of time.
What should you look for?
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity for your meal | Compare the tin’s total weight with its drained weight if it contains liquid. Choose an amount that suits the number of people you’re serving. | For a meal for one, I want to avoid opening more fish than I need. Getting the right quantity comes before other criteria for around 40% of consumers. |
| A recipe for toast | Choose between plain mackerel that you can season yourself and a recipe in sauce. Read the ingredients before serving it alongside other dishes. | For my Christmas toast, I’m looking for something that’s already seasoned rather than a base I have to prepare. Around 40% of consumers prioritise the recipe. |
| Ingredients and storage | Check the label for allergens and read the storage instructions for after opening for that specific product. | When I’m having guests over, I want to know what’s in the tin and how to store any leftovers. These checks are a priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming an “individual tin” is a set portion
The tins featured here range from 85 g to 176 g. So a tin sold individually may contain more than you want for a meal for one.
Check the drained weight and choose according to how many people you’re serving. If you expect to have leftovers, read the instructions for after opening too.
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Choosing a sauce without checking what’s in it
Depending on the product, a sauce recipe may contain mustard, vinegar, oils or thickeners. The DGCCRF reminds shoppers that allergens must be highlighted on the labels of prepacked foods.
Check the ingredients list on every tin you plan to serve to guests. A plain recipe gives you more freedom if you’d rather season it yourself.
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Storing an opened tin as if it were still sealed
Storage instructions change once a tin is open. Auchan’s 169 g tomato and basil recipe, for example, should be kept in the fridge and eaten within 24 hours. Anses lists mackerel among the fish that can develop histamine if stored incorrectly.
Refrigerate leftovers promptly and follow the time limit shown on the tin you’ve opened. Don’t automatically apply the instructions for a different recipe.
Brands to consider
Petit Navire
The range includes a small 110 g plain tin, as well as recipes with olive oil, sauces and grilled mackerel.
- According to Petit Navire’s product information, its 110 g plain steamed mackerel contains 99% mackerel fillets and salt.
- This applies to the plain product only. Check the label separately for seasoned recipes.
Saupiquet
Saupiquet offers plain, grilled and sauced fillets, including mustard, tomato, and lemon and olive recipes.
- These recipes let you choose between a plain base to season yourself and a ready-made combination.
- Check the pack format for the product you choose: some are sold in multipacks rather than as individual tins.
Carrefour Extra
The products featured include 85 g, 98 g, 169 g and 176 g tins, with plain, grilled and sauced recipes.
- A choice of weights and seasonings makes it easier to find something to suit your meal.
- The tin’s total weight doesn’t tell you how much fish it contains. Check the drained weight of the recipe you choose.
Auchan
The range featured includes a 169 g tomato and basil tin, as well as other individual sizes.
- Auchan’s product information for the tomato and basil recipe lists its ingredients and instructions for after opening.
- For this product, the instructions say to refrigerate after opening and eat within 24 hours. Check the instructions separately for other recipes.
Pêche Océan / Eco+ (E.Leclerc)
The products featured at E.Leclerc include a small 95 g plain tin and 169 g tins in sauce.
- Eco+’s product information for its 169 g mustard recipe lists the ingredients, including mustard.
- A plain recipe and a mustard recipe suit different dishes and allergen requirements. Check the label on the tin you choose.
Joybuy products
Products related to this topic will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose the right size tin of mackerel for one?
Start with the number of people you’re serving and compare the drained weight, not just the weight shown on the front of the tin. The products featured in the Carrefour catalogue include 85 g, 98 g, 169 g and 176 g tins. “Individual” means sold as a single tin, not that every recipe contains the same portion.
Can I serve mustard mackerel to all my guests?
First, check the allergens in the specific product and ask your guests about their requirements. The Eco+ mustard recipe featured by E.Leclerc contains fish and mustard seeds, among other ingredients. The DGCCRF says allergens must be highlighted on the labels of prepacked foods.
How long can I keep mackerel after opening?
Follow the instructions on the tin you’ve opened. For its 169 g tomato and basil recipe, Auchan says to refrigerate after opening and eat within 24 hours. This time limit does not apply to every product.
Do the DDM and DLC mean the same thing on food packaging?
No. The minimum durability date (DDM) and the use-by date (DLC) are two different types of date label. The DGCCRF explains that a use-by date applies to highly perishable foods. Check the date shown on your tin and follow its storage instructions too, especially after opening.