Anyone preparing savoury Christmas bites
For pastries, pies or appetisers, your choice depends on how much control you want over cooking the fish and seasoning it yourself.
Who are these options for?
Anyone shopping ahead of the festive season
If you want to stock up on frozen fillets, plan how to transport them while keeping them cold and check the storage instructions on the packaging.
Anyone using tinned fish
For toast toppings, pâté or savoury bites that don’t need defrosting, compare the ingredients in plain and seasoned fillets before adding them to your recipe.
What should you look for?
Plain frozen fillets
Choose these: for a savoury dish that needs cooking, when you want to decide how to prepare and season the fish.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to keep them cold during transport and store them as instructed on the label. Don’t refreeze them after defrosting.
Tinned fillets
Choose these: for a spread or savoury bites made with fish that’s already cooked.
Bear in mind: salt and other ingredients vary by recipe. A version in sauce gives you less freedom to season the dish yourself.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Format for your recipe | Work out whether your dish needs a fillet that you’ll cook or fish that’s already cooked. If you’re buying a tin, check the added ingredients. | If I’m making a pastry and want to season it myself, I look for a plain product that I can prepare. Around 40% of consumers prioritise having this control over the recipe. |
| Storing frozen fish | Check the packaging, transport instructions and storage temperature. The Ministry of Agriculture advises setting your freezer to −18 °C. | If I buy the fillets ahead of the festive season, I want to be able to keep them in the freezer under the conditions specified. Storage is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Preparation time | If you want to use the fish without defrosting it, choose a tin whose recipe suits the bites you’re planning to make. | When I’m making toast toppings or pâté at the last minute, I prefer to start with fillets that are already cooked. This convenience is the priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and check the allergen and ‘may contain’ information on the product you choose. | If there are dietary requirements to consider, I need to check every tin rather than rely on the word ‘plain’. For around 10% of consumers, reading the label takes priority over other factors. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Swapping frozen fillets for tinned fish without adapting the recipe
Tinned fish is already cooked and may contain salt or seasoning that changes the flavour of your dish.
For a pie or pastry that needs fish to be cooked, check the recipe before choosing a format. For a spread, compare plain and seasoned tins.
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Choosing a particular format without checking what your shop stocks
A product listing doesn’t guarantee that frozen fillets will be available in your local shop or for your online grocery order when you shop.
Check local availability before settling on your menu, and choose another savoury dish if the format you’re looking for isn’t available.
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Letting frozen fillets warm up
The DGCCRF notes that a rise in temperature speeds up microbial growth. The Ministry of Agriculture advises against refreezing food once it has been defrosted.
Pick up frozen food at the end of your shop, transport it in a cool bag, put it away as soon as you get home and follow the packaging instructions after defrosting.
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Confusing sweet pastries with savoury dishes
The ideas discussed here are for dishes such as savoury pastries, pies and bites; they won’t help you choose a product for a sweet dessert.
Decide on your Christmas recipe before you shop, then choose a mackerel format to suit the preparation steps.
Brands to know for these formats
Carrefour
The Carrefour Classic’ listing features frozen, skin-on mackerel fillets in a 500 g pack, ready to use in a savoury dish that you’ll cook.
- The listing says to store frozen at −18 °C.
- Check availability at your chosen shop or for your online grocery order before planning to use this pack in your recipe.
Petit Navire
Petit Navire plain steamed mackerel fillets come in a 110 g tin and are suited to savoury dishes made with fish that’s already cooked.
- For this product, Petit Navire lists 99% mackerel fillets and salt.
- This tin isn’t a substitute for a raw frozen fillet if your recipe calls for cooking and seasoning the fish from the start.
Saupiquet
Saupiquet offers plain, grilled and sauced mackerel fillets. Choose the product that best matches the seasoning you want for your savoury dish.
- These options let you choose between a plain taste and fish that’s already seasoned.
- Storage instructions after opening vary by product. For its plain grilled fillets, Saupiquet advises keeping them in the fridge and eating them within two days.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
How should you store frozen mackerel fillets before Christmas?
Keep them in a freezer set to around −18 °C and follow the date and storage instructions on the packaging. The Ministry of Agriculture recommends this temperature. When shopping, pick up frozen food last and keep it cold until you put it away.
Can you refreeze mackerel after defrosting it?
No. The Ministry of Agriculture advises against refreezing food once it has been defrosted. For a festive recipe, plan how much you’ll use and follow the defrosting and preparation instructions on the packaging.
Is raw mackerel suitable for everyone?
No. Anses advises that pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems and young children should not eat raw fish. If you’re making bites for these guests, don’t serve them raw mackerel.
Which date should you check on the packaging?
Check the date on the product you choose and the accompanying storage instructions. The DGCCRF explains that a use-by date is a strict deadline. You should also follow the product-specific instructions after opening.