If you’re already planning several meals with mackerel, a pack of three tins lets you open them as you need them. For a short stay or a group with different tastes, choosing a selection of individual tins means you don’t have to serve everyone the same recipe. Compare the drained weight and ingredients, then follow the storage instructions for each product after opening.
If your holiday menu includes several mackerel salads or sandwiches, a multipack lets you open a tin for each meal. Auchan, for example, stocks three-tin multipacks of plain Petit Navire and Saupiquet mackerel, in different sizes.
One recipe won’t necessarily suit everyone. Plain and seasoned varieties have different ingredients, so check each label, especially if anyone in your group needs to avoid an allergen.
Tin size matters after opening, too. Saupiquet says to refrigerate its plain fillets and eat them within two days. Choose a size that suits your planned meals and the space you have available.
Start with your planned meals and the number of people you’re catering for, then compare the options based on recipes and how you’ll store any opened tins.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity for several meals | Compare the number of tins and the total drained weight with the meals you’ve actually planned. | If I’m planning to serve mackerel several times, I want to be able to open tins throughout the stay without running short on portions. Around 36% of consumers would put this quantity first among their needs. |
| Choice of recipes | Read the ingredients and allergen information for each recipe; don’t assume that two tins from the same brand have the same ingredients. | When tastes or dietary requirements differ within the group, I’d rather be able to offer recipes to suit everyone. This would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Leftovers after opening | Check the refrigeration instructions and the stated time limit for each opened tin. | With limited fridge space, I want to finish an opened tin within the stated time rather than end up with leftovers that are difficult to store. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Number of tins to take | Match the multipack size to the length of your stay and the meals when you’ll actually open a tin. | For a short stay, I don’t want to take tins the group isn’t planning to use. Around 14% of consumers would make choosing the right pack size their top priority. |
Auchan stocks a three-tin pack of plain Petit Navire mackerel at 3 × 95 g and a plain Saupiquet pack at 3 × 169 g. So the number of tins alone doesn’t tell you how much you’re getting.
Compare the drained weight shown for each product and consider it in relation to your planned meals.
Ingredients vary from one recipe to another. Auchan’s product listing for Petit Navire grilled three-pepper fillets, for example, warns that they may contain traces of mustard.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on every tin intended for anyone with dietary requirements. A plain variety could offer an alternative that you can season separately.
Once opened, Saupiquet plain fillets should be kept in the fridge and eaten within two days, according to the brand.
Before opening a tin, make sure you can store and use any leftovers in line with the instructions on its packaging.
In a small holiday-rental kitchen, an opened tin takes up valuable fridge space until the next meal.
The products on offer may vary depending on the store and whether you’re shopping in person or choosing collection or delivery.
Check the size and recipe available when you do your shopping, then look for an alternative that meets the same needs.
The range includes plain fillets and seasoned recipes. Auchan, for example, stocks a three-tin pack of plain mackerel at 3 × 95 g.
Auchan stocks Saupiquet plain fillets in a three-tin pack at 3 × 169 g. The brand also offers other recipes.
Carrefour offers Carrefour Extra mackerel in a range of recipes, including a plain variety.
Auchan offers a 120 g plain variety, as well as several other tinned mackerel recipes.
Choose a pack based on the meals when you plan to serve mackerel and the number of people you’re catering for, rather than the length of your stay alone. A pack of three tins works well if you have several meals planned; otherwise, individual tins let you try different recipes. Auchan’s plain Petit Navire pack at 3 × 95 g and Saupiquet pack at 3 × 169 g show why it’s important to compare the quantities listed, too.
For its plain fillets, Saupiquet says to refrigerate them and eat them within two days of opening. Follow the instructions on the tin you buy, as they may vary depending on the product.
Check the ingredients, allergen information and quantity of each recipe, as well as the drained weight where it’s listed. The DGCCRF notes that drained weight appears on the label when a product is sold in a covering liquid. This makes it easier to compare the amount of fish without the liquid.
Only choose one after checking that it’s suitable for everyone who’ll be eating it. An Auchan listing for mackerel in white wine mentions sulphites, while the listing for Petit Navire grilled three-pepper fillets warns that they may contain traces of mustard. The recipe name is no substitute for checking the label on the tin you buy.
Check the date and storage instructions on the packaging. The Ministry of the Economy distinguishes between a use-by date and a best-before date, and advises following the manufacturer’s storage recommendations, especially after opening.