Who are these formats for?

Hosts planning portions

When you’re feeding several guests, you’ll want to know how much fish you’ll actually be serving. The weight of a bag and the weight of a tin including its liquid don’t tell you quite the same thing.

Cooks who want to season the fish themselves

You’d rather prepare the mackerel yourself, using ingredients that suit your menu, and are happy to cook it. Picard says its frozen fillets with skin can be cooked without defrosting, following the instructions for this specific product.

Hosts putting together quick antipasti

You may be looking for fillets that are ready to serve, perhaps on bread or in a salad. Plain and seasoned tinned options make this possible, but the recipe needs to work with the rest of your menu.

What should you check?

First decide whether you want to cook the mackerel or serve it as it is. Then check the usable quantity, the recipe and the instructions for the specific product you choose.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Quantity to serve Check the net weight and, for fish in liquid, the drained weight. When I’m hosting several people, I want to plan enough fish without mistaking the total contents of a tin for the amount I’ll serve; around 40% of consumers are said to prioritise this usable quantity.
Format and preparation Check whether it’s fillets with skin or a whole fish, then follow the cooking instructions for the product you buy. If I’m cooking the fish myself, I want to know how much preparation the chosen format involves; this convenience is said to be a priority for around 30% of consumers.
How it fits the menu Read the ingredients and allergen information, and distinguish a plain product from one that’s already seasoned. To include mackerel in my antipasti, I prefer to choose the flavours myself or check what’s in the tin; around 20% of consumers are said to put this first.
Storage and cooking Follow the storage instructions for frozen fish and adjust the cooking to suit the people sharing the meal. When I’m transporting frozen fish or hosting people who are more vulnerable, I want to plan storage and cooking accordingly; this need is said to come first for around 10% of consumers.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Treating a tin like a frozen fillet that needs cooking

    Tinned fish is ready to serve and may come in a sauce; a raw frozen fillet needs to be prepared and cooked. The two formats won’t give you the same result in a recipe.

    Choose frozen fish for a cooked dish and tinned fish for quick antipasti, then check the specific product recipe.

  • Confusing net weight with the amount you’ll serve

    For fish in a covering liquid, some of the stated weight comes from the liquid, rather than the drained fillets. With frozen fish that has a protective ice glaze, you’ll also need to check how much fish you’re actually getting.

    When planning portions, read the weight information that applies to each format.

  • Building your menu around a product that isn’t available

    The listing for Carrefour Classic' 500 g frozen fillets says they’re unavailable for Drive.

    Check availability at your local store or for your collection slot before settling on this product.

  • Relying on cooking to make up for poor storage

    According to Anses, histamine that has already formed in fish is not destroyed by cooking or freezing. Mackerel is one of the fish associated with this risk.

    Maintain the cold chain and follow the packaging instructions. If you’re hosting pregnant or immunocompromised guests, or young children, don’t serve them raw or undercooked fish, in line with Anses recommendations.

Brands to consider by format

Picard

The retailer offers 600 g bags of frozen mackerel fillets with skin.

  • Picard’s product listing gives several ways to cook these fillets without defrosting them first.
  • The fillets need to be cooked and seasoned before serving.

Carrefour Classic'

Carrefour lists 500 g frozen mackerel fillets with skin.

  • The listing specifies the fish format and storage instructions.
  • It says the product is unavailable for Drive, so check with your local store before putting it on the menu.

Petit Navire

The plain mackerel fillets listed by Carrefour come in a 110 g tin, so they’re different from frozen fish.

  • The ingredients are mackerel fillets, water and salt, making this a handy ready-to-serve option.
  • It’s no substitute for a raw fillet that you want to cook and season in a home-made recipe.

Eco+ / E.Leclerc

E.Leclerc offers Eco+ tinned mackerel, including varieties in white wine, mustard and tomato and basil.

  • These recipes let you choose a tin to suit the flavours you have in mind for your antipasti.
  • Check the ingredients for each variety: these seasoned tins aren’t plain frozen mackerel.

A Joybuy product to cook

This raw frozen fish is for anyone who wants to cook a dish rather than serve tinned fish. Check the name Jack mackerel if your recipe calls for a specific type of mackerel.

TCT raw frozen Jack mackerel, headless and deveined, with ice glaze, 1 kg

TCT raw frozen Jack mackerel, headless and deveined, with ice glaze, 1 kg

This raw frozen fish is intended for cooking at home.

The pack states 1 kg including the ice glaze. Check the weight of the fish without the glaze when planning portions. Also check that Jack mackerel is the type of fish you want for your recipe.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Can you cook frozen mackerel fillets without defrosting them?

Yes, for the Picard frozen fillets mentioned here: the product listing says they can be cooked without defrosting. Follow the instructions on the packaging for the product you buy, rather than assuming the same applies to other fillets.

How should you store frozen mackerel fillets after shopping?

Put them in the freezer and follow the instructions on the packaging. For its product, Picard says to store it at −18 °C until the date shown and advises against refreezing it after defrosting.

What should you check on the label before choosing a tin?

Check the product name, ingredients, allergens and net quantity. If the tin contains a covering liquid, check the drained weight too. The DGCCRF lists this labelling information for pre-packed foods; the ingredients also tell you whether the sauce will work with your menu.

Is raw or lightly cooked mackerel suitable for all your guests?

No. Anses advises that pregnant people, immunocompromised people and young children should not eat raw or undercooked fish. Make sure theirs is cooked all the way through, and maintain the cold chain throughout the meal.