Hosts making toast for several guests
If you’d like to serve a choice of recipes with drinks, separate tins mean you only need to open the ones you’ll use. For any recipe in sauce, check the ingredients before serving.
Who are these formats for?
Anyone preparing a dish to share
For a salad, pâté or shared topping, a large tin means you have fewer tins to open. Be sure to check the drained weight, though: it gives you a better idea of how much mackerel the recipe will contain than the net weight alone.
Guests mindful of sauces and allergens
A plain recipe lets you choose the seasoning separately. If you’re serving a mustard version or another prepared recipe, check the label on the tin you’ve bought and find out which allergens you need to consider for your guests.
What should you check before buying?
First decide whether you’ll serve the mackerel in small portions or use it in a dish to share. Then choose a recipe and check its storage instructions.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and format | Compare the number of tins, the net weight and, if stated, the drained weight. | For toast served throughout the evening, I prefer to be able to open another tin only if I need it. Around 40% of consumers would prioritise portion sizes and leftovers. |
| Recipe and allergens | Read the ingredients in each sauce and check which allergens are highlighted. Choose a plain recipe if you’d like to add the seasoning separately. | When guests have different tastes or an allergen needs to be avoided, I want to know exactly which recipe I’m serving. Ingredient suitability would be a priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Label and storage | Compare the nutritional information, and check the date and product-specific instructions for after opening. | If I’m getting the table ready in advance, I want to be able to read the product information easily and know what to do with an opened tin. Checking the label and storage instructions would come first for around 30% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing net weight with drained weight
Net weight may include water or sauce. For example, Joybuy’s product listing for BTM mackerel in brine gives a net weight of 425 g and a drained weight of around 250 to 300 g.
For a dish to share, work out how much mackerel you’ll need using the drained weight, if it’s stated.
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Choosing a sauce based on its name alone
Mustard, tomato and escabèche recipes have different ingredients. A tin in sauce won’t automatically be suitable for everyone as a substitute for a plain recipe.
Read the ingredients for the product you’ve chosen and check the allergens before planning your toast or topping.
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Planning to keep an opened tin for too long
Storage instructions vary by product: Saupiquet says its plain fillets should be eaten within two days, while Auchan gives 24 hours for its tomato and basil recipe.
Open tins as you need them. For leftovers, follow the instructions for the product you’ve bought and store them in a suitable food container in the fridge.
Mackerel brands to know
Saupiquet
The range includes plain fillets and recipes in sauce. Auchan lists, among other products, a multipack of mustard fillets in 3 × 169 g tins.
- You can open the tins in a multipack gradually to prepare several small portions.
- Ingredients vary by recipe, so check each label rather than assuming a multipack in sauce is the same as a plain version.
Petit Navire
The brand offers plain fillets as well as prepared recipes in tins.
- Petit Navire’s plain steamed recipe contains mackerel fillets and salt, so you can add your own seasoning separately.
- For a version in sauce or with mustard, check the ingredients and allergens for the specific product.
Auchan
The supermarket’s own-brand range includes 169 g tins of mackerel fillets in tomato and basil sauce.
- A tin this size is a handy way to include a separate recipe in a selection of small portions.
- For its tomato and basil product, Auchan says to refrigerate after opening and eat within 24 hours.
Pêche Océan / Marque Repère
E.Leclerc lists, among other products, 169 g tins of Pêche Océan mackerel fillets with wholegrain mustard.
- This recipe can add variety to a selection when guests would like mustard.
- It isn’t a substitute for a plain option if not everyone likes mustard, so check the label on the product you choose.
Joybuy products
Matching products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 3 × 169 g multipack suitable for New Year’s Eve toast?
Yes, if you’d like to make toast in small batches and open the tins gradually. Auchan lists a Saupiquet mustard multipack in this format, among other products. Check that the recipe is suitable for your guests, and plan your portions using the information on the tins you choose.
How long can you keep mackerel after opening?
Follow the time limit given on the tin you’ve bought: Saupiquet says two days for its plain fillets, while Auchan gives 24 hours for its tomato and basil product. In both cases, leftovers should be refrigerated after opening.
Which allergens should you check in mackerel in sauce?
Check for fish and any allergens added by the recipe, including mustard if it’s listed as an ingredient. France’s Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control reminds consumers that allergens must be emphasised in the ingredients list. Check the label on the tin you’re serving, not just the name of the sauce.