Households planning several lunches
Separate tins let you open just the amount you need for each meal. When choosing a multipack, compare the number of tins, their weight and the drained net weight, if shown.
Who are these multipacks for?
People who like to put their own meal together
A mackerel recipe in brine lets you choose your own sauce and sides. Auchan’s listing for the Saupiquet multipack gives the ingredients as mackerel fillets, water and salt; check the ingredients for the exact product you buy.
People who check recipes and allergens
A sauce or grilled recipe can change which ingredients you need to look out for. Carrefour, for example, lists possible traces of mustard and milk for its Extra grilled mackerel fillets in brine. The label on the exact product is what matters.
What should you compare?
If you’re planning several lunches, first decide how much you want to use each time you open a tin. Then choose between mackerel in brine and a ready-seasoned recipe. Finally, check the details for the exact product, especially if you need to avoid an allergen.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and opening tins | Number of tins, weight of each tin and stated drained net weight. | I’m planning several meals without opening all the tins at once, and I want to know how much fish I’ll get each time; around 42 % of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Recipe ingredients | Ingredients, salt and nutritional values per 100 g, taking the planned accompaniments into account. | If I’m making my own sauce, I’d rather choose mackerel in brine than a ready-seasoned recipe; around 33 % of consumers would prioritise this freedom to choose what goes into their meal. |
| Ingredients to avoid | Ingredient list, highlighted allergens and any precautionary trace warnings for the exact product. | When I choose a recipe with sauce, I need to know whether it contains an ingredient I avoid; around 25 % of consumers would put this check at the top of their list. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Comparing multipacks by the number of tins alone
At Auchan, the Saupiquet multipack is listed as 3 × 169 g, while the Petit Navire multipack is listed as 3 × 95 g, with a total drained net weight of 285 g. So three tins don’t necessarily mean the same amount from one multipack to another.
Compare the weight of each tin with the number of meals you’re planning, and check the drained net weight if it’s shown on the label.
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Assuming all mackerel recipes are the same
A recipe in brine, one with mustard or one with vegetables won’t necessarily have the same ingredients. For example, Saupiquet’s Les Essentiels grilled vegetables recipe includes grilled vegetables and olive oil.
Choose a recipe based on the seasoning you’d like to add yourself, then check its nutritional information per 100 g rather than relying on the name of the fish alone.
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Overlooking allergens in a product described as “plain”
Carrefour lists possible traces of mustard and milk for its grilled mackerel fillets in brine. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredient list of prepacked foods.
Check the ingredients and trace warnings on each tin you’re considering, even when its name suggests a simple recipe.
Mackerel brands to know
These examples let you compare different sizes and recipes, but the details of one tin don’t apply to a brand’s entire range.
Saupiquet
Auchan lists a multipack of mackerel fillets in brine at 3 × 169 g. Saupiquet also offers a Les Essentiels recipe with grilled vegetables.
- Auchan’s listing for the multipack in brine gives the ingredients as mackerel fillets, water and salt.
- The grilled vegetable recipe includes vegetables and olive oil, among other ingredients, so check its own ingredients and nutritional information.
Petit Navire
The multipack of plain fillets listed at Auchan contains three 95 g tins.
- Auchan gives this multipack a total drained net weight of 285 g, which is useful when planning portions.
- To compare it with another Petit Navire recipe, check the ingredients and nutritional information for each product.
Auchan
Its 120 g tin of plain mackerel fillets is a single-tin option to consider when putting meals together.
- The product listing gives the ingredients as 99 % mackerel fillets and salt.
- This single tin isn’t the same as a multipack containing several tins.
Carrefour
The products mentioned include grilled fillets in brine and fillets with mustard.
- Carrefour Extra’s grilled fillets listing gives a drained net weight of 85 g, which is useful when comparing portions.
- This product carries a warning for possible traces of mustard and milk; the Simpl mustard recipe contains Dijon mustard.
Pêche Océan (Marque Repère E.Leclerc)
E.Leclerc lists 169 g tins in flavours including Dijon mustard and tomato and basil.
- The listing for the mustard recipe specifies that it contains 56,2 % mackerel fillets and 12 % Dijon mustard.
- The products mentioned here are single tins, so check the pack size if you’re looking for a multipack.
Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Should you choose mackerel in brine for several lunches?
Mackerel in brine is a good choice if you want to decide how to season it for each meal. A ready-seasoned recipe could also work for your lunches; compare its ingredients and nutritional information with the sides you’re planning. Anses lists mackerel among the oily fish to include in a varied diet, but doesn’t recommend one particular recipe for everyone.
What should you compare between two mackerel multipacks?
First compare the number of tins and the stated weight of each one, then check the drained net weight if it’s provided. Next, read the ingredients, nutritional information and allergen details for each recipe. The same number of tins doesn’t guarantee the same portions or ingredients.
How should you plan meals after opening a tin?
Plan each time you open a tin around the amount you expect to use, and follow the storage instructions on that particular tin. Separate tins let you keep the others sealed for future lunches.
Is a mustard recipe suitable if you avoid this ingredient?
No, not if the product contains mustard: Carrefour lists Dijon mustard in the ingredients for its Simpl mustard fillets. Also check the trace warnings on the exact tin, as these may apply to other recipes too, even ones described as “plain”.