If you’re having lunch on your own while working from home, a multipack of individual tins lets you open one portion at a time. A larger tin is more suitable if you’re planning several servings and can refrigerate the leftovers promptly. Mackerel fillets in water let you choose your own seasoning, while prepared recipes mean checking the ingredients, allergens and net drained weight.
You want to open a tin that’s the right size for one meal, without having to work out straight away how to use the leftovers. A multipack of individual tins lets you choose how much to open each day.
You compare the number of tins and the multipack’s drained weight to plan several meals. If you’re considering a large tin, the storage instructions for after opening are also important.
You want to serve the mackerel with little preparation, for example in a salad or wrap. Check the ingredients for each recipe, especially if you need to avoid an allergen.
First, choose a quantity you can use after opening a tin. Then compare recipes based on the seasoning you prefer and the information on the label.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and leftovers | Compare the number of tins, the stated net drained weight and the storage instructions for after opening. | When I have lunch on my own, I want to open an amount I can finish without having to plan another meal around the leftovers. Around 33% of consumers prioritise getting the right portion size. |
| Ingredients and seasoning | Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact product; check whether it’s in water or comes with a sauce. | If I want to season the mackerel myself, I prefer to know exactly what’s in the tin. Around 27% of consumers put this control over ingredients ahead of other criteria. |
| Ready-to-serve recipe | Choose a recipe that goes with your side dishes and check its ingredients, especially mustard or sulphites if they’re listed on the label. | For a quick lunch, I first look for a ready-seasoned recipe I’ll enjoy serving. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this convenience. |
| Making it part of your meal plans | Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and plan to include other types of fish in your meals too. | When I plan my lunches, I want to include mackerel without making it my only choice of fish. Around 20% of consumers put meal planning first. |
Two multipacks of three tins can contain very different amounts: the Auchan listings shown here are 3 × 95 g for Petit Navire and 3 × 169 g for Saupiquet.
Check the amount in each tin and the stated net drained weight to see whether the multipack suits your lunches.
An opened tin needs to be stored differently from a sealed one. The Auchan listings for Petit Navire and Saupiquet say to refrigerate the product and consume it within two days or 48 hours, depending on the product.
Choose a large tin for a shared meal, or decide when you buy it how you’ll use the leftovers promptly. Always follow the instructions on the tin you choose.
The Petit Navire mackerel fillets in water listed by Auchan contain mackerel, water and salt. The E.Leclerc recipes with mustard and white wine mentioned here contain mustard and sulphites respectively.
Check the ingredients list for the exact recipe and pack size, rather than relying on the brand or the look of the packaging alone.
ANSES includes mackerel among oily fish in its guidance on eating fish. Manger Bouger recommends alternating between oily and lean fish.
When planning your meals, include other types of fish too, rather than repeatedly choosing the same tinned fish.
The range includes mackerel fillets in water and seasoned recipes. Auchan features a multipack of 3 × 95 g fillets in water.
Auchan features mackerel fillets in water in a 3 × 169 g multipack, as well as other mackerel recipes.
Carrefour features mackerel fillets in water and a version with olive oil and chilli, both in tins with a net drained weight of 98 g.
Auchan features a 120 g tin of plain mackerel fillets.
E.Leclerc’s range includes mackerel fillets in water and several seasoned recipes.
This list compares two multipacks of individual tins first, followed by a large tin to divide between portions. It’s intended to help you assess pack sizes for work-from-home lunches, not to rank products by sales or overall quality. Product details come from the Auchan and Joybuy listings.
| Rank | Product | Features | Why it works for lunch | Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saupiquet Mackerel fillets in water, 3 × 169 g | Three tins; mackerel, water and salt. After opening: store between 0 and 4 °C in a suitable container and consume within 48 hours, according to Auchan. | Individual tins let you open them as needed. Check whether the amount in each tin suits your meal or whether you’ll be able to use the leftovers. | Auchan |
| 2 | Petit Navire Plain mackerel fillets, multipack of 3 × 95 g | Three tins; 285 g net drained weight for the multipack, according to Auchan. Ingredients: mackerel, water and salt. | This multipack lets you open a smaller tin for each lunch. After opening, the Auchan listing says to refrigerate the product and consume it within two days. | Auchan |
| 3 | BTM Mackerel in brine, 425 g | One large 425 g tin, with around 250 to 300 g drained, according to Joybuy. | This size is better suited to several servings or a shared meal than to opening one tin at a time. You’ll need to plan how to store anything you don’t use. | Joybuy |
It depends on its drained weight and what else you’re having. Manger Bouger gives 100 g as a guide for one portion of fish. The listings mentioned here give a net drained weight of 98 g for a Carrefour Extra tin, while the Auchan multipacks featured include 95 g Petit Navire tins and 169 g Saupiquet tins. Check the label of the product you choose rather than judging the portion by the number of tins alone.
Follow the instructions for the exact product and refrigerate it after opening if the label says to. The Auchan listings for the Petit Navire and Auchan plain varieties say to consume them within two days. The listing for the Saupiquet multipack specifies a suitable food container, a temperature of 0 to 4 °C and consumption within 48 hours.
Yes. It can be one of the fish you include in your meals, rather than the only one. ANSES lists mackerel as an oily fish in its recommendation to eat fish twice a week, including oily fish once a week. Manger Bouger recommends alternating between oily and lean fish.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the exact tin you’re planning to buy. The E.Leclerc mustard variety mentioned here contains Dijon mustard, while its white wine variety lists sulphites. These details shouldn’t be assumed to apply to every recipe.