To serve whole sardines on toast or on a sharing platter, choose a tin whose shape and recipe suit the occasion. If you’re making open sandwiches without removing the bones, look for an explicit ‘boneless’ label. Before stocking up for New Year’s Eve, compare the drained weight, ingredients, best-before date and storage instructions after opening, rather than looking at the tin’s total weight alone.
For toast or a sharing platter, whole sardines let you present the fish as it is. A recipe made with extra virgin olive oil, such as the one described by Connétable, also gives you the freedom to choose your own accompaniments.
For rillettes, salads or quick-to-make open sandwiches, look for a product explicitly labelled boneless. Connétable and Auchan describe products of this kind; check each tin to see whether the skin has also been removed.
If you’re keeping several tins for New Year’s Eve, compare the number of tins, their drained weight and the dates shown. E.Leclerc’s Pêche Océan range includes a pack of three 135 g tins.
Start with how you plan to serve the sardines, then check the recipe and the amount of fish available. A handy format for open sandwiches may not be the one you want to serve whole.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Serving without bones | Look for the words ‘boneless’; check separately whether the product is skinless. | If you’re topping open sandwiches or mixing sardines into a dish without picking out the bones, the wording on the tin matters more than the word ‘fillets’ alone. Around 27% of consumers put this need to serve sardines without bones first. |
| Serving whole | Check the shape of the sardines and the recipe ingredients. | If you want to arrange whole sardines on a tapas platter, their appearance and a recipe that works with your chosen accompaniments will guide your choice. This is the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Pairing with your menu | Read the type of oil, added ingredients and allergens listed. | Pre-seasoned fillets may suit a canapé planned around olives, but they won’t work for every dish. Around 20% of consumers prioritise how well the recipe fits their menu. |
| Stock and quantity | Compare the number of tins, drained weight, date and storage instructions. | If you’re planning several servings, you need to know how much fish you’ll have to serve, not just the total weight of the tins. This is a priority for around 26% of consumers. |
In a tin with a covering liquid, the net weight includes that liquid too. It therefore doesn’t tell you on its own how much sardine you’ll have to spread over your toast.
Compare the drained net weight shown on the label, then check the shape of the fish and the number of tins. The DGCCRF states that the drained net weight must appear on the labelling of food presented in a covering liquid.
The shape of the fish and whether it is boneless are two separate features to check. A tin of sardines in olive oil isn’t necessarily boneless either.
If boneless sardines are essential for your canapés, look for an explicit statement on the product you buy. Also check for a ‘skinless’ label if that matters for your recipe.
A multipack is suitable for stocking up only if the tins and their dates fit the period when you plan to use them. Storage instructions change after opening.
Check the best-before date and the condition of the tins before putting them away, then follow the refrigeration and use-by instructions for each tin once opened.
Auchan notes that the ingredients in one of its products may vary depending on the delivery service and purchase date. A catalogue listing also doesn’t guarantee that a product will be available in your local shop.
Read the ingredients on the tin you actually buy, and check local availability if your menu depends on a particular recipe.
Different products to consider depending on whether you want to serve whole sardines or avoid the skin and bones.
Fillets to consider if you want to spread the fish over toast and an olive seasoning suits your menu.
The retailer offers whole sardines in extra virgin olive oil and a boneless option, for two different ways of preparing your spread.
A multipack to consider if you’re stocking up for several servings.
The retailer offers, among other things, a 135 g Connétable product. Consider it as a specific product rather than a feature of its entire range.
These Joybuy tins suit a range of New Year’s Eve dishes: fillets to spread over toast, small sardines for canapés and ready-seasoned recipes. Choose according to the shape and ingredients listed, then check the drained weight and instructions on the tin you buy.
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The fillet format is a good option if you want to spread the sardines over toast or add them to a recipe.
The title gives the weight as 115/81 g; check the packaging to see what each figure refers to before working out how much to serve. Also check the type of oil listed on the tin. After opening, refrigerate any leftovers and consume within 24 hours.
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This product may suit toast or a salad if removing the central bone meets your needs.
The product description specifies that the central bone has been removed, but doesn’t say the sardines are skinless. Don’t assume this is the same as a tin explicitly labelled ‘skinless and boneless’. After opening, refrigerate and consume within two days.
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The small sardine format is worth considering for toast or a tapas platter.
The title gives the quantity as 16/20 pieces and the weight as 115/81 g. Check the drained weight on the tin to work out how much fish you’ll have. If boneless sardines are essential, look for an explicit statement. After opening, refrigerate and consume within 24 hours.
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This recipe suits toast or tapas if you want a truffle seasoning in the canapés you’re planning.
The title gives the quantity as 16/20 pieces and the weight as 115/81 g. Check the drained weight on the packaging. The recipe includes summer truffle, so its seasoning may not suit a dish that calls for plain sardines. After opening, refrigerate and consume within 24 hours.
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This lemon-flavoured recipe is worth considering for canapés that are already planned around lemon.
The stated format is a 1/6 tin weighing 115 g. To estimate how much sardine you’ll have to serve, check the drained weight on the packaging. Don’t assume from the title that the fish is boneless. After opening, refrigerate and consume within two days.
Yes, as long as you choose tins that are intact and take account of the date and storage conditions shown. The DGCCRF distinguishes between the best-before date (DDM), after which a product in intact packaging may lose some of its flavour, and the use-by date (DLC), which must be observed. Check the wording on the tin you buy.
Check the drained net weight to estimate how much fish is available, rather than relying only on the net weight, which also includes the covering liquid. The DGCCRF states that the drained net weight must appear on the label of food presented in a covering liquid.
Follow the storage instructions and time limit for the product you buy. Saupiquet advises consuming the fillets mentioned within two days of opening; for the boneless sardines mentioned, Auchan advises storing them between 0 and +4 °C and consuming them within 48 hours.
Read the label on the tin you’re going to serve, especially if the recipe contains olives, lemon or other added ingredients. The DGCCRF states that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list on pre-packed foods; fish is one of the allergens to look out for.
Compare the details on your tin, including the brand and batch number, with notices published on RappelConso, the French public website for alerts about dangerous products. The match must be for the specific product and batch concerned, not just the brand name.