One of the fascinating dichotomies of healthy eating is the pressure from nutritionists to eat more Omega-3 fatty acids, preferably from fish sources, combined with the concerns about toxic levels of mercury and pollution related to fish farming. The bigger the fish, the more likely it is to be dangerous for you due to its pollutants. Shark, swordfish, and tuna all have the potential to raise mercury to dangerous levels if they’re consumed regularly.
If you want to improve your Omega-3 levels through fish, but want to avoid the concerns around big fish, sardines are the answer. Much less expensive than an equivalent serving of other popular fish, these tiny little canned fish are a great source of Omega-3s with a minimum of the mercury and pollution that are present in other fish sources.
This is how I decided on my very favorite brand of canned sardines.
Best Canned Sardine Factors
Many of us tried one brand of canned sardines, found them disgusting, and never went back. Well I’m here to tell you that there are canned sardines out there which are delicious. Mild, packed in oil, and firm in texture, good sardines are absolutely delicious. When I went looking for the best canned sardines, these are the factors I considered.
Actual Fish
We often think of sardines as a specific breed of fish, but in fact there are several kinds of fish that get sold as sardines. What specific fish is in your sardine can has to do with the region in which it was caught. The most common types are herring, bristling, pilchard, sprat, and iwashi. This is important because they all have slightly different flavors. If you don’t like sardines caught in North American waters, you may prefer those originating around Norway.
Medium
Sardines are generally salted and preserved, and what medium in which they are preserved makes a big difference in how they taste. The gold standard is generally considered to be olive oil, which is mild enough that it doesn’t add a significant flavor, and also adds to the healthy Omega-3 benefit of eating sardines. Water is considered an acceptable medium by many connoisseurs. Hydrogenated oils, like vegetable oil, are considered the poorest possible medium for preserving sardines, as they contain inflammatory chemicals that counteract the benefits of Omega-3 consumption.
Seasonings or Flavorings
In general, most sardine enthusiasts recommend checking the can to see what the ingredients are. The only ingredients should be fish, oil or water, and salt. Any other seasonings, bases, or ingredients are generally indications that the manufacturing company is covering up an inferior product. Enthusiasts particularly recommend staying away from sardines which are preserved in tomato or mustard bases.
Size of Fish
Because sardines are actually so many kinds of fish, and are caught in many locations around the world, and at different points in their life cycles, the size of the sardines in your can have the potential to vary greatly. Larger fish are more likely to have larger bones. While bones in sardines are a great source of calcium, some people find them off putting.
Intended Preparation
How you intend to eat or prepare your sardines makes a big difference in which brands you will prefer. If you are going to fork them out of the tin and eat them right away, that requires a different sort of sardine than one you intend to chop up and substitute for tuna in tuna salad. Knowing what you want to do with your sardines will help you find the right brand for your preferred use.
Great Sardines To Try
1. Wild Planet Wild Sardines
PROS:
- Packed in extra virgin olive oil
- BPA free
- Sustainably caught off California coast
CONS:
- Processed in Vietnam
- Cans tend to have 2-4 large pieces, and a fair amount of oil
- Bones and skin still in place. Occasionally, friends have reported getting cans where the sardines were not descaled.
Wild Planet sardines are well loved, and for good reason. There are four varieties available: water packed, extra virgin olive oil packed, EVO packed with lemon, and marinara sauce. The most popular variety in my circles is the variety packed in plain extra virgin olive oil.
The scales are cleaned off the fish, as well as the tails and heads, but they do contain bones and retain skin. These add to the health benefits of the fish, so many people enjoy consuming them in this way. Others feel that these are unpleasant, and do not want to eat sardines with these features.
2. Season Sardines in Water, No Salt Added
PROS:
- Packed in water
- BPA Free
- Caught near Morocco
- Small, soft bones
- No salt added, so lower overall sodium content
CONS:
- Can difficult to open (not pull top)
- Sardines themselves are large, and some friends find them fishier than other brands
- Sardines have scales on. Edible, but some people dislike them.
These sardines are a great choice for anyone who is trying to get less sodium in their diets, or who is looking to move from salted and oiled sardines to something that has a more pure flavor. That’s great if you want something that tastes precisely like fish, but if you’re like me and trying to boost your Omega-3s without necessarily tasting strong fish every day, these may not be ideal. They also come with scales, skin, and bones intact. Not a beginner’s sardine!
3. Crown Prince Skinless & Boneless Sardines
PROS:
- All skin and bones removed
- Packed in olive oil
- Kosher and gluten free
CONS:
- Pull tab in corner instead of centered on side, which can be frustrating to open
- Some friends frustrated that there is too much olive oil in the can
- Other friends found the sardines to be very dry
These are great starter sardines. No bones or skin to give that weird, crunchy feeling that can have a distressing mouth feel until you get used to it. Since these sardines can be a little dry, I’m generally happiest with them when I add them to a cooked item, or use them to make “tuna” salad. They’re good just forked right out of the can, but once I got used to the bones and skin, other brands were much tastier to eat on their own.
4. King Oscar Sardines Extra Virgin Olive Oil
PROS:
- Very small and tender fish with a delicate flavor
- Kosher certified, and can be obtained OUP (certified for Passover)
- Bones and skin intact, but the fish are so small they’re hardly noticeable
CONS:
- Some people find that the “tender” flesh is more mushy than they prefer
- Strong olive oil taste overwhelming the natural flavor of the sardine
- Jalapeno variety is widely considered far too spicy
These sardines are very delicate and fall apart easily when forked, so eating these straight out of the can probably isn’t going to work for most people. They are delicious, however, provided that you like the taste of olive oil. For me, the tastes blend wonderfully, but some people are looking for the strong fish taste combined with salt and smoke. If that’s what you’re looking for, King Oscar is probably not the best brand for you.
So Which Sardines Are The Very Best?
My personal favorites are definitely the King Oscar sardines. I tend to drain off some of the oil and then put the fish into a bowl, and eat them from there; sometimes I’ll mash them up a little and then eat them on toast.
They’re great on pasta, in a salad, or mixed with some fresh oil and spices to make a sort of “tuna” salad. Versatile and light on fishy flavor, they’re my absolute favorites.
What is the best canned sardine brand for your family?