Do people really buy the tinned salmon with the bones?
Posted by catterso@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 245 comments
My doctor recommended that I change my diet to improve my cholesterol. One thing he recommended was salmon. Fresh salmon is relatively expensive in the UK so I thought I would try making something with tinned salmon.
My first tin from Tesco had a lot skin and bones inside. I’ve bought tinned salmon in my home country and it is usually skinless and boneless. I tried to pick out the skin and the bones without much success. I chewed through some remaining bones and gave up.
I bought two other tins today from Sainsbury’s and Waitrose, but each was exactly the same. I couldn’t understand why these inedible pieces would be left in the tin. Tinned tuna doesn’t have this. Is this normal or am I missing something?
CAREERD@reddit
You can eat the skin on salmon, and if they are tinned you can eat the bones as well. Also consider mackeral too
Admirable_Cattle_131@reddit
Mackerel is the real MVP of tinned fish. Packs a great punch of omega 3s and a nice firm texture.
I like to dress is up with shallot, sumac and a little vinegar but that's just me.
ajslov@reddit
I have so much sumac I was about to give away as didn't know how to use it and I also have lots of mackerel so you just gave me a quick recipe, thanks
Admirable_Cattle_131@reddit
Sumac is honestly amazing. I tend to use it on cold dishes and salad where you want a bit of sourness and fruitiness is a bonus.
Sprinkle it on onions, chopped cabbage, feta with cucumbers.
If you have an absurd abundance, you can also consider trying it as a tea (you'd need some way to strain out the bits). It's distinctly sour so it might not be your thing, but I quite like hibiscus which is another sour flower that can be made into tea.
ajslov@reddit
Had it for lunch with some toast, tasty :)
zedexcelle@reddit
Yes! It's the best! I sprinkle it on cauliflower with cumin and roast it.
Anandya@reddit
Mix butter and miso. Melt a little onto toast and then onto the mackrel.
I used to make it for wedding canapes. It's a massive hit.
Admirable_Cattle_131@reddit
That's a cool idea. Never done anything like that but I'll definitely try it!
stuntedmonk@reddit
Another dish for mackerel:
Chop a bit of onion, cook down in pan Add tin of mackerel in tomato sauce Heat for a few minutes more
Lash it over toast and sprinkle chopped parsley.
Such a great dish
No_Bodybuilder_3073@reddit
Splash of Worcestershire if you're feeling extra fancy
buckwurst@reddit
Dark Soy sauce works too
InsaneInTheRAMdrain@reddit
Im so fucking hungry rn
CrossCityLine@reddit
Splash of vodka and it’s a great hangover cure.
balls2musty@reddit
Swap the parsley for coriander n you’ve damn near got a chutney
decisiontoohard@reddit
A chutney is like a jam, man. This is nothing like that
balls2musty@reddit
I’m not on about that type of chutney
decisiontoohard@reddit
Oh. In that case they aren't defined by coriander, or by removing parsley, and I've never heard of a chutney containing meat/fish.
You see reduced tomato and onion and you think "chutney"?
balls2musty@reddit
Wow I never knew a fish chutney was so offensive 😭 Please get yourself to ur nearest Bengali family and open ur eyes we’ll make a chutney out of anything. Fish, chicken, potato, anything goes just chop it up with some onions, coriander, chili and maybe give it a dry fry for a few min.
idiotista@reddit
Eh, no.
verminV@reddit
Or my fave:
Toast granary bread
Fry onion until soft, add spinach
Add creme fresh, dash or worcester sauce, squeeze of lemon
Cook for 30 seconds
Smoked mackerel goes on toast, top with the spinach and onion.
Enjoy!
SPYHAWX@reddit
I do this and then put the toast under the grill to char the mackerel. Soooo good
newtonbase@reddit
Works with tinned sardines too
Fair_Woodpecker_6088@reddit
For me, it’s all about the Pilchards
On_The_Blindside@reddit
Fantastic on toast or in a salid too,
fnigler@reddit
The katsu sauce variety straight out of the can is such a good snack
nathan155@reddit
Tesco do a tinned mackerel in Katsu sauce. Fry up some onions, add some sweetcorn. Add the mackerel and a splash of water, get them all mixed together. Lay it a top some rice and add 1 or 2 boiled eggs and you have a very easy bastardised kedgeree!
I made this meal up as a hiking meal only to discover that it’s actually banging.
ZeroZer0_@reddit
My wife gets us mackerel in a chilli sauce from Aldi/lidl (can’t remember which). We normally add it to some kimchi fried rice with kewpie and Siracha or gochujang. Banging lunch.
coffeeebucks@reddit
Cupboard kedgeree is one of my favourite quick dishes. Cook rice with some curry powder, chuck some frozen peas in towards the end. Add spring onions and a tin of mackerel. Boiled or poached egg on top and a load of black pepper. Delicious.
Admirable_Cattle_131@reddit
You don't hold back the cooking when you go hiking! Very cool.
I have to say I'm curious.
Another favourite of mine is sardines and fennel seeds pasta sauce (fry garlic, chili flakes, fennel seeds, maybe some onion. Then chopped tomatoes and sardines, salt and finish with a splash of vinegar before serving)
Xaphios@reddit
Blend a tin of mackerel in tomato sauce with some plain fromage frais and a little lemon juice - it turns into a really good dip for carrot sticks/pepper sticks/crispbreads.
Ok-Diamond-9304@reddit
Where's the gorgonzola for added creaminess?
the_Athereon@reddit
You eat the bones? I don't exactly want a crunchy fish...
robrt382@reddit
The bones are soft, personally I wouldn't say they are crunchy
themooglove@reddit
I'd say they were more crumbly. I like the texture, adds a bit of variety.
Jazzlike-Basil1355@reddit
Crumbly is the word I was trying to think of
TallFriendlyGinger@reddit
The texture of bones in tinned salmon knocks me sick 😭
Cantseemtothrowaway@reddit
I love the bones in tinned salmon. We used to fight over them when we were kids. Wouldn’t call them crunchy though.
You can buy skinless, boneless salmon if you prefer.
KelpFox05@reddit
Salmon skin also contains the highest percentage of omega-3 fatty acids in the fish, which have been proven to decrease risk of heart disease. So it's good for you, too!
addicted-2-cameltoe@reddit
Yet studies say codliver oils r dangerous?
KelpFox05@reddit
Source? I've never heard that one before.
addicted-2-cameltoe@reddit
Why i stopped taking them a year ago.....
addicted-2-cameltoe@reddit
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/behind-the-headlines/fish-oil-supplements
Opening_Cut_6379@reddit
That's disgusting. I haven't eaten tinned salmon since I was a kid, when my mother gave me sandwiches with the skin and bones in that made me throw up
11Kram@reddit
Man up!
slappingactors@reddit
The edible bones give you a lot of calcium which is otherwise practically absent in canned fish.
pineapplesaltwaffles@reddit
And sardines!
Fingers_9@reddit
What In the Chef on Instagram does a fantastic sardine curry.
piece_of_sexy_bacon@reddit
tinned smoked, peppered mackerel fillets are absolutely peng. can get em from most supermarkets (ik Tesco and sainos do em)
SUPBarefoot_BeachBum@reddit
And sardines…. My favourite on toast.
BeeDry2896@reddit
Yes, you’re right. I thought the bones were good for you. They’re easy to eat.
ozgirl28@reddit
My mum used to mash the salmon in a bowl with a bit of salt and pepper. Going back to the 70s, we had this for Sunday tea on sandwiches most weeks with onion and cucumber in vinegar!
Kewoowaa@reddit
My gran used to mash it but add vinegar 🤯
Fancy-Professor-7113@reddit
My gran mashed it with a bit of salted butter and make brown bread sandwiches. I used to love it.
BlackAle@reddit
Great suggestion, just tried a tin of boned salmon with salted butter and a little pepper, mashed it up in a bowl. Great sandwich.
I've never understand the attraction of adding vinegar to fish, it just obliterates the taste of the fish.
Fancy-Professor-7113@reddit
Ah, I'm glad you liked it. That sandwich is a big dose of food nostalgia for me. My gran used to put me some plain crisps on the side.
I don't understand the vinegar thing either. Maybe it started as a way to make it go further cheaply?
Kewoowaa@reddit
Now that actually sounds pretty good!
Fancy-Professor-7113@reddit
It was delicious. It's a bit of a comfort food for me now. Lovely memories :)
Inevitable-Fall-7107@reddit
Good to know I'm not the only one who adds vinegar! My mum did it that way and I do too.
MrTwemlow@reddit
Yep, my grandma used to make it like this too. When I complained about the bones she said, "it's a treat, it's supposed to have bones", and so I shut up and enjoyed my fish bone treat.
Next-Project-1450@reddit
That's always how my parents did it.
My dad used to piss my mum off by using so much vinegar. And he also went to town on the white pepper, too.
When we went on holiday each year, my mum used to make salmon sandwiches to eat while we were driving. She made two types - one for her and me and my sister (almost no vinegar), and the stuff dad liked (swimming in it, with loads of pepper).
ScorpioTiger11@reddit
I had one of these swimming types last night!
ThereAndFapAgain2@reddit
Not being funny, but that sounds like the worst Sunday tea ever.
ozgirl28@reddit
It was of it’s time. And given the number of people who have commented its unlocked a core memory, I’m certainly not alone! I can’t say I loved it at the time but I’m definitely going to try it again this weekend!
ThereAndFapAgain2@reddit
Why wait for the weekend? It's literally just a salmon butty lol
ozgirl28@reddit
I know! But I want to think of my late mum and recreate a memory. Stupid, I know but 🤷🏼♀️
Ok-CANACHK@reddit
I take out the skin & bigger bones themes it all up with an egg (or mayo, slightly more than the size of the yolk) cracker crumbs & green onions & make patties that I brown in butter . A very poor man's croquette if you will
Erizohedgehog@reddit
I want this now!
Ok-CANACHK@reddit
also works with tuna!
ozgirl28@reddit
So do I. I might have to buy some today!!
matti-san@reddit
My mum does the same but adds a bit of mayo and salad cream so it isn't as dry
Fred776@reddit
Does she drain it? I find tinned salmon isn't that dry as long as you mash the whole tin contents. Unlike tuna, say, where they tin it with added oil or water, they don't add anything to salmon so it's just the salmon juices that are in the tin.
matti-san@reddit
Yeah, we do drain it first
Dazzling_Bat_Hat@reddit
Wow, that took me straight back to my childhood when my aunt would come for tea. Thanks for the (far distant) memory!
ozgirl28@reddit
Saturday night was cheese and onion sandwiches!!
Dazzling_Bat_Hat@reddit
It reminded me that when I was poorly I was allowed tinned macaroni cheese (no idea why I picked that as my poorly food!). And my gran would bring me a bottle of lucozade (in the crinkly cellophane) and some tcp (because she firmly believed that between them lucozade, tcp and listerine could cure anything and everything).
11Kram@reddit
The crinkly yellow cellophane was so unnecessary but it was unique.
Crafty_Birdie@reddit
Yep! Mine used to add butter to the salmon, and lots of black pepper.
Ruby-LondonTown@reddit
Same! Loved it.
neilm1000@reddit
So did we! Late 80s, early 90s. Memories.
LoneHerringGull@reddit
Sainsbury's do a 350g bag of frozen salmon fillets for £4 at large supermarkets and online
chabybaloo@reddit
Morrisons sometimes have fresh salmon on offer. £9/kg it may have also been £7.50/kg on a Friday.
Jennilucy@reddit
Second this, frozen is another way to get fish in your diet. That way you can store it in the freezer and cook single fillets in the oven. They last longer and quicker to cook as you can do it from frozen
CycleSamUk1@reddit
They're also easily defrosted in a plastic bag (often they come individually vacuum sealed anyway) in a bowl of water in about 30-60 mins. For food safety reasons I should tell you to do it with cold water in the sink with the tap slightly trickling, but I do it with warm water and don't bother leaving the tap on. Takes half the time and I'm about to cook it anyway.
T3CH42@reddit
Fun fact, all fish you buy from the supermarket is frozen, the stuff in the ‘fresh’ packets are just thawed out
Brendoodle@reddit
Our housemate does.. freaks me out every time lmao..
Kindly-Analysis-9491@reddit
Frozen salmon is about half the price of fresh if you want something in between.
Specialist_Emu7274@reddit
Personally I just buy the frozen salmon fillets
Maximum_RnB@reddit
They’re edible. You could discard the larger ones and you won’t notice what’s left. If you don’t like it, buy the boneless and skinless variety but it costs a LOT more.
chailstorm@reddit
You can buy skinless and boneless - it’s on the can label. It’ll be a bit more expensive and not available everywhere.
AberNurse@reddit
I like the John west no drain sweet chilli salmon. No bones or skin.
doublemp@reddit
I always felt like no drain is just them being stingy with oil. Try Rio Mare and they come with a decent amount of olive oil.
AberNurse@reddit
I don’t like fish in oil. I prefer no drain or spring water/brine. The no drain suits me far less messy if I’m chucking it on a salad at work or something
Faithful_jewel@reddit
Tesco, Asda, and Waitrose definitely
Don't think there's any in Lidl or Aldi
Astrohurricane1@reddit
I read that as “co-op missions”. I spend too much time on my PlayStation 😳
Pale_Huckleberry7856@reddit
Sainsburys have frozen salmon that is decent, and fairly inexpensive
luxurycomedyoohyeah@reddit
The skin and bones are perfectly edible with canned salmon. The canning process makes the bones soft and edible. Great source of calcium. Make sure to mash the entire can, bones and all if you don’t like the texture of the bones. I personally love mayonnaise, mustard, celery and apples mixed in with my salmon salad!
vrfm89@reddit
Get down to Aldi. Half a side of salmon is £7.50 or thereabouts. Cut into 4 decent pieces and freeze as needed
bluebellwould@reddit
I like the bones. Nom nom
hooligan_bulldog_18@reddit
Frozen salmon filets aren't expensive in Iceland. I feed the dog a filet a day with her Kibbles
Stealth_bummer_@reddit
You can use a fork to get the bones out fairly easily. Use said fork to mash it up and it sort of becomes one consistency where you can’t see the skin 👍.
Nuts also v good for cholesterol.
Figueroa_Chill@reddit
You can buy a portion of Salmon for under £3 in Morrisons. Have it with some baby potatoes and veg. I prefer frozen veg with it.
BoutiqueKymX2account@reddit
I actually can’t with you op 🤦🏻♀️
Yes salmon comes with bones.
Sainsbury’s wild caught pink salmon is bone free
Comfortable-mouse05@reddit
They must do
Katietori@reddit
You eat the lot here in the tin. It's to do with the way it's processed that makes the bones edible.
ElectronicFly9921@reddit
Who wants to eat bones though? Call me crazy but that is really off putting.
ukslim@reddit
There are delicious fish where you'd always eat the bones because they're too tiny to remove. Sardines, whitebait, ...
Flat_News_2000@reddit
There's good nutrients in bones
CycleSamUk1@reddit
They're good for you and the texture isn't bad after the canning process. When used in recipes they're barely noticable
T3CH42@reddit
It’s to make the overall end product cheaper, skinning and boning is a costly process
MrRedDoctor@reddit
One of my worst eating experiences has been eating canned fish in the UK.
Where I'm from, Italy, canned tuna (or other fish) is delicious and something I stock up on. I had a very, very different experience when I tried supermarket UK brands...
ukslim@reddit
Don't buy the cheapest brand in the shop, you'll probably find it's OK. There's probably an Italian brand there, for a bit more money.
I have a mental list of things that are OK to buy cheap, and things where it's worth paying more.
jsteveho@reddit
I think Tesco/Morrisons and Waitrose both stock Rio Mare tuna now! I’ve definitely seen it around
AussieHxC@reddit
They do nice ones now. It's became very trendy and the supermarkets have cottoned on.
It's not just mackerel in a disgusting tomato sauce now.
MrRedDoctor@reddit
Tesco now does Rio Mare, which is my go-to in Italy
notouttolunch@reddit
Why is no one advertising this? The quality and available range of food in the UK is so different t to when I was younger but I just don’t know it exists!
It’s the sort of advertising people might enjoy.
AussieHxC@reddit
I would strongly recommend the tins of peppered mackerel, Tesco, Waitrose, M&S (presumably others) all sell it for ~£2.20 and it's simply incredible, really buttery.
Otherwise one of my other favourites are the Parmentier sardines in olive oil and chilli.
Some of the cheaper ranges can be hit and miss but there's some good stuff out there now.
ThisIsAUsername353@reddit
They so such a small amount of sauce that after cooking it’s 50% tomato 50% mackerel oil 😂
PsychologicalSplit43@reddit
Have you tried Marks and Spencer? It’s better quality: even the cheapest ‘tuna chunks’ are like steak.
Equal-Competition930@reddit
Yes eating the bones has they are soft is very good for you. Although I choked on food once and couldn't decide whether choked on tinned sweetcorn or tinned salmon and it took time for me enjoy them again without thinking of the experience.
stitchprincess@reddit
I just empty into a bowl slip the skin off and then usually can see where the salmon is folded, open up and you can get to the bones more easily, I can’t get them all but the big ones I get out.
I can’t stand the texture of the bones but enjoy the skin, my husband doesn’t like either.
It is much easier if you have a big bowl and separate out the pieces. Once the bones are removed I put the salmon in another dish just so I know it’s done.
jizmatik@reddit
I loooooooove the crumbly soft crunchy bones
EngineeringCockney@reddit
If you use it to make something you generally wouldn’t be bother by the bones, the skin contains alot of goodness.
60/40 tinned salmon and boiled potatoes in a food mixer with a bit of butter (or mayo) and salt / pepper and form into patties then into the frying pan for the best home made fish cakes
hopeful-gym-bunny@reddit
I get a big tall tin of pink salmon from B&M for about £3.
It's easy to peel off the skin, and the bones are all connected still, so they all just lift out. I mash the fish up with vinegar and put it in sandwiches with cucumber.
Sometimes, I eat the bones on their own whilst I'm making the sandwiches.
Delicious.
taeji@reddit
last time i went to iceland the offer for 3 bags of frozen fish was £10, you can do salmon or anything else. will last you a while.
PoinkPoinkPoink@reddit
I don’t buy or eat it specifically because of the bones, it’s really annoying. I know they’re edible but I don’t want to eat them.
FrannieP23@reddit
Hmmm. I used to stand next to my mom as she sorted the bones out of canned salmon because I loved to eat them. I must have had a calcium deficiency or something. Still like them.
wildOldcheesecake@reddit
I didn’t know my cat was on Reddit
BlueStarFern@reddit
Meow meow meow FEED ME
EmilyGoesMeow@reddit
right! the thought of it makes me cringe so hard.
Amolje@reddit
Frozen salmon fillets are fairly cheap. About £1 each as part of a pack.
toady89@reddit
I can’t stomach any tinned fish, I opt for frozen salmon fillets which aren’t too expensive.
No_Improvement5059@reddit
Does it have to be tinned? You can get very reasonably priced frozen salmon filets from Lidl.
External_Control_458@reddit
At the onset, eliminate added sugar - anything the label/common sense identifies as sugar that has been added. Of course this means sweets in any form. In the US, sugar is added to everything. Look at the labels in the US/perhaps other countries. BTW, high fructose corn syrup is supercharged poison.
Refined sugar is poison. Insulin resistance affects all organs including the brain. People have different tolerances/resistance, but it catches up with everyone who lives long enough.
Start with eliminating products with added sugar.
_ThePancake_@reddit
Dude splurge and get yourself a side of a salmon. But also aldi sell "salmon pieces" which are the end cuts nobody wants REALLY cheap. We buy them cause we always end up breaking up the salmon and it tastes the same anyway.
meower_to_the_people@reddit
Doesn't answer your question but Morrisons do a 3 for £10 deal on selected meat and fish. Salmon fillets are usually part of that deal. Only once found a bone. They do have skin, which is edible and delicious if crisped up (but remove the scales before cooking, a teaspoon is good for this job but it is a bit of a chore, you can just skip that and discard the skin after cooking instead).
Aldi and Lidl also typically sell boneless and skinless frozen salmon fillets which are less expensive than the fresh portions.
They're still relatively expensive comparative to a tin of salmon, but more versatile and nicer to eat.
I'd never touch tinned salmon again after a similar experience to yours, finding bits of unpleasant salmon in my packed lunch sandwich. It put me off for life.
Inevitable-Fall-7107@reddit
I just pick out the spine when I find it as it makes me feel a bit funny eating it. The rest i just mash up anyway to go in a sandwich so dont notice the small bones. I don't mind the skin either.
loveyouronions@reddit
Check out r/cannedsardines. Some super expensive tins on there but some great ideas for serving them; I eat a lot of tinned fish now as it’s delicious and can be pretty inexpensive
zippyzebra1@reddit
They are not inedible. Just chomp through them. What a pussy
Bulky_Plum_9023@reddit
Totally agree, I was so shocked when I opened a tin of salmon, expecting the same as tuna but chunks of salmon instead. There were whole vertebrae in there! Yes I gather it is safe to eat but, no thanks I’ll stick with fresh🤢
Martipar@reddit
I do, love the bones, they are very soft and very edible.
neilm1000@reddit
They really aren't that soft.
trouser_mouse@reddit
Yeah sometimes once you put them in your mouth they feel harder than they looked
ThisIsAUsername353@reddit
That’s what she said.
neilm1000@reddit
Exactly
BrokenPistachio@reddit
🤨
hublybublgum@reddit
Softer than if you munched a fish gollum style
EmbraJeff@reddit
Being a bit old school I tend to use money but hey, each to their own…
thethirdbar@reddit
it's normal, and delicious, and a great soruce of calcium. i love tinned salmon. it's so pricey though, i tend to get mackerel or sardines for my tinned-fish-fix.
hellhound28@reddit
It's normal, which is why I don't buy tinned salmon. Go with some kippers instead. You can get then boneless if you prefer, they're super heart healthy, and you can prepare them in any number of ways that suit your tastes.
YeahOkIGuess99@reddit
It drives me nuts. I know you can eat them as they've been softened, but I can't stand them! The skinless & boneless stuff is much more expensive and by that point you're as well buying 2 salmon fillets and cooking yourself. Not exactly a hardship, but I love tinned fish otherwise.
Mackerel, as others say, is delicious. It smells the fishiest which upsets some, but tastes so nice. The one in olive oil, drained, with salt, pepper and a splash of lemon on oatcakes is the luncheon of kings.
Mikunefolf@reddit
The only person who ever ate this was my great grandma. In sandwiches, bones and all…😂. I’ve literally never thought about it or seen it for sale since, until your post!
Least_Temperature_23@reddit
You can eat the skin & bones, although I understand why some choose not to. The bones have a chalky texture, not sure if they have much nutritional value, but they are edible.
chippychips4t@reddit
Lidl used to do some good tinned salmon.
Crafty_Birdie@reddit
Yes - I do sometimes because it's cheap and I ate it as a kid. You can either fish(intended) the veterbrae and/or skin out which isn't that hard, or mash it in as the bones are very soft. They're actually really good for you - calcium, gelatin and collagen - and pretty much tasteless, but I appreciate it doesn't look appetising!
Tauorca@reddit
Salmon is very cheap if you buy it whole and cut it up yourself, if you go by price per KG it's about 5 times cheaper, might be worth looking into
CycleSamUk1@reddit
I've rarely found it cheaper than frozen doing it this way though, and since you have to freeze it yourself after doing this, I can never make it worth it. The only time I've done it is when they had crazy deals on whole/sides of salmon, the regular price is too much
Tauorca@reddit
I can get a full salmon for about €15 if I look around and that gives me well over a weeks worth of meals, but if it was frozen it would cost me well over €60 for the same in weight
CycleSamUk1@reddit
Fair. Over here from a quick search the cheapest side I can find is £15/kg and frozen is under £10/kg. Whole salmon isn't super commonly sold, maybe in dedicated fishmongers but I'd be surprised to see it under £15/kg, and of course you lose some of that weight when you prep it
throwthrowthrow529@reddit
Aldi do some pre seasoned salmon breasts that are pretty cheap vs. A side of salmon from Sainsbury’s or Waitrose
Fred776@reddit
It's completely normal. I believe you can buy skinless and boneless but it's more expensive.
I have only ever used tinned salmon mashed up and in a sandwich. The skin breaks up and is not noticeable. The bones can also be mashed up but are edible either way and are a source of calcium.
ThoseTwoImpostors@reddit
Yeah I just eat it all
AffectionateJump7896@reddit
Your doctor has told you that your diet is a cause of a significant health problem that will shorten your life and puts you at risk of all sorts of nasties like stroke and heart attack.
Just buy proper salmon from lidl. Eating oily fish twice a week really isn't that expensive and if you have to cut back on Spotify, lottery tickets or branded beans, just do what you need to do to feed yourself properly.
There's no way someone who even earns minimum wage can't afford to eat healthily. Yes, unhealthy is cheaper so it becomes an easy choice, but it's not the right one.
CometGoat@reddit
The bones are edible, and honestly kinda good cause of the light crunch
Anywhere_everywhere7@reddit
They are certainly edible, I personally love them but yeah they’re not to everyone’s taste. Amazing value for money.
r4garms@reddit
My partner and I fight over who gets the ‘knuckle’. I guess it’s not everyone’s thing, but we love it.
Gauntlets28@reddit
Yeah totally, although I always remove all the bones. If you extract them first it's pretty straightforward- they're always all in the centre. But the tinned stuff I'd great if you want to do some kind or fish-based risotto or carbonara or whatever.
Whocanitbe_@reddit
My parents do and often make salmon salad with it. I think it reminds them of the 70’s.
celtiquant@reddit
Nothing beats canned salmon with chips feesh out of the chip pan, vinegar and tomato sauce on a Saturday afternoon when the Grandstand theme tune starts on BBC1…
That takes me back… yum!
BastardsCryinInnit@reddit
Yeah.
Granted, I only use tinned salmon for fishcakes but yeah, that's how it's always come. I don't find it too difficult to pick out the bones!
Iceland has pretty good frozen salmon options, and I think ASDA does as well.
GreenStuffGrows@reddit
The bones are the best bit, that's where most of the minerals are and they're perfectly soft enough to be edible.
Mash it all up together with a fork in a bowl, add a splash of vinegar and a little pepper if you like.
Tinned salmon is its own thing, not a substitute for fresh
AnUdderDay@reddit
Pro tip: we're coming into Easter, salmon is going to plummet in price {comparatively speaking). I would suggest popping to Morrisons if one is local and getting the whole salmon. They'll butcher it for you any way you want. You can usually get an entire fish this time of year (12-16 fillets) for like £20
sharpied79@reddit
What's your cholesterol level?
Temporary-Zebra97@reddit
Couple of tins a week for the kittens, they munch the skin but lick the bones clean and spit them out.
ChampionshipOk5046@reddit
The skin and bone are both edible and good for you.
DocMillion@reddit
The reason your doctor recommended this was presumably because you need more calcium, or to improve your cholesterol profile, or vitamin levels. The skin and bones are where these things are most concentrated, so eat up your medicine!
Cold_Ebb_1448@reddit
Made the same mistake as you recently OP having never had tinned salmon before, made me feel sick just looking at it tbh
MsDragonPogo@reddit
Yes, that's exactly how it is and exactly why I've never bought it since I've been responsible for my own shopping. I have vivid memories of my mum happily chomping through the boney, skinny horror and calling it a treat.
Opening a tin of RED! rather than pink salmon was a big deal in the 1970s. (Yes. I'm old :-) )
Orangesteel@reddit
Frozen fish is way cheaper than fresh fish if it helps too!
thedummyman@reddit
You can buy skinless and boneless tinned fish, people with poor bone density are recommended to eat the version with the bones.
BanzaiMercBoy@reddit
It’s very easy to remove the bones with a fork after draining the tin and gently upturning the salmon into a bowl.
Use the work to separate the fish from the bone.
Pedantichrist@reddit
Yes, it is very popular. It is fish, in a can.
You can buy processed fish in a can instead. Tesco sells it.
Annabelle_Sugarsweet@reddit
You’re supposed to cook them out no? I would go for frozen salmon instead, super cheap in Iceland.
172116@reddit
Yes, my parents and sister love it, and it makes me want to vom.
Frozen salmon is cheaper than fresh, and is generally skinless and boneless.
pootler@reddit
I love salmon, but I can't afford it, and I'm with you on tinned salmon being pretty nasty. There are lots of other more affordable foods you can eat to improve your cholesterol, though.
Eat more nuts, seeds, wholegrains, avocados, beans and berries, and up your fruit and veg. Even dark chocolate helps. And you can take a fish oil supplement. It seems to have worked for me. (My cholesterol went from slightly dodgy to off-the-charts excellent, mostly by eating more nuts, seeds, berries, fruit, and avocados and taking a supplement. And moving more.)
feli468@reddit
Yeah, you should look for the skinless and boneless kind next. But if you want to use the ones you bought, do you have some sort of food processor? If so, maybe you can just run them through it, mix with mashed potatoes and make fishcakes?
Flapparachi@reddit
My mum does. Tinned salmon is revolting.
PNWest01@reddit
You can easily pick out most of the bones if you separate the salmon gently on a plate. The rest of the bones are very small and perfectly fine to ingest. And who doesn't love salmon skin?!
Jinx-Put-6043@reddit
I agree I think it’s inedible . M&S and Waitrose both sell skinless and boneless tinned salmon as well as ordinary with skin and bones.
duowolf@reddit
As does teaco
notouttolunch@reddit
Tea co! Haha. That’s a shop I’d enjoy!
ChickenOSea@reddit
I love the skin and bones in tinned salmon. I get annoyed when there aren’t many bones.
Due-Task9305@reddit
Yes, I buy tinned salmon, and I eat the skin and bones. I wasn’t sure about the skin and bones when I first tried it as a kid, but soon got used to it.
Fabulous_Big_8333@reddit
Yep my parents do and it's quite easy to remove the bones as they are normally one piece so if you are delicate it all comes away quite easily
blackcurrantcat@reddit
Tinned salmon you can see is the end of the fish cut through as one piece into the right weight/shape to fit the can. Canned fish is cooked in the can hence why you get the skin and bone. The more expensive skinless/boneless salmon is from further up the fish, there’s more work required at the cannery hence the higher price. It’s all your own taste though, skin & bones or no skin & bones, depends what you’re willing to pay for.
DuraframeEyebot@reddit
I always thought I hated salmon because my first experience was of tinned ... with a bone in it.
Then I discovered I just hate tinned salmon.
Maus_Sveti@reddit
I think the skin and bones are the best bit personally!
Ecstatic_Ratio5997@reddit
Where are you from
catterso@reddit (OP)
United States
Beginning-Leek8545@reddit
This is AskUK not AskUS
NeverCadburys@reddit
And they are asking the UK about tinned fish. Why would they ask the US for advice on tinned fish in the UK? Like, are you okay?
Beginning-Leek8545@reddit
Are you not able to read? They literally commented they live in the United STATES
Gasping_Jill_Franks@reddit
r/confidentlyincorrect
2xtc@reddit
Pot. Kettle. Black.
NeverCadburys@reddit
And this is AskUK, as in "The number 1 subreddit for Brits and Non-Brits to ask questions about life and culture IN THE UNITED KINGDOM"
I think you need to go to bed.
thisisgettingdaft@reddit
They commented they are FROM the US, not that they live there.
LikelyNotSober@reddit
They said they are from the U.S. and referenced 3 British supermarket chains that don’t exist in America.
neilm1000@reddit
Tell us you didn't read the OP without telling us you didn't read the OP.
Outside_Break@reddit
Unless Sainsbury’s and Waitrose has made their way across the pond then I think OP’s in the U.K. you snarky div
BrokenPistachio@reddit
They mean, where are you living right now? Not where are you from originally
CallMeDanPls@reddit
Yeah all the time, pretty easy to just take out the big spine bones and as much of the little ones as you can be bothered to
MeasurementTall8677@reddit
Yes but it all mashes up with a fork a bit of brown vinegar, lemon juice & pepper & it's really nice on a salad or in a sandwich
mousecatcher4@reddit
The bones are delicious.
CCPWumaoBot_1989@reddit
It depends on what you define as cheap. You can buy frozen salmon from (at least) Aldi and Lidl where I am. It's about 3.50 for 4 fillets weighing about 500g overall. They've got skin on them (however you could easily take it off after cooking them) and they don't have any bones. I'd recommend it.
Sorry I'm not answering your question but I'm sure everyone else probably has
nicdic89@reddit
I feel for the price your buying tinned salmon at you can get fresh salmon fillets for a similar price? It’s certainly that way at my local Tesco anyways, it’s like £4.50 for fresh and £3.20 for tinned, plus you can cook and prepare it the way you like with out the faff of eating bones you don’t want to eat
giraffe_cake@reddit
Most tinned fish contain bones. You can eat them. They're very good for nutrition! I love them. I like the soft crunch.
CourtneyLush@reddit
Yes, I love the bones, I just mash them in with the rest of the sardines.
It's easy enough to take them out if you don't though, just decant it on to a plate and you can strip the skin from the outside and follow the line where the bones are, wiggle a small fork in there and flick them out.
ToThePillory@reddit
It's not inedible, you can eat the bones, they're cooked to the point you can just smoosh them with your fork.
UncBarry@reddit
Cholesterol is so important for humans that your liver makes it. Omegas (found in fish) are important, fish can be good for you, but still, don’t go taking nasty statins or believing lies about cholesterol being harmful.
raccoonsaff@reddit
I tried them a few times, couldn't get into them, but I could tolerate them. I have bought ones by John West and they had NO bones, was wonderful...but just so pricey!
Huge___Milkers@reddit
Buy frozen salmon fillets, far cheaper
irv81@reddit
My dad eats it, he'll spread a tin of it across 2 sandwiches, bones and all and devour them.
stuaxo@reddit
OMG I bought this once not knowing what to expect, it was horrible.
Bobbly_1010257@reddit
The skinless boneless tinned salmon is expensive, plus the tins are tiny. It doesn’t take long to clean a tin of salmon.
TheLightStalker@reddit
The nutritional value of UK farmed Salmon has been going down and down. I'm surprised it's recommended to be honest. Probably 10% plastic an all.
Woffingshire@reddit
The ribbed stuff has skin and bones because it's all the bits that are difficult to sell otherwise.
Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit
Ive not had it since I was small, but I am pretty sure my aunt just used to mash the bones into it and then put mayo and seasoning. Like tuna.
I live tinned mackerel fillets though very cheap and nutritious. And often without bones.
New_Location9393@reddit
Mix a can with an egg, dried bread crumbs, some chopped onion and a dose of Worcestershire, form into patties and fry until crisp in olive oil. Some tartar sauce on the side and you are livin’ large!
DV865@reddit
My mother does and I hate it when she gives it me for lunch during visits, not helped by her failing eyesight. I've repeatedly taken her tins of boneless salmon but she always goes back to the one with bones!
Immorals1@reddit
Independent_Push_159@reddit
I like salmon but the tinned stuff is grim. Not sure what your doctor recommended salmon for in particular but if it's just about getting more fish in your diet, then I'd happily recommend the tinned sardines and mackerel. Both have bones, so great for calcium if that's something you are after. Pretty cheap too. Sardines on toast is a fave of mine. My mum makes a mackerel and horseradish pate, which is great. But honestly I'm happy to just trough it straight from the tin
broadarrow39@reddit
I'm with you on this, tinned salmon doesn't smell nice let alone the skin and bone all going on in there.
ILoveMyCatsSoMuch@reddit
I have a good recipe for tinned salmon if you’re interested, it’s a family favourite… Saute sliced mushrooms in a pan Add a tub of Philadelphia (or any other cream cheese) Add milk until the sauce is a thickness you like In a separate pan boil pasta according to packet instructions Add prawns and pasta
Also with the tinned salmon, remove the spine, skin and any other visible bones :)
XihuanNi-6784@reddit
I don't. For some reason tinned salmon has bones even though tinned tuna doesn't. I can't stand it and haven't had tinned salmon since the very first time.
eyeball2005@reddit
The bones are soft. You don’t really notice them. But I prefer skinless and boneless sardines in tomato sauce, delicious and a good oily fish
will-je-suis@reddit
Skinless and boneless
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/271810295/?icid=ghsandapp_ghs_pdp_share
No-Communication2985@reddit
John West brand do the fridge pots that are skinless and boneless. It's quite expensive, as is most salmon and tuna imo. I used to enjoy the bones as a kid but now I'm an adult, I just can't anymore.
I'm currently eating a tin or two every day as part of my healthy eating/weightloss journey.
pocahontasjane@reddit
John West do a skinless and boneless one. I've had that from Tesco before.
SpaTowner@reddit
They aren’t in the slightest bit ‘inedible’, they just aren’t to your taste.
The bone is usually rendered crumbly by the canning process, both skin and bone can be mashed in.
lavayuki@reddit
It is cheaper so yes I do buy it to save costs. I don't eat the bones, but my dad does. I do eat the skin though, there is nothing wrong with fish skin.
I eat the skin and bones of the tinned sardines as well
Postik123@reddit
When I was a kid my mum would pick out the bones and eat them separately. I grew up kind of seeing the bones as a delicacy and I still like them today.
I assumed everyone felt the same way but I remember telling someone this and they were totally disgusted at the thought of eating the bones.
Kewoowaa@reddit
I hate the skin/bones on tinned salmon so buy the skinless & boneless tinned.
It’s a little harder to find (Tesco’s often stock it, pink easier to find than red) and a tiny bit pricier but worth it in my opinion. If it doesn’t say skinless&boneless on the can assume it’s not.
(Not against skin in general - will happily eat it on fresh but the price of that is getting silky recently)
T_raltixx@reddit
Yes, it's delicious. I pick out the bones.
secretvictorian@reddit
Yes, I just use a fork to pick out the bones before I take it out of the tin.
Neilkd21@reddit
Yeah people do buy it and you can eat the skin and bones, meant to be healthy for you. Personally I can't stand the texture. You can buy tinned salmon that's boneless and skinless.
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