Are You Ready for Tinned Fish Date Night?

You may or may not have noticed, but tinned fish is having a moment. It's happening both in kitchens around the world and on social media, where people are losing their heads for sardines, mackerel, tuna, salmon and all the other types of fish that comes in a can.

After years in the culinary wilderness, tinned fish is back in vogue - although certain forms of the pantry staple never went away (think tinned tuna or anchovies). Take a new wave of cottage industry canning companies, coupled with rising living costs, and a renewed interest from nutrition-obsessed influencers, and you have the perfect storm (for tinned fish).

We can trace the tinned fish renaissance back to the pandemic, when its long shelf life made it one of the first things people stocked up on when they heard about upcoming lockdowns. As fear of the pandemic subsided, people began digging into their emergency larders and peeling back the lid on tins of sardines, salmon, crab and trout.

More recently though, a trend on TikTok started when @Alihooke shared that she and her husband have a ‘tinned fish date night’ every Friday night. The tinned fish on show was nothing out of the ordinary – a spiced mackerel and sardines in sauce. Something about it caught the imagination of TikTokers, and before long the post had picked up over 15 thousand views, and inspired others to celebrate their own tinned fish date nights. Since then, tinned fish has exploded on the platform with #tinnedfish getting over 8 million views, and #tinfishdatenight 7 1/4 million views.

_{Photo:  Towfiqu barbhuiya | Unsplash}

These tinned fish snack boards tend to include two or three different tinned fish, sourdough bread and a host of other charcuterie favourites like cheeses, pickled onions, gherkins and olives, and are generally washed down with a glass of white wine or beer.

Tinned or brined fish are an ever-present element in Spanish tapas spreads or Italian aperitivio – anchovies and alici are a fundamental part of Italian cuisine and highly appreciated. It’s easy to see why a new generation of TikTokers are embracing the taste and functionality of the preserving method.

The cost of living crisis too can account for the tinned fish trend. As a protein, it is one of the best value products on the market. When families are feeling the pinch, a few tins of sardines thrown into the shopping cart can provide a protein-rich meal at very little cost.

Of course, there are high-end products that can stretch any budget for the tinned fish connoisseur. But the fact that anyone can access it no matter what the budget, no matter what the cultural background or ability in the kitchen, makes it a culinary Lego block.

Not only is it cheap, it’s also really good for you. Tinned fish is high in protein, omega-3 fatty acids and calcium, and it's low in fat. Bodybuilders and gym-goers have been tucking into tinned fish after workouts for decades. High sodium content and the presence of mercury can be concerns, however, especially for pregnant women.

And of course, you can’t deny, that tined fish tastes really good. There’s a reason why it has been such a popular and successful preserving method for hundreds of years. It prolongs the life of the food while enhancing the flavour in a particular way. Tinned fish snack boards are one way to appreciate it, but there are thousands of ways to enjoy it, from salads to pasta, sandwiches and rice dishes. And it can be integrated into almost any cuisine, from Italian to Mexican, Thai or Vietnamese.

Tinned fish date night may be a surprising trend. So if you’re looking to impress that special someone, by all means, peel back the lid on those sardines, but for the love of god, keep that Surströmming tin closed - that is one certain way to spoil the mood.