Can You Eat Canned Sardines Right Out Of The Tin?

Canned sardines are an awesome food that have an unfairly negative reputation. Consider that canned sardines easily elevate a bowl of pasta while also being surprisingly nutritious when included in a well-balanced diet. If you're new to the world of canned fish, you might wonder whether sardines can be eaten directly from the tin or if they require cooking first. Rest assured that you can add convenience to the lengthy list of benefits this fish offers, as canned sardines are a ready-to-eat food.

The process for canning sardines involves numerous steps, including pre-cooking and sterilization. After sardines are thoroughly cleaned and prepped, the fish are briefly cooked via steaming or immersion in boiling water. Next, the fish are deposited into cans, which are vacuum-sealed and placed into a specialized pressure cooker that can reach high temperatures.

The application of extreme heat renders sardines safe to eat right out of the can, no cooking required, but it also helps preserve the food. For instance, an unopened can of store-bought sardines (or other type of fish) can last as long as five years when stored correctly. This entails avoiding common canned food storage mistakes like not cleaning the tin immediately before opening and keeping canned items in a sunlit area, which may foster bacterial growth.

At first glance, sardines and anchovies may seem quite similar, but there are some vital differences between the two fish worth considering. Canned sardines can be quite salty but have a less intense fish flavor than anchovies do. Sardines' high oil content also makes them quite tender and savory.

Keep in mind that some brands of sardines come with the bones intact, but you can still eat the fish whole without issue due to their soft texture. If you prefer, boneless varieties are also available. Along with boneless and boned varieties, canned sardines can also be packed in water or oil. Because oil-packed fish are often of higher quality, these might be the best option if you want to snack on sardines directly out of the can. In this case, the canned fish can be paired with crusty bread or crackers, as their soft texture is eminently spreadable.

While it's not necessary to cook sardines prior to eating, you can incorporate them into many tasty recipes. For instance, fried sardine filets pair beautifully with salsa verde featuring parsley, garlic, cilantro, and capers, among other ingredients. You could also transform canned sardines into a tasty fish burger with ingredients like breadcrumbs, seasoning, and some sort of binder, such as mayonnaise.