• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Affordable, healthy fish for non-fish fans?

S

slackerinabox

Lifer
I'm not a big seafood fan at all but I need to force myself to lead a healthier lifestyle. What are some good, relatively affordable (in beef terms the rib cut - under filet in price, above chuck) that's not too.. fishy..

I plan on very simple prep methods - grilling mostly but I'll look into baking/steaming as well. I'd prefer suggestions that mercury won't be much of concern for since I'd rather not pay organic/specialty store prices (and have a wife and baby).

Thanks so much!
 
Last edited:
It depends to some extent on where you live. But I'd suggest trying cod, tilapia or haddock, all of which are mild, moderately-priced white fish.

Also try surimi ("fake crab"). It's precooked, usually eaten cold, cheap and mild-tasting. Use it to make a seafood salad with mayo and other salad stuff.
 
Anything that's a 'white' fish will probably work and be palatable enough; the key to whitefish is that they're quite mild so you generally end up tasting the 'preparation' as much as anything else. Flounder, cod, haddock, tilapia, pollock, whiting would all fall into more or less the same category. At times you may also find them labeled simply "whitefish".

Halibut is also excellent, a few notches above the other fish mentioned but you will also pay for it. Chilean Seabass as well, but be cautious with that one as it's highly regulated and very much an 'at risk' fish if you're concerned with that sort of thing.
 
Last edited:
Tilapia will be the cheapest - relatively mild. Can always be found in the frozen section.

Wild Salmon, or farm raised once a week is a good choice but it is fishy.

Snapper is also good but a bit higher priced at around $5-8/lb.
 
Tilapia is cheap, mild, has relatively low levels of mercury, and is among the best (least bad?) fish for the environment. They can be farmed inland and fed a non-fish diet. Other species of farmed fish need to be fed fish, resulting in the hoovering up of bait fish from the ocean, which is really bad for the world's fisheries.
 
Last edited:
CharlesKozierok said:
Also try surimi ("fake crab"). It's precooked, usually eaten cold, cheap and mild-tasting. Use it to make a seafood salad with mayo and other salad stuff.
Click to expand...

Surimi just means ground meat. Kanikama is fake crab, and it's only about 50% fish, the rest is additives and water. High in salt and low in protein, not nearly as healthy as true fish.
 
SacrosanctFiend said:
Surimi just means ground meat. Kanikama is fake crab, and it's only about 50% fish, the rest is additives and water. High in salt and low in protein, not nearly as healthy as true fish.
Click to expand...

It comes in all different quality levels from 12% to 85%. The "additives" are generally whitefish. As with all food, read the labels.
 
preslove said:
Tilapia is cheap, mild, has relatively low levels of mercury, and is among the best (least bad?) fish for the environment. They can be farmed inland and fed a non-fish diet. Other species of farmed fish need to be fed fish, resulting in the hoovering up of bait fish from the ocean, which is really bad for the world's fisheries.
Click to expand...

Not to argue since I really appreciate any and all suggestions, but I've read that tilapia's pretty nutritionally void - not much omega 3s, etc. I don't need everything I eat to be super healthy, but some say that the diet (of corn and grains) can lead to it having a negative impact on long term health goals - any truth to that? Because, looking at pricing, seems like tilapia's a great choice for keeping a freezer stockpile of.
 
Last edited:
darkewaffle said:
Anything that's a 'white' fish will probably work and be palatable enough; the key to whitefish is that they're quite mild so you generally end up tasting the 'preparation' as much as anything else. Flounder, cod, haddock, tilapia, pollock, whiting would all fall into more or less the same category. At times you may also find them labeled simply "whitefish".

Halibut is also excellent, a few notches above the other fish mentioned but you will also pay for it. Chilean Seabass as well, but be cautious with that one as it's highly regulated and very much an 'at risk' fish if you're concerned with that sort of thing.
Click to expand...

Any seasoning suggestions? You know, something similar to a steak rub to have around the house.
 
freedomsbeat212 said:
Not argue since I really appreciate any and all suggestions, but I've read that tilapia's pretty nutritionally void - not much omega 3s, etc. I don't need everything I eat to be super healthy, but some say that the diet (of corn and grains) can lead to it having a negative impact on long term health goals - any truth to that? Because, looking at pricing, seems like tilapia's a great choice for keeping a freezer stockpile of.
Click to expand...

I'd be more concerned by inorganic contamination from the aquaculture than the feed. Ocean fish will have more mercury and you can ask your grocer if the tilapia is from china. If you want omega 3s, you can take a supplement.
 
freedomsbeat212 said:
Any seasoning suggestions? You know, something similar to a steak rub to have around the house.
Click to expand...

Lemon pepper I'll second, it works very well. Also a mild cajun is a good alternative. As with almost all fish it's hard to go wrong with just a bit of lemon and butter too.

If you want to get a bit more adventurous, a light breading and oven 'frying' can have excellent results.
 
A few things in no particular order:

1. All surimi is indeed not the same. But even the better versions are pretty cheap. It is mostly made from pollock.

2. White fishes are good in terms of being lean protein. If you want omega threes, well, those are oils, and the oils are what make fish "fishy". So it's pretty hard to have omega threes without "fishy".

I personally love salmon and would eat it every day if I could... but it's really a very personal matter if you'll like it or not. Give it a try.

3. Seasoning: lemon pepper is a good suggestion. If you like spicy, try cajun seasoning. Italian mixed herbs can be good also.
 
darkewaffle said:
Lemon pepper I'll second, it works very well. Also a mild cajun is a good alternative. As with almost all fish it's hard to go wrong with just a bit of lemon and butter too.

If you want to get a bit more adventurous, a light breading and oven 'frying' can have excellent results.
Click to expand...

Awesome, I'll try both - I bet cajun will help remove some of that fishiness. To minimize the fish flavor, is grilling or oven preferred? I love cast iron grilling but I'm wondering if that'll intensify flavors (as it does with chicken and beef). Of course I can always experiment but expert advice is much appreciated 🙂
 
freedomsbeat212 said:
Awesome, I'll try both - I bet cajun will help remove some of that fishiness. To minimize the fish flavor, is grilling or oven preferred? I love cast iron grilling but I'm wondering if that'll intensify flavors (as it does with chicken and beef). Of course I can always experiment but expert advice is much appreciated 🙂
Click to expand...

yes, grilling will burn the fat and bring out the game taste, just like meat 😛

I like King fish. I would not say it is a mild taste though. I put a bit of salt on it and let it sit in the fridge for a few hours then pan fry.
 
Fish high in Omega-3 generally have strong fish taste. Eat the fish because you like it, not because you want some health benefit. You're going to die regardless. Eat what you enjoy and die happy.

If you want cheap fish high in Omega-3, you can't beat mackerel. Spanish and King, you have to watch out for mercury and limit your fish intake but Atlantic Mackerel are generally ok. But mackerel have extremely strong fish taste, you'll either love or hate it. I love it and is my favorite fish for consumption, raw or cooked. There's nothing like whole mackerel grilled with nothing but sprinkle of sea salt. This was my lunch last weekend.
IMG_20120519_144037.jpg


Then there's wild Alaskan sockeye salmon, albacore tuna, sardines, and anchovies. All are high in Omega-3. Mild tasting fish like catfish, flounder, red snapper, swordfish, and halibut have very little Omega 3.
 
ponyo said:
Fish high in Omega-3 generally have strong fish taste. Eat the fish because you like it, not because you want some health benefit. You're going to die regardless. Eat what you enjoy and die happy.

If you want cheap fish high in Omega-3, you can't beat mackerel. Spanish and King, you have to watch out for mercury and limit your fish intake but Atlantic Mackerel are generally ok. But mackerel have extremely strong fish taste, you'll either love or hate it. I love it and is my favorite fish for consumption, raw or cooked. There's nothing like whole mackerel grilled with nothing but sprinkle of sea salt. This was my lunch last weekend.
IMG_20120519_144037.jpg


Then there's wild Alaskan sockeye salmon, albacore tuna, sardines, and anchovies. All are high in Omega-3. Mild tasting fish like catfish, flounder, red snapper, swordfish, and halibut have very little Omega 3.
Click to expand...


where is the daikon raddish?
 
i came here to tell everyone how much i despise tilapia, it's the worst fish in the world, tastes like mud and bleeaarrrgh. but hey, it's ok if you like it. fish is astounding as the besis for a healthy diet although if you excercise a lot you might want to look at grilled frsh chicken breast, oractically every power builder out there uses it as the pillar of their diet.

salmon is a very fatty fish, but, it's plentiful, cheap, and tastes ok every now and then. shrimp / prawn / all shellfish and crustaceans are rather high in cholesterol but practically fat free, go ahead and indulge.

also +1 on surimi, it's fish protein (some brands much better than others) and can be found for riduculously low prices, great as a midday snack. it hurts me to say this but, if you are looking for a "professional" diet, you need to cut down on taste, get used to tasty food too much and you will crave it more and more. the less palatable your regular food, the less you will have brain- cravings.

trout isn't the noblest of fishes, but i personally like it very much, grilled, yumm yumm, and it's healthier than salmon. same for sea bass, breem, sole, etc .. all white fish.

oh yeah. sardines. disgusting, but healthy, lots.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top