Fish fingers are a classic tea time treat for children and a decadent Saturday afternoon sandwich for the whole family, especially when paired with tartar sauce on crusty white bread. Birds Eye fish fingers are significantly more expensive than budget brands available at most supermarkets, but are the cheaper options any good? To find out, I purchased fish fingers from Asda, Tesco, M&S, Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury's, and Morrisons, and asked my family to help me taste test them against original Birds Eye.
All the products carried the Certified Sustainable Seafood MSC stamp, indicating responsible sourcing, except for Asda Just Essentials and Morrisons Savers. We compared the fish content, price, breadcrumb flavour, cooking method, and nutritional value. Here are the results.
Birds Eye Omega 3 Breaded Fish Fingers
Birds Eye Omega 3 Breaded Fish Fingers cost £3 for 10, equating to 30p each. Made with 58% Alaska pollock, breadcrumb coating, and rapeseed oil, a serving of four fish fingers contains 236 calories, 0.8g saturated fat, 1.1g sugars, and 0.76g salt, with 14g protein and 0.9g fibre. The packet recommends baking for 12-15 minutes or air frying. These fish fingers were flatter than others, with less fish content. The breadcrumbs had an orange hue, and the fish was dry and crumbly. Rating: 2.5/5.
Morrisons Savers Fish Fingers
Morrisons Savers Fish Fingers cost 80p for 10, or 8p each. Made with 58% minced Alaska pollock, a three-finger serving contains 150 calories, 0.6g saturated fat, 0.6g sugars, and 0.43g salt, with 8.7g protein and 0.6g fibre. These were the smallest and most processed-looking, with bland fish and unappealing breadcrumbs. Rating: 1/5.
Tesco Hearty Food Co. Fish Fingers
Tesco Hearty Food Co. Fish Fingers cost 80p for 10, or 8p each. Made with 64% Alaska pollock, a three-finger serving contains 160 calories, 0.8g saturated fat, 0.4g sugars, and 0.40g salt, with 9.5g protein and 0.2g fibre. Bake for 11-12 minutes or grill for 10 minutes. These were the second smallest but had high fish content. They looked homemade and tasted like chip shop fish. Rating: 5/5.
Sainsbury's Cod Fillet Fish Fingers
Sainsbury's Cod Fillet Fish Fingers cost £2.25 for 10, or 23p each. Made with 64% Atlantic cod, a three-finger serving contains 150 calories, 0.6g saturated fat, 0.6g sugars, and 6g salt, with 8.7g protein and 0.6g fibre. Grill for 12 minutes, bake for 15, or fry. The breadcrumbs were crispy, but the fish was slightly dry. Rating: 4/5.
Lidl Simply Fish Fingers
Lidl Simply Fish Fingers cost 80p for 10, or 8p each. Made with 65% Alaska pollock (minced), a three-finger serving contains 166 calories, 0.6g saturated fat, 0.5g sugars, and 0.55g salt, with 10.3g protein and 0.9g fibre. Fry or bake for 10-12 minutes. These had meaty fish and buttery, crispy breadcrumbs full of flavour. Rating: 5/5.
Aldi Everyday Essentials Fish Fingers
Aldi Everyday Essentials Fish Fingers cost 80p for 10, or 8p each. Made with 65% minced Alaska pollock, a three-finger serving contains 143 calories, 0.6g saturated fat, 0.5g sugars, and 0.37g salt, with 9.1g protein and 1.1g fibre. Grill for 10 minutes or bake for 12. These were chunkier than most, with a batter-like coating and meaty fish. Rating: 4.5/5.
M&S Fish Fingers
M&S Fish Fingers cost £2.30 for 10, or 23p each. Made with 64% haddock, a three-finger serving contains 163 calories, 0.5g saturated fat, 1.5g sugars, and 0.52g salt, with 12g protein and 0.9g fibre. Bake for 14 minutes or grill for 12. These had bright white, chunky fish flakes and a chip shop taste. Rating: 5/5.
Asda Just Essentials Fish Fingers
Asda Just Essentials Fish Fingers cost 80p for 10, or 8p each. Made with 58% minced Alaska pollock, a three-finger serving contains 150 calories, 0.6g saturated fat, 0.7g sugars, and 0.43g salt, with 9.2g protein and 1.2g fibre. Grill for 10 minutes or bake for 12. Despite chunky fish, the breadcrumbs had an unpleasant aftertaste. Rating: 2/5.
Overall Verdict
After taste testing, I found that Birds Eye, Morrisons, and Asda had the lowest fish content at 58%. Aldi and Lidl brands had the highest at 65% and both tasted great. However, M&S and Tesco fish fingers stood out for their chip shop flavour. Since Tesco fish fingers cost just 80p per box compared to £2.30 for M&S, they were the overall winners.
