Fish has been a remarkable part of the diet of humans around the world and a main staple for folks living around the coasts or seasides. This article will cover the concern “What are the Cheapest Fish?”, types of the cheapest fish we can eat, their features, etc.
What are the Cheapest Fish?
Fish like sardines, mackerels, red mullets, catfish, and skate wings are considered the cheapest fish. These fish are considered budget-friendly and sustainable fish to cook. They have nutritional value like essential fatty acids, minerals, etc.
Nowadays, it’s impossible to think about eating seafood and not thinking about the economic pressure it puts on your pocket. There is a short list of fish you can check out with tastes varying from mildest to strongest.
Which type of the cheapest fish you can eat?
Following is the list of budget-friendly fish you can eat:
Sardines
Sardines are small fish and are the best option if you’re looking for seafood at a low cost. They contain less amount of mercury and have a little environmental impact. The oily skin of sardines is rich in nutrients like the essential Omega-3 fatty acids.
They can be grilled whole to blister the skin and give the outside skin a salty, crispy crunch. You can make an ultimate sea snack by adding the grilled sardine on toast. The health benefits of sardines are a highlight for their consumption as seafood.
Dorade
Dorade fish belong to the bream family and have a buttery, mild flavor like cod and are often less than 10$. The small size of dorade fish makes it less intimidating to cook for one or two people, and its price makes it family-friendly.
After purchasing dorade fish, it’s advised to salt bake it so that its moisture is maintained. Cooking and preserving techniques for dorade fish may include baking, pan-frying, or sauteeing, and with fillets, treat dorade like any bream.
Porgy
Porgies come from the same family bream as dorades, and are also known as Montauk Sea Bream. Porgies are abundant in the Atlantic region, the Bahamas, and the Massachusetts. Since the government regulations restricted commercial harvesting of porgies they aren’t targeted on a commercial level.
There are dusky brown colors and silvery reflections in the skin of porgies. They are one of the cheapest fish and it’s because they have a lot of bones. You should make sure to cook it just as you would properly grill or pan-fry the fillets of a more expensive fish.
Skate Wing
Skates are bottom-dwelling fish, and are one of the cheapest fish available in the market. They aren’t easy-to-cook and sustainable option but they are cheap so they are mentioned here. The best taste of skates is enjoyed by treating it like catfish or flounder: dust it in a flour and pan-fry it.
Catfish
Catfish are not only a cheap option for fish fry, but they are also an incredibly sustainable option. They have four pairs of black whisker-like barbs on their face, with no scales. They are more of a predatory species, so they have a much cleaner flavor than farmed.
Red mullet
Red mullet is a great option for people to enjoy the seafood with the lowest of costs. When bought, red mullet has a pink skin with firm white meat. They are usually found around the Spain, Portugal, and the Mediterranean region.
Red mullet has its specific flavor and has some nuance to it. When stuffed and baked, the fish keeps much of its oily and herbal flavor, which makes it a standout among the cheapest and sustainable categories of fish.
Mackerel
Mackerel is the fish of the moment and its oily flavor is recommended to be eaten with acidic summer tomatoes and meaty eggplants. They are sourced from Florida and Virginia, and are also found in Southern to Mid-Atlantic.
The smooth look of fish sometimes alarms the buyers, but it’s because of the shiny, colorful skin of the fish instead of scales. Grilling or pan-frying it preserves its flavor and crisps up the skin. However, eating it with summer tomatoes is like icing on a cake.
Tuna
Tuna fish is the perfect fish to purchase with a low budget. Health benefits of tuna are second to none as they include high levels of B12, protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, and Omega-6 fatty acids. Also, they are low in calories and fat.
However, it’s advised to consume tuna only two to three times per week as they are higher in mercury than others. Grilled or sauteed tuna steaks are the tastiest option as a seafood. It can also be a substitute for beef and can be used as a replacement burger option.
Conclusion
Today, we covered the article “What are the Cheapest Fish?”, types of the cheapest fish we can eat, their features, etc. From the above discussion, it’s clear that sardines, mackerels, red mullet, tuna, and porgies are one of the cheapest fish options and they make for a great seafood treat.
