FOOD NEWS
15 Canned Sardine Brands, Ranked Worst To Best
BY SARAH ANGILERI
15. Dobrova Sardines
Although you may be reeled in by the simple packaging and $1.99 price tag of Dobrova Sardines in Sunflower Oil, these are best left on the shelf.
The sunflower oil tarnishes the flavor, and since the packaging lacks any country of origin or fish species labels, customers are left to guess at the quality of the fish within.
14. Cento Sardines
You may be familiar with Cento’s iconic yellow tins for the brand’s popular anchovies, but in comparison, Cento sardines are nothing special.
Sourced from Morocco and packed in low-quality olive oil, the fish are only redeemed through ample seasoning. In a pinch, they’ll suffice.
13. Siesta Co. Sardines
Siesta Co. began as a way to introduce the American market to Spanish conservas and grew to include tinned fish from tuna and mackerel to sardines.
Although sourced from the renowned coastal town of Galicia, the sardines have a harsh flavor and firm texture, only redeemed by the high-quality Spanish olive oil.
12. Roland Sardines
Like many lower-cost brands, Roland Sardines are sourced in Morocco, meaning there’s nothing particularly special about this brand.
There is no shortage of oily, fishy flavor with a texture that is somehow both firm and crumbly, making this a passable but not great option.
11. Wild Planet Sardines
Instead of olive oil, Wild Planet’s sardines are packed in a brine of water and salt, resulting in a murky pool of water with floating fat globules.
The fish tastes overwhelmingly tinny and metallic thanks to the water brine, which lacks the viscosity of oil that helps prevent the transfer of flavor from the tin to the fish.