Plenty of home cooks have a favorite tuna salad recipe, and if you change the ingredients to spice things up, the result just doesn't taste as comforting and satisfying. Instead of swapping ingredients, the most reliable way to elevate tuna salad is to simply use a higher-quality tuna, instead of the typical store-bought cans.

Canned tuna is processed in a factory, giving you little control over the texture and taste, but fresh tuna can be prepared however you like. Girls Can Grill recommends brining the tuna in oil, pickle juice, salt, pepper, and celery salt, then grilling it for about 12 minutes; once it’s cooled, break it into chunks and make your salad.

If you want a texture that is more similar to a classic tuna salad, poach the fresh tuna in salted water, and after three to four minutes of cooking, it should flake apart naturally. Once your fresh tuna is prepared, combine it with mayonnaise, mustard, and relish for the most flavorful and fresh tuna salad ever.