Finding good seafood on a budget is tough these days but frozen aisles offer a great solution. I tested out nine popular frozen fish fillets to see which ones actually taste fresh and crispy. Here is the breakdown of what I found during my taste test so you know exactly what to grab for dinner.
Walmart Great Value Crispy Battered Fish Fillets
These were way too greasy and making them actually made my whole kitchen smell like a fast food joint. The fish inside turned out super mushy so you might want to skip this one if texture is a big deal to you.
Van de Kamp’s Crispy Battered Fillets
The good news is these do not have that heavy greasy smell but unfortunately the inside is still way too soft. The outside batter never really got a nice crunch so it just feels like you are eating something mushy all the way through.
Gorton’s Crispy Battered Fish Fillets
I really liked the salty flavor of the batter on these because it crisped up super nicely in the air fryer. The downside is the fish itself was still a bit too soft and the pieces were kind of small for a proper sandwich.
Fremont Fish Market Battered Cod Fillets
This option finally gives us fish that is not mushy but it ended up being just a little bit too chewy instead. The salt level was perfect and it flakes well so it is still a decent choice if you want something thicker.
Whole Foods Market 365 Battered Pollock Fillets
The fish inside this one has a really nice flaky texture and the overall taste is genuinely good. The batter is just so thick that the inside layer stays a bit gummy after cooking but it still tastes alright.
SeaPak Battered Cod
You will love the size of these because just one fillet easily fills out a whole hamburger bun for a sandwich. The thick crunchy batter is amazing even though the fish flavor is a tiny bit stronger than you might expect from fresh catch.
Trader Joe’s Battered Halibut
Eating these actually feels like you just stepped into a local pub for some buttery fish and chips. They have a brilliant crunch on the outside but the fish itself does remind me a little bit of regular childhood fish sticks.
Trader Joe’s Breaded Cod Fillets
This is a massive piece of fish that gets incredibly crunchy and has a very nice mild flavor. It does not have that strong fish stick taste at all so it works perfectly when you load it up with tartar sauce.
Trident Battered Alaska Cod
These massive Costco fillets easily take the top spot because they hit that perfect balance of crispy flavorful batter and fresh flaky fish. You basically get a restaurant-quality meal from your freezer and I will definitely be keeping a bag of these stocked at home.
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