{"id":14967,"date":"2026-07-17T22:10:38","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T02:10:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/snarklesauce.com\/blog\/?p=14967"},"modified":"2026-07-17T22:33:49","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T02:33:49","slug":"fishwife-smoked-mackerel-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snarklesauce.com\/blog\/2026\/07\/17\/fishwife-smoked-mackerel-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Fishwife Smoked Mackerel Review"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Author’s Note: As always, this is not a paid or sponsored review. I have no affiliation with Fishwife<\/a> or Target or Publix.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At last. I have obtained the Ten Dollar Fish.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’ve been following me on Facebook, I’ve been joking about “The Ten Dollar Canned Fish” for a while. Ever since spying a scrawny can of Fishwife Rainbow Trout at Publix for an eye-watering $10. I found this<\/em> Smoked Mackerel with Chili Flakes at Target for a comparatively cheap $6. And here we are. Fish suspense. Fishspense?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Flavors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The mackerel has a fabulous flavor. The smokery<\/em> is so thick and rich, it almost tastes like ham. It’s generously peppered with…peppers… (chili flakes) and pleasantly spicy. Probably not suitable for spice-intolerant folk. But I relished it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Do you love smoky flavors? Check out my review of Artikaas Hickory Smoked Gouda<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Fingers<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If you hate “fishy” tasting fish, I have good news for you: this is the least “fishy” canned fish I’ve had in a while. It has more porcine vibes, honestly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s well salted, without feeling “too salty.” I didn’t need to add any extra seasonings to mine.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Fingers<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

There is slimy skin and jiggly bits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I generally like mackerel, but am not a fan of the slimy skin and stuff that goes with typical canned versions. I assumed for TEN DOLLARS, that wouldn’t be the case here. Especially since the display signage emphasized that it is HAND PACKED. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welp. There’s definitely a good bit<\/em> of slimy skin here. It’s silvery gray and jiggly. You all know how I feel about jiggly bits.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Fingers<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Stiff and a lil crusty<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The top layer is kind of a thick, tough crust. It’s chewier and stiffer than I’d expected. Likely from the “slow” smoking process? I don’t hate it. But it’s not something I’d get excited to eat again. Stiff fish is a bit weird<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The mackerel is dark gray-brown inside. I know some of the color is likely<\/em> from the smoking process (kids: just say no<\/em> to cigarettes!). Hopefully, the fish wasn’t grayish to start with. That would be ick.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Leftover<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

An ocean of oil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I will <\/em>say that there’s an ocean of oil in this can. It feels like an unnecessary amount. Wasteful, even. I think the fish could have been packed higher\/tighter in the can with less oil. I buy various fishes packed in oil regularly, and this is definitely the “oiliest” I’ve seen.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Serving the smoked mackerel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I ate mine over some homemade mashed potatoes and sage-butter veggies. OK, I ate it with my leftovers<\/em>. I was hungry, and in a hurry to fill my poor, fishless belly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was a pretty good pairing. The labels suggests serving it over “a steaming rice bowl with veggies.” Ironically, this is almost word-for-word my suggestion for serving Aldi’s Canned Herring in Curry Pineapple Sauce<\/a> (check out my review, why dontcha).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Ingredients in Fishwife Smoked Mackerel with Chili Flakes<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Ingredients<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Here are the ingredients from the label:<\/p>\n\n\n\n