Gourmet or Garbage?

Canned seafood consumption has steadily declined in the US, however it is considered a delicacy in much of Europe. Spain alone consumes three times as much as the US in canned seafood. Is canned seafood a good option when fresh isn’t available?

Given the choice, we would all love to have more fresh seafood, straight from the fishing boats. Having grown up in New England, I can’t imagine a better meal than oysters on the half shell, boiled lobster and of course, clam chowder. But sometimes fresh seafood is priced really high depending on the season, nor do I have the time to shell a crab for some meat to throw in my favorite crab cake recipe.

While canned seafood can sometimes contain more mercury or sodium than their fresh counterparts, most of the canned seafood is very good for you. High in protein, it can jazz up any dish you want to make in a pinch. Whether it’s flaked salmon on a salad, clams tossed in some white wine to serve over pasta or baby shrimp mixed into a dip, there are plenty of healthy options available.

In Europe, much of the canned seafood is some of the highest quality bounty from the sea, and sometimes priced accordingly. A small can of almejas (Galician clams) can run about $80. While this is a true delicacy, there are many other less expensive options that make adding seafood to your daily diet easy.

It is common knowledge that the Omega-3 fatty acids and protein found in fish are essential to a healthy diet, but did you know that canned sardines have some of the highest concentration of these necessary nutrients? Add these to your shopping list and you will find not only will you be healthier in body and mind, but in your wallet too.