12 best tinned fish that reinvent the staple, taste-tested by a food writer

One of the biggest movers and shakers in the tinned fish world is Sea Sisters. Based in Dorset, everything is sustainably sourced, and produced in small batches by hand, with the fish farmed in the UK.

With its brightly coloured wrappers, inspired by the Spanish tradition, this brand has recently become very popular, with at least 10 tinned fish and counting now in the range. My favourite of the handful I've tried is the smoked rainbow trout (it's also available in chilli oil, too). This one has been smoked over oak wood and is preserved in extra virgin olive oil, and I love it with scrambled eggs on toast. It will do two very, very generously, but could also be shared between three or four quite happily.

It's delicate, very tasty – with a good smokiness to it and a little sweetness like maple or honey – and it's easy to see how this has a Great Taste Awards star.

This is another well-priced tin that is perfect for stocking up with. They're great for canapés, whether that be at a winter party or a barbecue. Or, as they're so affordable, for adding depth of flavour to pasta sauces, stews, or quite literally anything.

They're classic anchovies from Spain, which have been aged for six months and are preserved in extra virgin olive oil, and have a good umami depth to them.

From Mitch Tonks, the restaurateur dominating the south west with his fish restaurants, from the Seahorse in Dartmouth to the Rockfish mini chain from Brixham to Weymouth, is this range of tinned fish too, which he started in 2021.

This tuna is northern bonito tuna (the usual tinned tuna is skipjack), which are caught by rod and line (not in nets) – this is a far more sustainable catch method during a short fishing window of just a few weeks in northern Spain.

Each fish is filleted by hand and is tinned in olive oil. The fish is delicate and very soft in texture, and is much moister than the average tinned tuna. It might feel too luxurious to use in tuna mayo, but it will be the best tuna mayo you've ever had.

The king of original tinned seafood in my eyes is Ortiz – easily the most recognisable tinned fish brand on UK shelves, thanks to its primary coloured tins.

Inside this tin are very large anchovies, the largest I've ever had outside of a restaurant. They come from Cantabria in northern Spain, and are salted for between six to 12 months, then are washed and filleted by hand.

The result is very long, meaty dark brown slivers, which have a fantastic balanced umami flavour. Due to their size (and expense) they're ones to be laid over excellent quality bread and served as canapés alongside chunky gordal olives.

This tin of peppered mackerel in rapeseed oil really surprised me with just how excellent it is. The mackerel fillets have been prepared by hand, smoked over beechwood (which gives a great smokiness) and they have a lovely flakiness in texture, too. Then, they're coated in crushed black peppercorns and together it's a real punch of well-balanced flavour.

I'm not usually a fan of overly peppered foods, but the fillets have been perfectly seasoned where the pepper isn't overpowering, and have some of the best flavour I tasted during my tests. These are now cupboard staples for an excellent (but speedy) salad with crunchy green lettuce leaves and a drizzle of quality extra virgin olive oil.

The godfather of Spanish cuisine, chef José Pizarro knows the best of the best in Spanish foods, so you know any brand stocked in his online pantry shop is going to be unequivocally delicious. This is another pack of very large anchovies, but these set themselves apart with a delicious light smokiness that has seen them deservedly awarded three stars by the Great Taste Awards.

Coming from Cantabria, they're aged for 12 months, and in the final month are smoked, which really pushes them up a notch. They're ones to savour for your favourite guests as canapes and would make an excellent gift for the anchovy lover in your life.

A new brand to me, these anchovies have come from the Strait of Sicily in Italy, instead of Spain as most on this list do. Coming from this region, they're still considered high quality anchovies, but are usually smaller than Cantabrian anchovies. However, I found them to be slightly chunkier than some of the other similarly priced anchovies on the list.

Sicilian anchovies are usually more tender and delicate, and can be saltier. I found these ones to be very nicely salted, but it could be a little too salty for some. Of course, they're great to use in Mediterranean salads and pastas.

This much larger tin is packed with anchovies, making it feel very good value at a little more than £2. Coming from Spain, the fish were caught in the Northeast Atlantic, and the anchovies are longer and thinner than some others that are slightly meatier.

Inside are large anchovy fillets (which are certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council) preserved in good quality tasting extra virgin olive oil. The fish fillets have a delicious deep umami flavour, giving an excellent depth and an aftertaste that I kept coming back to, enjoying it as a snack on toast.

Coming from the Galician region in north west Spain, these are another option from Spain that is supremely high in quality. While the sardines are smaller than some others I tried, but they have a really great flavour which the olive oil helps preserve. The fillets are also still juicy with lots of flavour, but they still have the spines in, so do carefully pull them out before spreading on toast.

All the fish from Los Peperetes is processed by hand, and using the same techniques that have been passed down through the family generations.

Coming from the Glacian region of Ría de Arousa, La Naral has a wide range of tinned fish and seafood including tuna, mackerel, cockles, mussels and octopus.

It's caught using small boats and the sardines are processed by hand. They have a fairly firm texture and a great savoury flavour.

As it's already tinned in a picante (spicy tomato based sauce), it's even easier to add to something for a speedy lunch, like topping freshly sliced tomatoes on toast or adding into a quick salad.

Usually, I'm not such a fan of tinned fish in sunflower oil, as it feels greasier and less flavoursome, but Rockfish's tinned mackerel in sunflower oil is delightful.

The mackerel is British, caught by a fleet of boats in Brixham, Devon, where the fish is landed and processed too. The fish is very fresh-tasting and juicy, and soft in texture, making it very easy to spread on toast as a great snack.

These mackerel fillets have been caught off the coast of Portugal and deboned by hand. Unlike most other fish I tried, they're tinned in a garlic-infused oil which the brand says is a good match for this briny fish. Added to this is parsley and lemon, creating more of a creamy sauce.

The fish has been designed to help you create a speedy, but delicious dinner, by adding them to aglio e olio, a traditional Italian pasta dish (or anything else similar that you love). Or of course, it can go into a salad, or be mixed into homemade fish cakes, or just enjoyed on toasted bread as a canapé at a drinks party or barbecue.

ABC+ is part of the Jose Gourmet food brand and says it pays fair prices for its fish, which has also been sustainably caught.