Instead of having to spend hours preparing and cook the fish, you can simply get these best canned sardines for a quick yet delicious meal. Yes, you didn’t hear me wrong – many canned food types can actually be quite tasty if you choose the right one.
Of course, I understand that you might be concerned that canned fish can be stale or bland. After all, canned food has never been famous for being a restaurant-grade type of meal.
However, I’ve also made sure to test out these products as carefully as possible. Therefore, I can guarantee that all the canned sardines mentioned in my review will be delicious enough that they will taste like they’re made with love right within your cozy kitchen.
What Are The Best Canned Sardines Brands?
Before I get into my reviews for the best canned sardines, I think it should be fair that I inform you of the most trustworthy names when it comes to these products.
Bumble Bee
A famous brand in the world of seafood, Bumble Bee seeks to provide you with products of the highest quality. With their undying love for seafood, Bumble Bee can also guarantee that their products are all sustainably harvested so that there will always be more fish for everyone.
Adriatic Sardina
Believing that the key to staying healthy is eating healthy food, Adriatic Sardina offers a wide range of food made from various fishes. To ensure that their products are as nutritious and beneficial as possible, Adriatic Sardina only uses fish of the highest quality.
Wild Planet
Another undeniably famous brand when it comes to seafood, Wild Planet can provide you with a wide range of various canned fish. It goes without saying that the brand’s huge reputation definitely stems from the premium quality they can bring about.
King Oscar
A premium brand of Norwegian heritage, King Oscar has been around for more than 145 years. Hoping to bring you the best experience, this brand only uses the finest ingredients to make their products.
Which Are The Best Canned Sardines To Buy?
The best canned sardines you can try in 2023 are the Nuri Portuguese and the Adriatic Sardina. Both of these canned sardines are exceptionally fresh and delicious. Furthermore, they contain various nutritional benefits that will ensure your meal is as healthy as possible.
- Best Overall – Bumble Bee Boneless And Skinless 4.4-oz Canned Sardines
“Boneless and skinless, high in protein, ideal for both keto and paleo diets, low in sodium level, gluten-free, high-quality olive oil, BPA-free, fresh and tasty.” - Best for Budget – Season 1 4.375-oz Water Canned Sardine
“Low sodium, does not contain added sugar, gluten-free, non-GMO, stored in BPA-free cans, organic.” - Best in Olive Oil – Adriatic Sardina Wild Caught 3.7-oz Canned Sardines
“Product of Croatia, made from wild-caught sardines, stored in extra virgin olive oil, hand-packed, gluten-free.” - Best with Lemon – Wild Planet Extra Virgin Olive Oil 4.4-oz Canned Sardines
“Lightly smoked sardines, low fat and low calories, sustainably harvested, gluten-free, BPA-free, healthy and all-natural ingredients.” - Best without Bones and Skin – Season 1 Seasons Club Tomato 4.375-oz Canned Sardines
“Tomato sauce, high in omega-3, sustainably harvested, made from wild-caught sardines, low in calories and fat.” - Best for Keto – Bumble Bee 3.75-oz Canned Sardines In Extra Olive Oil
“Stored in extra virgin olive oil, high in protein, suitable for a wide range of diets, certified BPA-free.” - Best in Tomato Sauce – El Manar 4.4-oz Canned Sardines In Tomato Sauce
“Lightly texture Tunisian sardines, ideal for several recipes, rich in omega-3 and protein, sustainably harvested, hand-packed.” - Best in Water – Wild Planet 4.375-oz Canned Sardines In Water With Sea Salt
“Scale-free, sustainably harvested, stored in water, gluten-free, dairy-free, yeast-free.” - Best for Sandwich – King Oscar 3.75-oz Canned Sardine In Extra Virgin Oil
“Features spicy cracked pepper, suitable for low-carb diets, rich in protein, omega-3, calcium, and iron, gluten-free.” - Best with Skins and Bones – Crown Prince Ocean Prince 4.25-oz Canned Sardine
“Non-GMO verified, hand-packed, rich in omega-3 and other vitamins, kosher, packed in easy-to-open BPA-free cans.”
Canned Sardines Comparison Table
Below are the best canned sardines in 2023 and their respective information regarding their net weight, dressing style, as well as the origin of their fish. You can consult this comparison chart first to have a better understanding of what you’re buying.
My Reviews For The Best Canned Sardines in 2023
Of course, to fully understand a product, you should read its detailed reviews to learn about its most important features and characteristics. Therefore, let’s check out my evaluation for the best canned sardines in 2023.
1. Bumble Bee Boneless And Skinless 4.4-oz Canned Sardines
(Best Overall)
Scrumptious and flavorful, these canned sardines from Bumble Bee have such a tasty and distinct sardine’s flavor that you’ll find yourself keep coming back for more. Containing no skin and bones whatsoever, this canned food will make an exceptional meal for virtually anyone.
Packed in pure olive oil, the sardines boast a tender texture that can complement a wide range of dishes such as sandwiches, salad, pasta, crackers, pizza, etc. Furthermore, the olive oil stored within the can is also an excellent source of omega-3, which is extremely beneficial to your health.
Moreover, the Bumble Bee canned sardines contain virtually no carbohydrate, which means that this tasty meal is ideal for Keto diets. Containing up to 21 grams of protein, this ready-made food will provide you with the nutrients you need to stay healthy and energetic.
Key Features:
- Boneless and skinless
- High in protein
- Ideal for both keto and paleo diets
Pros
- The sardines are not overly high in sodium level, making the dish quite healthy
- The canned food is completely gluten-free
- The olive oil used for storing the sardines is of high quality
- The sardines are harvested from a sustainable source
- These canned sardines are fresh and tasty
- The metal cans are all completely BPA-free
Cons
- The amount of olive oil in the can might be slightly excessive for some
Product Specifications:
2. Season 4.375-oz Water Canned Sardine
(Best for Budget)
For a more economical choice of canned sardines, you can opt for this pack from Season. Containing all-natural, wild-caught sardines, the canned food boasts outstanding freshness to ensure that you will enjoy every single bite of it.
Containing only a low level of sodium, the Season canned sardines are a perfect choice for those with kidney disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Furthermore, this pre-made fish is also low in calories and fat, thus offering a better choice for those trying to lose weight.
Aside from its delicious taste, the canned sardines from Season are also highly rich in calcium and protein. Completely GMO-free, this product proves to be a high-quality choice that comes at a surprisingly affordable price.
Key Features:
- Low sodium
- Does not contain added sugar
- Gluten-free
- Non-GMO
Pros
- The sardines are all stored within BPA-free cans, ensuring that no harmful chemicals will leach into the food
- The cans used for storing the sardines are equipped with a soft foil so that you can quickly open it
- The canned sardines are completely organic
- These sardines can be used for feeding dogs and cats
- Thanks to its nutritional value, the product is suitable for a wide range of diets
Cons
- The product has quite a strong smell
Product Specifications:
3. Adriatic Sardina Wild Caught 3.7-oz Canned Sardines
(Best in Olive Oil)
If you’re looking for canned sardines high in omega-3 like most top-tier canned salmon, this product from Adriatic Sardina will be the perfect choice. Featuring plump whole sardines and extra virgin olive oil, these cans of sardine are an excellent source of high-quality omega-3 oil.
Made from wild-caught sardines, the canned food consists of all-natural ingredients. Furthermore, it’s virtually free of sugars and other artificial flavors. Therefore, this pack of canned sardines from Adriatic Sardina can provide a fresh and delicious taste.
In terms of nutritional values, these canned sardines also prove to be a natural source of vitamin B12, selenium, vitamin D, calcium, as well as iron. As a result, you can easily incorporate this into your daily meal and can still expect to have a balanced and healthy diet.
Key Features:
- Product of Croatia
- Made from wild-caught fish
- Stored in extra virgin olive oil
- Hand-packed
- Gluten-free
Pros
- The cans used for storing the fish are equipped with an easy pull tab to ensure that you can effortlessly open them
- The sardines are all tasty, and they all boast a nice and firm texture
- The product boasts impressive freshness and doesn’t have any overwhelming smell
Cons
- These canned sardines are a bit on the pricey side
Product Specifications:
4. Wild Planet Extra Virgin Olive Oil 4.4-oz Canned Sardines
(Best with Lemon)
Featuring a refreshing hint of lemony taste, these canned sardines from Wild Planet will ensure that every bite of this dish is an absolute delight. Made from wild-caught sardines along the California coastline , the product offers a “fresh-from-the-sea” flavor that will satisfy even the pickiest eater.
Considerably low in calories and fat, the Wild Planet canned sardines are an ideal choice for those trying to lose a pound or two. Additionally, the product is quite rich in protein, iron, phosphorus, and calcium, thus providing your body with beneficial nutrients and minerals to keep it healthy.
Furthermore, these high-quality sardines are packed in extra virgin olive oil. Therefore, the fish can boast a tender and moist texture. Don’t worry; the meat of the fish is firm enough that you can use it as toppings on salad, pizzas, pasta, or sandwiches.
Key Features:
- Lightly smoked sardines
- Low fat and low calories
- Sustainably harvested
- Gluten-free
Pros
- The cans are entirely BPA-free
- The ingredients are healthy and natural
- The olive oil is an excellent source of omega-3 and healthy fat
- The product comes at an affordable price
Cons
- The pull tab on the can might be hard to open
Product Specifications:
5. Season Club Tomato 4.375-oz Canned Sardines
(Best without Bones and Skin)
For those who are not a fan of bones and skin, the Season tomato canned sardines would be an ideal choice to try. Having been carefully de-skinned and deboned, the fish offer a soft and tender texture that is ideal for even young children.
Aside from the meaty and scrumptious fish, this canned food features an amazing tomato sauce that will make your dish even better. Furthermore, the product also contains up to 800 milligrams of Omega-3 fatty acids.
Want a richer flavor from tomato sauce? All you need to do is mix some delicious canned tomatoes into this product. Your canned sardines will end up tasting like homemade food prepared with love.
Key Features:
- Tomato sauce
- Contains omega-3
- Sustainably harvested
- Made from wild-caught sardines
Pros
- The canned fish is quite low in both calories and fat
- This product does not contain too much sodium; therefore, it’s suitable for those with kidney problems, diabetes, and high blood pressure
- Because the sardines are all wild-caught, they are of high-quality and excellent freshness
Cons
- The product can be a little dry
Product Specifications:
6. Bumble Bee 3.75-oz Canned Sardines In Extra Virgin Olive Oil
(Best for Keto)
Are you going on a keto diet but still want to enjoy a dish of savory canned sardines? If that is the case, you should definitely check out the Bumble Bee canned sardines. Exceptionally healthy, this canned fish is ideal for a wide range of diets such as keto, gluten-free, paleo, etc.
Featuring gourmet brisling wild-caught sardines, this canned food from Bumble Bee offers a fresh-from-the-sea taste that is quite unforgettable. Furthermore, the fish is stored in extra virgin olive oil, which means that the sardines are even more flavorful and tender.
In addition to this, the Bumble Bee canned sardines are rich in protein and healthy fat. Additionally, the product is relatively low in cholesterol, thus allowing you to enjoy this delicious canned food without worrying about your blood cholesterol.
Key Features:
- Stored in extra virgin olive oil
- High in protein
- Suitable for keto, paleo, and gluten-free diets
Pros
- You can use the canned sardines as a topping for several foods such as salad, pasta, sandwich, or crackers
- The fish is stored in easy-to-open cans for quick access to your food
- The cans are certified BPA-free
- The product comes at a reasonable price
- The sardines boast a moist and tender texture
Cons
- The omega-3 in the olive oil is completely extracted
Product Specifications:
For a closer look at this can of sardines, you can check out the following video:
7. El Manar 4.4-oz Canned Sardines In Tomato Sauce
(Best in Tomato Sauce)
If you’re a fan of tomato sauce, you can’t miss this pack of canned sardines from El Manar. Made from lightly textured Tunisian sardines, this pre-made food is as delicious as it is nutritious. With its tender taste and moist texture, this product can make exceptional complements in several recipes.
Aside from being a great source of healthy protein, these cans of sardines are also an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which can improve your eyesight, blood pressure, cardiovascular health, etc.
Key Features:
- Lightly texture Tunisian sardines
- Ideal for several recipes
- Rich in Omega-3 and protein
- Sustainably harvested
- Hand-packed
Pros
- One can of food might contain up to 8 fish, thus offering great value for money
- The food is rich in calcium, iron, and several other beneficial vitamins
- The sardines boasts impressive freshness
Cons
- The pull tab of the can is somewhat hard to open
Product Specifications:
| Brand | El Manar |
| Product Dimensions | 10 x 5 x 2.5 inches |
| Package Weight | 4.61 pounds |
| Number of Pack | 12 |
| Calories Per Serving | Not specified |
| Nutrition Facts | Not specified |
| Ingredients | Mediterranean sardines, tomato sauce, salt |
8. Wild Planet 4.375-oz Canned Sardines In Water With Sea Salt
(Best in Water)
If you love to enjoy simple sardines packed in spring water, you’ll definitely appreciate this product from Wild Planet. Featuring only wild-caught sardines from the North Pacific ocean and clean water, this canned food has a simple yet delicious taste that you can’t help but fall in love with.
Boasting exceptional quality, the sardines all have a firm and meaty texture. As a result, you can easily add the fish to many recipes and dishes for a better taste. Additionally, the Wild Planet canned sardines are also quite rich in calcium, protein, Omega-3, potassium, iron, and phosphorus.
If you dislike fish with scale, this product will make an even better choice for you as each of the fish have been carefully descaled. As a result, you’ll notice that the texture of the fish is pleasantly tender.
Key Features:
- Scale-free
- Sustainably harvested
- Stored in water
- Gluten-free, dairy-free, yeast-free
Pros
- The canned sardines are low in calories and fat, which means it’s suitable for weight loss
- The product is also suitable for a wide range of diets, such as keto, gluten-free, kosher, etc
- The fish is of outstanding freshness
- The BPA-free cans are easy to open
Cons
- These canned sardines are somewhat expensive
Product Specifications:
9. King Oscar 3.75-oz Canned Sardine In Extra Virgin Oil
(Best for Sandwich)
Made from brisling sardines caught in the icy waters of Norway, the King Oscar canned food also features extra virgin olive oil to ensure the utmost tender texture. As a result, this pre-made meal has a unique and delicious taste that goes exceptionally well with sandwiches in general.
So, if you’re looking to jazz up your recipes for making sandwiches, this product is definitely worth your consideration. Its rich, fatty flavors will make your sandwiches an irresistible “magnet” on the dinner table that can attract virtually everyone.
Ideal for low-carb diets, this superfood is exceptionally rich in omega-3 and protein. What’s more, the product is also a great source of calcium and iron. Containing virtually no gluten, these canned sardines are also completely GMO-free, thus providing you with a healthy option for your meal.
Key Features:
- Suitable for a low-carb diet
- Rich in protein, omega-3, calcium, and iron
- Gluten-free
Pros
- The fish is stored in BPA-free and easy-to-open cans
- The aluminum cans are also recyclable
- The sardines boast a subtle hint of wood-smoked flavors
- You can also use the sardines to make other dishes such as spaghetti pasta, baby kale salad, sardine celery sticks, etc
- The fish is not overly salty
Cons
- The product has a slightly strong fishy smell
Product Specifications:
If you want to learn how to make the best sardines sandwich, you can consult this video below:
10. Crown Prince Ocean Prince 4.25-oz Canned Sardine
(Best with Skins and Bones)
If you love to enjoy your sardines with both skin and bones intact, you should check out this product from Crown Prince. Featuring hand-packed pilchard sardines in water, the product will let you fully enjoy the flavors of the fish.
Having been verified as a non-GMO project, the Crown Prince canned sardines contain no artificial or genetically modified ingredients. Therefore, you can rest assured that the delicious flavors from the food are 100% natural.
Furthermore, this product is also an outstanding source of omega-3 as one can of these sardines contains up to 3,775 milligrams of this fatty acid. Additionally, the ready-made meal proves to be quite rich in protein, calcium, iron, and vitamin D as well.
Key Features:
- Non-GMO verified
- Hand-packed
- Rich in omega-3, protein, calcium, and vitamin D
- Kosher
Pros
- The sardines are all packed in easy-to-open cans
- The product is quite low in sodium and carbohydrate, which means it’s suitable for a wide range of diets
- These canned sardines offer outstanding value for money
- These sardines are suitable for your dogs and cats
Cons
- The product might not always be fresh
Product Specifications:
What To Look For When Buying The Best Canned Sardine?
With so many options, perhaps you might find that choosing the best canned sardines can be a daunting task. Understanding the struggles of trying to navigate through the sea of options, I’ve made this buying guide to help you narrow down your choices.
Type Of Fish
Sardine is sardine, right? Well, as it turns out, sardines can have different qualities depending on how they’re processed and where they come from. For the highest quality sardines, you should choose those that originate from the North Atlantic sea, Portugal, Spain, and Morocco.
Skins And Bones
Another aspect of the fish that you might want to keep an eye on is whether they have skin and bones or not. If you don’t mind a slightly crunchy texture, you should choose canned sardines with bones and skins as they have more nutritional values, and they are also a great source of calcium.
Dressing
As you might have noticed, sardines can be packed in different dressings, which can range from simple freshwater to olive oil, tomato sauce, mustard, etc. While there might be a wide range of dressings you can choose from, the two most common ones are spring water and olive oil.
Sardines packed in olive oil tend to have a richer and more refined taste. Furthermore, they can also boast a tender texture. However, sardines stored in olive oil can have a higher calorie count, more cholesterol, and fat.
On the other hand, sardines packed in spring water tend to have a purer taste. They’re also lower in calorie, cholesterol, and fat count. Nevertheless, some sardines canned in water might be slightly water-logged.
Serving Size
I’m sure that you wouldn’t want to get a can with too big or too small serving sizes. Therefore, you should pay attention to the product’s net weight to determine if you and/or your family can finish the can in one go.
While it’s still okay for uneaten canned sardines to become leftovers, the processed fish can lose its freshness quite fast.
Nutrition Facts
If you’re trying to eat healthier, it might be helpful to pay attention to the sardines’ nutrition facts. If you have any health problems related to cholesterol, obesity, or high blood pressure, you should go for products that are low in sodium and fat.
Packaging
It’s no fun to wrestle with a can opener trying to open the packaging of your canned sardines. Furthermore, there’s a chance you might not have a can opener or yours have gone missing. Therefore, you should choose canned sardines that are equipped with an easy pull-tab.
FAQs
Are you still trying to determine if it’s a good idea to get canned sardines? Is there anything you still don’t understand about these products? You can quickly check out the section below to learn more information regarding this canned fish.
My Top Pick
After trying out many products, I’ve come to the conclusion that the best canned sardines is the Nuri Portuguese 4.375-oz Canned Sardines, which is as delicious as it is nutritious. Furthermore, the product boasts a fresh taste that might even fool you into thinking it’s not canned food.
For the most budget-friendly canned sardines, you can’t go wrong with Season 4.375-oz Water Canned Sardine. The brand delivers delicious fish that strikes a great balance with price and quality.
Trying out new dishes can be a somewhat scary experience – you can never know for sure if you’ll love the food or not, and it can be disappointing to get something you don’t like. However, I’m sure that after reading my article, you’ll be able to make a wise decision.
Of course, there might be some issues or aspects that I’ve failed to mention in my review. Therefore, if you need elaboration or clarification on anything, you can feel free to reach out to me in the comment section below.
